Is there a program like microsoft word

While many people believe that they are «locked» into using Microsoft Word for all their document creation needs, it simply isn’t true. Over the past few years, there have been many Microsoft Word and Office alternatives that were released and that have gained traction. Now, there are alternatives to the costly application from Microsoft, many of which are free.

Today we’re going to explore ten alternatives to Microsoft Word that you can quickly and easily start using today. Some will be online and some will be downloadable applications that can be installed on your local computer, but all will enable you to wean yourself off of Microsoft Word and still be productive.

This is because they can all work in conjunction with the applications you already use with MS Word. Take your everyday PDF converter tool, for instance. Working with PDF documents is difficult and you may think it even harder if you swap out an application in your usual software lineup. This simply isn’t true, though. Able2Extract Professional, for instance, lets you work easily with any MS Word alternative there is. Simply convert your PDF to Word and then import or upload your converted results into any one of the Word processors in this list. You won’t miss a single beat!

So if you need a good list of free alternatives to MS Word, look no further. Let’s get started on our tour of ten free alternatives to Microsoft Word.

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Online Microsoft Word Alternatives

Sometimes it’s easier to create and collaborate online in real-time than by editing and managing multiple versions on your local hard drive and sending the files via email. The web-based word processing applications below will not only let you create the documents online but also quickly and easily share them with others.

Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is a free online word processor offered by the online cloud storage provider. To start using it, you will need a Dropbox account. Once logged in, you get full access to the online suite. The minimalist interface is very intuitive and its simplicity allows you to focus on your content. You can also do a number of things that go beyond creating a textual document. You can add rich media, such as audio, video and images. Dropbox Paper also allows you to access apps that let you embed Trello cards, Youtube videos or SlideShare decks. Other collaborative features include document link-sharing, creating and assigning checklist items to members or embedding one of your Dropbox documents. Dropbox Paper, overall, does an excellent job at creating dynamic documents you can share and access online.

Office Online

For Microsoft Word and Office aficionados, the best possible free online alternative for their document editing needs is definitely Word online, which comes as part of the
Office Online suite. Although free MS Word web app is not a full-fledged version of its paid counterpart, it allows you to open, create and edit Word documents online. Also, it offers some additional benefits of online software tools. For example, the ability to access and see updates from co-authors to your docs literally from anywhere in real time with only an Internet connection and the latest 2016 version. You can share and collaborate on documents. An equally alluring feature of Office Online is its cross-platform compatibility. So, if you’re a Chromebook or Linux OS user, MS Word web app is the most elegant way to get access to Microsoft’s document editing features — for free!

Google Docs

Google Docs allows you to create, collaborate and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings and even forms. Google Docs is packed with features, which can be further extended with various add-ons. While it will automatically save the file online and store it there, you can also have the documents published as a web page, downloaded or emailed as an attachment in Word, ODT, PDF, plain text or RTF formats. You can invite collaborators to work on the document with you or only allow others to view it without the ability to edit. And if you are apprehensive of having to depend on the Internet connection for document processing, don’t worry. You can enable Google Docs offline access and keep editing your documents even when you are disconnected from Internet. All it takes is a free Google account.

Etherpad

Etherpad is an online document editor primarily intended for collaborative editing in, as the site claims, «really real time». It’s an open source, highly customizable tool for online document collaboration with friends, fellow students and classmates, or colleagues at work. One of its advantages, especially appealing to users who are reluctant to use services which require email registration, is that there is no sign up with Etherpad. All you need to do is start a new pad and share the link to it with your collaborators. You can also invite them by email if you prefer. After that, you can start working on the planned writing project together, in real-time, even if you are miles apart.

Zoho

Zoho offers around 20 free online applications including Writer for word processing. You can link your Zoho account to your Google and Yahoo accounts, as well. The Writer’s interface shouldn’t cause anyone problems as it is comfortably familiar. When working online there’s always the risk of losing data due to a lost network connection, accidentally closing your browser or having your browser crash. Luckily Zoho automatically saves your documents for you, as you finish typing. Zoho Writer is well-equipped with features that allow you to work easily online: two-way desktop sync, large file transfer, encryption, file recovery, two-step authentication, in-app chat, and more. You can import and work with MS Word documents, allowing you to insert images, and edit content as needed. Zoho Writer offers all the standard text formatting and document creation features and can export to DOCX, ODF, PDF, Latex, RTF, TXT and even HTML. It can plug into Echosign for digital signatures, publish the document to a blog or make it public for all to see. Zoho Docs is completely free to use.

Downloadable Microsoft Word Alternatives

Some people are reluctant to cut the ties to their local computer and put all their work and business documents online. If you’re one of them and don’t want to rely on an Internet connection, here are several free word processing applications to round out our list. These you can download and install on your local computer. Take advantage of all the desktop features of MS Word without the hefty price tag!

Apache OpenOffice

The Apache OpenOffice package actually includes six programs that all use the same engine making them inherently the same and extremely easy to learn and use. The 6 applications included in the Apache OpenOffice suite are: Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (diagrams and illustrations) and Base (database manipulation) and Math (mathematical equations). Writer can even natively do some things that Word cannot, like open PDF files without the addition of a plug-in or commercial add-on. As the software is open source it is maintained by a large community meaning help and bug fixes are freely available and quickly created. The downside to Writer is that it can only open DOCX files without the ability to edit and save them. You can install this suite on Windows XP to Windows 10, macOS and Linux.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is another open source Microsoft Office alternative and a successor of the OpenOffice.org project (in 2010, Oracle/Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice projects went separate ways). LibreOffice is distributed as a “monolithic software” consisting of seven components: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math, and Charts. LibreOffice Writer is a free and powerful word processor available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This Microsoft Word alternative can edit and save DOCX file format meaning that if you often collaborate on documents with Microsoft Office users, LibreOffice Writer is your best choice. It offers multi-language support, a spelling and grammar checker, ability to export in PDF and EPUB ebook format, AutoCorrect and AutoComplete features, a lot of extensions and document templates, and more regular updates and major and minor releases than Apache OpenOffice.

Jarte

Jarte is based on Microsoft WordPad Engine, but is still free. There is a paid version of the software that adds on some extra functionality, but the free version is more than adequate and fully compatible with Word and WordPad documents. Features include an ergonomic tabbed interface, small resource requirements, portability, support for touchscreens, and quick loading time. It also has built-in spell checking and can export to HTML and PDF files. Jarte allows you to insert images, tables, hyperlinks and everything else that you have come to expect from Word. Jarte contains no ads, trial periods or crippled features and is funded through user purchases of the Jarte Plus version.

WPS Office

WPS Office is a free document processing suite whose WPS Writer app will serve you well as a Microsoft Word alternative. WPS Office 2016 Free can open and save to a long list of popular file formats native to those applications like docx, doc, and more. You can get the application in languages other than English: French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish and Russian. The suite has the same familiar look and feel of MS Office with one exception—it has a tabbed viewing window, so you can open more than one document at a time. And also worth mentioning is WPS Cloud, the company’s cloud document storage service that offers up to 1GB of free storage that you can use. This is perfect if you’re trying to find a free Word alternative that’s not only scalable for teams, but can also be as collaborative and seamless as its Microsoft counterpart.

SoftMaker FreeOffice

SoftMaker FreeOffice is another great free suite that offers a full featured Microsoft Word alternative. The suite’s TextMaker application allows you to focus on creating documents just as you would in MS Word. This suite offers up essential editing features and even a handful of basic templates for creating and editing documents. Tables, charts, shapes and graphics are available along with standard text formatting options. This application provides you with everything you need. The entire suite is available for Windows, Linux, and Android, so you can keep your document processing tasks going even while away from your desktop.

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Whether you are looking for a free locally installed Microsoft Word alternative or an online one for easier collaboration and online file storage, there are many available. The ten that are covered in this article are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but should give you a good starting point. The obvious giants in the arena are Google Docs and Openoffice.org which are probably also the most popular, though Zoho does offer a wider selection of applications. In the end, the one that best suits you will be the one that offers the features you need the most.

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• Cloud

• Google

• Microsoft

• Open source

• Software

These free word processors can be a great alternative to Microsoft Word. Many have very similar characteristics to Word and since they’re free, you’ll be saving hundreds of dollars by using one of them.

All of the free word processors below can create, edit, and print documents. Many of them can open and edit Word documents, automatically check your spelling, use a wide selection of free MS Word templates, create tables and columns, and much more.

Our top picks for a free word processor are the first ones on the list. These have the most features and we suggest checking them out first to see if they’ll fit your word processing needs. You should find that most of them can handle just about everything Microsoft Word can.

Thanks for letting us know!

Microsoft Office Word is undoubtedly the most widely-used text editor. It allows you to create documents easily. So finding Microsoft Word alternatives can feel like a short list of options.

Why would anyone want to choose something else?

Well, this dominant word processor does have its drawbacks. There’s no free version, and it only works on a limited number of operating systems. Also, many think it’s a bit too complicated and unusable for today’s needs. 

Although MS Word has fans, some people prefer to use a different program with similar capabilities. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for text editors that work across various operating systems and don’t want to pay for Microsoft Word premium features you don’t use.

Here’s our review of the 10 best free Microsoft Word alternatives, features, pricing, and ratings for all!

What is Microsoft Word? 

Microsoft Word, or MS Word, is a document processor published by Microsoft and is one of the productivity apps included in the Microsoft Office suite. First released in 1983, the program is the brainchild of Richard Brodie and Charles Simonyi. It is available for MS Windows, Android, Apple iOS, and Apple macOS and is compatible with the Linux OS using WINE. Notable Microsoft Word features include: 

• Allows users to create professional-quality documents
• Allows font and text formatting
• HTML and image support
• Advanced page layout
• Grammar check

If you’re fed up with the unnecessary features you pay for with an MS Office subscription, there are several word processors you can use instead. These document editors can get downloaded for free and are excellent for those who only need a word processor and not the other features from Microsoft Office. 

Microsoft Word benefits vs. limitations

Undoubtedly, the most notable MS Word benefit is its ability to help you produce documents in different formats. It’s also easy to work with and can integrate your documents with other media within the Microsoft Office suite, including worksheets, presentations, flowcharts, and graphs. Its ability to track edits and changes in your documents ensures easy collaboration when working in a team.

Nonetheless, Microsoft Word can get expensive because users often purchase additional tools they’ll never need or use. Furthermore, the program may not always be intuitive. For example, you may encounter downtimes when incorporating pictures into your documents or aligning text around the images. 

10 best Microsoft Word alternatives

1. ClickUp Docs

If you’re looking for a free but feature-rich MS Word alternative, the Docs feature in ClickUp is just what you need. The document editor helps you create eye-catching and functional documents, wikis, and more in one user-friendly platform.

You can add tables, embed bookmarks, and more while formatting your documents. ClickUp is more than merely a text editor. It’s a hub where teams come together to plan, organize, and collaborate on work using tasks, Docs, Chat, Goals, Whiteboards, and more. Tag team members through comments, assign action items, and convert plain text into tasks.

Users working on one project can conveniently add widgets to change product statuses, assign tasks, update workflows, and more within one editor. It’s easy to keep your work organized because ClickUp categorizes your documents for quick access and searchability. Critical resources can also get managed and added to any section of your Workspace. 

🔑 ClickUp Docs key features

• Create Docs with rich formatting options
• Create relationships to link Docs and tasks
• Easily assign tasks and update workflows
• Compatible with various file formats

✅ ClickUp Docs pros

• Unmatched customization capabilities
• Top-notch team collaboration
• Categorizes your work
• Real-time reporting

❌ ClickUp Docs cons

• Not all ClickUp views are available on the mobile app (yet!)

💸 ClickUp Docs pricing

• ClickUp offers a Free Forever Plan and paid plans starting at $5/user per month

💬 ClickUp Docs customer ratings

• G2: 4.7/5 (3,880+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,480+ reviews)

2. Google Docs

Arguably, Google Docs is a powerful word processor and among the better-known alternatives to Microsoft Word. It mirrors Microsoft Word in terms of functionality. It allows users to create files and share them in various formats. The functionality of Google Docs can get extended using different add-ons. Although Google Docs is a web-based text editor, it allows you to work on documents offline. 

You can continue to edit your documents even without an internet connection. Since it’s a file-sharing service, Google Docs is excellent for real-time collaboration. It provides G Suite integration and is compatible with multiple file formats, including PDF. 

🔑 Google Docs key features

• Add-ons such as MLA, DocuSign, and LucidChart
• Offers real-time collaboration
• Works like MS Word

✅ Google Docs pros

• Speech recognition and ability to translate files from various foreign languages
• Saves work automatically
• Allows offline editing

❌ Google Docs cons

• Formatting issues may arise when importing content from formats such as PDF or RTF
• It has a restricted selection of templates

💸 Google Docs pricing

• Google Docs is a free text editor, but pricing plans in the Google Workspace suite start at $6 per user per month

💬 Google Docs customer ratings

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (25,928+ reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 ‎(39,800+ reviews)

3. LibreOffice Writer

Dubbed the all-inclusive word processor for all types of text-based work, LibreOffice Writer is among the most impressive alternatives to Microsoft Word. It’s compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. LibreOffice Writer is considered a feature-packed analog version of MS Word and comes with all the tools you need for text-based work.

The text editor is available in two versions, and both feature templates and wizards for creating all document types. It also supports different file formats and allows you to export documents to PDF without additional software. So if you’re looking for a text editor that stands in for Microsoft Word, you won’t go wrong with LibreOffice. 

🔑 LibreOffice Writer key features

• Excellent format compatibility
• Available in two versions to suit your needs
• Downloadable without providing your information

✅ LibreOffice Writer pros

• Document template galleries
• No ads and paywalls
• Supports multiple plugins

❌ LibreOffice Writer cons

• Technical support isn’t provided
• Slow and takes a lot of memory because it’s a Java program

💸 LibreOffice Writer pricing

• The Collabora version is free for up to 20 users but can get upgraded to a paid plan for up to 99 users at $18 per user yearly
• The CIB version costs $14.99 per user yearly and can get installed on up to 10 devices

💬 LibreOffice Writer customer ratings

• G2: 4.1/5 ‎(59 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (1,370+ reviews)

4. WPS Office Free Writer

Anyone who has used the newer versions of Microsoft Word but didn’t like the complexity should consider switching to WPS Office Writer. The free text editor looks and works almost like Microsoft Word and even features its equivalent of OneDrive, which offers 1GB of free cloud storage. 

WPS Office Free Writer comes with templates to help you create multiple document tasks. It’s compatible with most text file formats, including current MS Word versions. Discrete ads support the free version of WPS Office Writer, but you can remove them by choosing the premium versions. This is an impressive word processor and one of the best alternatives to Microsoft Word. 

🔑 WPS Office Free Writer key features

• The WPS PDF to Word converter allows you to work on multiple document formats
• The free version provides basic editing tools needed to work on your documents
• Cloud storage offers a secure space for your documents
• Designed to mirror Microsoft Word

✅ WPS Office Free Writer pros

• Provides impressive file format support
• The nested interface mimics Microsoft Word
• Free cloud storage

❌ WPS Office Free Writer cons

• May contain pop-up ads

💸 WPS Office Free Writer pricing 

• WPS Office Premium subscription costs $3.99 monthly, $18.99 for six months, and $29.99 annually

💬 WPS Office Free Writer customer ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (‎232 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (841 reviews)

5. FocusWriter

This MS Word alternative is touted as the ideal text editor for fast drafts, thanks to the relative ease of formatting docs. It’s compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows OS. It’s excellent for those who want to type out a page or two without worrying about formatting. 

FocusWriter features a suite of clever tools designed to optimize productivity. As the name suggests, the text editor blocks out all distractions so that you focus on your drafts. When you open the text editor, a blank page is all you’ll see. 

🔑 FocusWriter key features

• Features alerts that get triggered at specified times
• Designed to minimize distractions as you work

✅ FocusWriter pros

• The timers and alarms come in handy when working against time
• The fading features allow you to focus on your work
• Your work gets saved automatically

❌ FocusWriter cons

• Excellent for productivity but not ideal for editing documents

💸 FocusWriter pricing

• Free for life

💬 FocusWriter customer ratings

• Capterra: 4.6/5 (68 reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 (12 reviews)

6. Zoho Docs

Few text editors are better suited for educational and business tasks than Zoho Docs. The web-based software can be used in your favorite browser and comes with a user-friendly UI that can easily get managed via tabbed menus. In addition, Zoho Docs allows users to upload and download documents in DOCX format. It also supports collaboration, enabling you to work in real-time with your colleagues. 

🔑 Zoho Docs key features

• Two-way synchronization, recovery, and file encryption
• Blends with other text editors seamlessly
• Can serve as an email marketing solution
• Provides cloud storage for your docs

✅ Zoho Docs pros

• Document management and visibility
• Saves your docs automatically
• Robust password security

❌ Zoho Docs cons

• The free version has limited space, making it unsuitable for editing large documents

💸 Zoho Docs pricing

• $5 per month per user when you upgrade your subscription

💬 Zoho Docs customer ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (206 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (151 reviews)

7. AbiWord

This Microsoft Word alternative has features to help you create documents in multiple formats and collaborate with your team in real-time. With this text editor, you can create documents and tables, embed graphics, and more. It also has an in-built Mail Merge tool that allows you to fill out your email fields automatically. 

🔑 AbiWord key features

• Fitted with multiple plugins and features that make it highly functional
• Compatibility with various platforms and text formats
• Saves your documents automatically
• HTML support

✅ AbiWord pros

• The plugin architecture can be expanded
• Saves your files in DOCX format
• Available in multiple languages

❌ AbiWord cons

• You can’t export PDF files

💸 AbiWord pricing

• Inquire with AbiWord for pricing

💬 AbiWord customer ratings

• G2: 4.1/5 (15 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (1,378 reviews)

8. FreeOffice TextMaker

This impressive Microsoft Word alternative comes with handy templates for creating everyday documents. FreeOffice TextMaker has all the features to expect from a modern text editor, including advanced formatting options, change-tracking, and the ability to create databases for managing footnotes and bibliographies. 

🔑 FreeOffice TextMaker key features

• Ability to track changes when collaborating on text editing projects
• You can create your templates and save them for future use
• Neat and easy-to-navigate intuitive user interface

✅ FreeOffice TextMaker pros

• Can print multiple pages per worksheet
• It Opens password-secured files
• Can export files to EPUB format

❌ FreeOffice TextMaker cons

• Doesn’t support DOCX files

💸 FreeOffice TextMaker pricing

• Free for life

💬 FreeOffice TextMaker customer ratings

• G2: 4.3/5 (110 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (235 reviews)

9. Write Monkey

This productivity-focused program comes equipped with quick shortcuts to make word processing easier. It’s only compatible with Windows OS and is designed to optimize your output without worrying about formatting or editing. Although Write Monkey may not be ideal for creating documents such as CVs or letters, it’s excellent for committing ideas to paper or later development. It’s only compatible with TXT files, and therefore, you must convert different formats before working on them. 

🔑 Write Monkey key features

• Productivity-focused
• Only works with TXT format
• Designed to help you commit ideas to memory
• Available as a portable app

✅ Write Monkey pros

• Distraction-free interface optimizes productivity
• Handy keyboard shortcut
• Supports markup

❌ Write Monkey cons

• Not suitable for creating large files

💸 Write Monkey pricing

• Free for life

💬 Write Monkey customer ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.9/5 (179 reviews)

10. iWork Pages

If you want an MS Office alternative with multiple templates that allow the creation of various document types such as resumes, books, newsletters, and reports, you’ll love iWork Pages. The convenient text editor allows you to make changes to your documents in one click and provides robust password protection and the ability to work with files in different formats. 

🔑 iWork Pages key features

• Easy to export and import Microsoft docs
• Available as part of the iWork suite
• Navigable, user-friendly intuitive interface

✅ iWork Pages pros

• Offers limitless document creation options on one page
• Advanced features are offered by Apple’s graphic
• Saves your work in multiple formats as you prefer

❌ iWork Pages cons

• Only compatible with iOS and macOS

💸 iWork Pages pricing

• 50GB: $0.99 per month
• 200GB: $2.99 per month
• 2TB: $9.99 per month

💬 iWork Pages customer ratings

• G2: 4.6/5 (13 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)

Get more done with time-saving Docs in ClickUp

There are many options for Microsoft Word alternatives. Nonetheless, few offer the flexibility and functionality of ClickUp Docs. One thing that stands out about ClickUp is that it’s a collaboration-driven platform focused on helping you to team up in real-time.

Sign up for ClickUp Docs for free today to enjoy unlimited text editing!

MS (Microsoft) Office is the world’s most popular client software for document editing programs. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher make up the core programs of the suite. In most recent versions, you have other programs like OneNote, SharePoint, and Teams.

Microsoft recommends MS Office for all Windows users. However, you may have to settle for alternatives in some instances. MS Office requires high CPU resources, has a lot of license agreements, and the cost of ownership is considerably high.

Fortunately, MS Office is not the only Office suite compatible with Windows. Here are the 15 best MS Office alternatives for Windows:

1. Apache OpenOffice

The first MS Office alternative for Windows OS on our list is Apache OpenOffice. It is both a free and open source alternative to MS Office. It was released in 2012 making it one of the modern office suite software.

Notably, Apache OpenOffice contains essential office programs such as Writer, Impress, Calc, Draw, Math, and Base. Just like the Microsoft Office programs, OpenOffice Writer is a word processor program that works like the Microsoft Word application.

OpenOffice Impress is a presentation program that is similar to Microsoft PowerPoint. On the other hand, OpenOffice Calc is a spreadsheet program like the Microsoft Excel software, while other Apache OpenOffice programs like Draw, Math, and Base function as vector graphics editor, mathematics formula editor, and database management program respectively.

Apache OpenOffice Suite is compatible with Windows OS although it requires the installation of Java in 32-bit for extended functionalities. The major difference between MS Office and Apache OpenOffice is that MS Office is premium, unlike Apache OpenOffice which is free.

Also, MS Office is released in different versions e.g. Student, Home, and Professional whereas Open Office is available as a single version.

2. LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a popular Office suite among Windows users. The suite was launched in 2010 and unlike MS Office, it’s free and open source. Different programmers continue to contribute to the development of LibreOffice.

MS Office supports 102 languages. LibreOffice exceeds it with support of 119 languages. However, LibreOffice’s main advantage is its simple interface. MS Office isn’t difficult to use but anyone will find LibreOffice a lot easier to work with.

LibreOffice programs include Writer for word processing, Calc for spreadsheets, Impress for presentations, Draw for vector graphics and flowcharts, Base for databases, and Math for formula editing. You get more specialized programs with Math and Draw than on MS Office.

Furthermore, LibreOffice allows you to save files in MS Office formats. For example, as an open source program, the standard document file is in ODF format. However, you can save the document in DOC or DOCX format amongst others.

LibreOffice doesn’t have mobile apps for Android and iOS like MS Office. However, you can install their based product – Collabora Office.

Although LibreOffice is free, there are premium options for businesses. The premium options include technical support and other value-added services.

3. SoftMaker FreeOffice

The description says it all; SoftMaker FreeOffice is a free alternative to MS Office. It’s compatible with Windows and also Linux and Mac OS computers.

The office suite is 100 percent for both private and business use. Top publishers like TechRadar, TechRepublic, and PC World recommend this software. You can install SoftMaker FreeOffice on the most recent Windows 11.

Like MS Office, FreeOffice features word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation programs. This includes TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations. All are compatible with Microsoft Office programs.

SoftMaker FreeOffice supports Ribbons and Classic menus which is similar to MS Office. The programs’ layout is simple and you’ll have no problem switching if you already use MS Office. It also comes with some most recent features like dark mode.

You can use this MS Office alternative on Android mobile devices only; there’s no app for iOS. Also, the programs aren’t contained in a single Office app. You have to install each one separately.

Notably, this alternative is the SoftMaker FreeOffice which is different from the standard SoftMaker Office. SoftMaker Office is a premium suite.

4. WPS Office

WPS Office is most popular as an office suite for mobile users; especially Android. However, it’s very compatible with Windows. This software was launched in 1988 as Super-WPS.

WPS Office is sold as an alternative to MS Office and it is very lightweight which is its main advantage. It’s so light that the installation file for Windows is just 4.5 MB. WPS Office is also feature-rich.

You get MS Office compatible programs including Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and a PDF Converter. Furthermore, you don’t pay to use WPS Office.

Just like MS Office, WPS Office features a vast catalog of professionally designed document templates. In total, there are more than 100,000 templates in different categories and they are all free.

WPS Office supports team collaboration in real-time. This feature works not just on Windows but also on other devices. MS Office supports this but it only works on the Web Platform and if you’re a Microsoft 365 subscriber.

So far, over 200,000 leading businesses trust WPS Office and there are more than 170 million users across the globe.

5. Google Workspace

Google Workspace is Google’s replacement for G-Suite. Comparingly, it’s different from MS Office for Windows because it’s 100 percent web-based. This means, you can’t install Google Workspace on your computer; you can only use it from your browser.

Google Workspace contains a long list of Google applications. However, the only applications that relate to MS Office include Docs for word processing, Sheets for spreadsheets, and Slides for presentation.

Although you can only use these Google Workspace apps via the web, you don’t always need an internet connection. You can sync the Docs or Sheets web platform with your desktop storage and create and edit files offline.

Your edits will be stored locally and will sync anytime you connect to the internet. Google Workspace’s main advantage over MS Office is security. Since it’s web-based, it’s nearly impossible for anyone to compromise Google Workspace Programs.

Google Workspace programs store files in different formats than MS Office but you can easily convert them to MS Office formats. You can also even directly edit DOCX or DOC files with Google Docs and XLS or XLSX files with Google Sheets.

6. SoftMaker Office

This is the premium version of the SoftMaker FreeOffice mentioned earlier. SoftMaker Office is far more affordable than MS Office and is recommended if you need a cheap alternative.

Microsoft 365 plans for family and personal use cost $99.99 and $69.99 per year respectively. However, you only pay $15 and $39.98 for SoftMaker Office NX and SoftMaker Standard Office respectively. With multi-user licenses, the price is cheaper.

SoftMaker Office is seamlessly compatible with MS Office. DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX are the standard file formats just like in MS Office. You can share and edit documents to and from MS Office users without needing to convert.

SoftMaker Office supports over 20 languages. However, unlike MS Office, SoftMaker Office is most optimized for German grammar. The available programs are still the same as the FreeOffice which includes TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations.

You also get an additional program, BasicMaker, which works for small programs and scripts to execute in the TextMaker and PlanMaker apps. BasicMaker is an advantage if you need an MS Office alternative for macro writing.

7. Zoho Office Suite

Zoho Office is an office suite with online productivity tools. It’s not like MS Office Suite that you can download and install on your Windows PC. You can only use Zoho Office Suite via a browser.

This gives Zoho Office more simplicity, mobility, security, and collaboration than MS Word. All documents you create are stored in clouds and synched in real-time.

The main programs you get from the Zoho Office Suite include Writer, Sheet, and Show. Writer rivals MS Word, Sheet rivals MS Excel, while Show rivals MS PowerPoint. In addition, you also get a Notebook app for documenting.

Zoho Office was designed to work well with MS Office. You can import, edit, and export files in MS Office traditional files. Zoho also works with several other apps and web platforms.

For example, you can import documents to edit from Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. Zoho has its native cloud storage too – the Zoho WorkDrive.

Just as Microsoft features an AI-powered assistant, Cortana, Zoho also features Zia. This is a very helpful feature you won’t find in most other MS Office alternatives.

8. OnlyOffice

OnlyOffice has all the tools you need for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It’s a feature-rich MS Office alternative for Windows.

OnlyOffice is a complete office suite. However, like some other alternatives already mentioned, OnlyOffice is only web-based. You can use the OnlyOffice cloud server to store your documents or you deploy it to your server.

The standard file formats on OnlyOffice are the Open Office formats. However, the software still supports all of MS Office standard formats – DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.

Like other web-based MS Office alternatives, OnlyOffice has a security advantage. Since you can deploy to your own server, you can take 100 percent responsibility for the security of your files.

Another advantage of OnlyOffice is the high support for third-party integrations. The software integrates with NextCloud, ownCloud, Confluence, Alfresco, SharePoint, Liferay, HumHub, Plone, Nuxeo, and Chamilo amongst others.

Furthermore, unlike MS Office, OnlyOffice is an open source software. Hence, it’s more suitable for developers. There’s also an exclusive premium version for developers.

9. Polaris Office

Polaris Office is relatively similar to MS Office with support for cloud and Windows PC. Furthermore, both Polaris and MS Office for Windows are premium although Polaris Office is more affordable.

This MS Office alternative has been around for some years but was significantly improved and re-released as a new Office Suite in 2020.

Polaris Office has high compatibility. You can edit MS Office files seamlessly and also Google Docs files. Polaris Office programs include Word, Sheet, Slide, and HWP for HanWord documents.

The software also supports ODF (Open Document Format) and ZIP archive files – you can access Zip files without extraction. Other Polaris Office noteworthy features include mail merge, improved file browser, and smart scroll support.

One advantage of Polaris Office over MS Office is the small installation package. As a result, the software consumes relatively lower resources and is fast.

Polaris Office not only works for Windows alone. Just like MS Word, it also supports Mac, Android, and iOS devices. In fact, Polaris Office is a lot more popular among mobile users than Windows users.

Also Read: Best Free Note Taking Apps

10. OfficeSuite

At number 10, we have OfficeSuite. This is a simple MS Office alternative with five programs and over 300 million users. The 5 programs include Documents, Sheets, Slides, Mail, and PDF.

OfficeSuite is compatible with all MS Office program files and also Google Workspsce files. In addition, the platform supports other OpenDocument formats including ODT, ODS, ODP, RTF, CSV, and ZIP.

The interface for OfficeSuite programs like Documents and Sheets is very similar to that of MS Word and MS Excel. Just as MS Office works with OneDrive, OfficeSuite works with MobiDrive.

In addition, OfficeSuite still connects to OneDrive, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon Cloud Drive. Hence, even if you’re not with your Windows PC, you can continue your work on any device you can access.

OfficeSuite supports Android and iOS mobile devices. MS Office and OfficeSuite are both premium software. However, OfficeSuite’s personal plan costs just $29.99 per year which is a lot cheaper than that of MS Office.

Before subscribing to OfficeSuite, you can use the software for free for seven days. MS Office is better here as you can try it for free for a month.

11. Calligra OfficeSuite

Calligra OfficeSuite has been around for more than 20 years now as it was launched in 2000. It’s not just an OfficeSuite but also a graphic art suite.

The two main programs similar to MS Office on Calligra OfficeSuite include Words for word processing and Sheets for spreadsheets. The third program is KEXI which is very similar to MS Access. You can use it to design databases and process data.

For graphic designing, Calligra OfficeSuite features Karbon. Karbon is a vector drawing application which you can’t get with MS Office. Calligra OfficeSuite also features Plan, a program that you can use to manage projects and tasks.

Just like MS Office has PowerPoint, Calligra OfficeSuite features Stage for presentations. The layout is nothing but identical to that of MS PowerPoint. Furthermore, this MS Office alternative features a more advanced word processing software called Gemini.

However, unlike MS Office, Calligra OfficeSuite isn’t primarily targeted at Windows users. It’s more optimized for Linux computers. Nevertheless, you can still install it on your Windows computer and there are both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Note that Calligra OfficeSuite is free.

12. SSuite Office

SSuite Office is a relatively simple office suite application. Just like MS Office, you can view SSuite Office online via a browser or install the desktop app. Compared to MS Office, SSuite Office is very lightweight and an ideal low-memory office suite.

SSuite Office comes with nine different applications. This includes SpreadForm One similar to MS Excel, WordFormat 2 similar to MS Word, and The Sorting Machine similar to MS Access.

Other programs include My EzMail, My WebBrowser Pro, PDF Memo Creator, Envelope Printer, Address, and Internet Timer. The programs you access with SSuite Online are different from the desktop programs.

The online programs include WordGraph Editor, BasicMath, Carbon HD+ Editor, and CarbonPlus HD+. To use SSuite Office as an MS Office alternative, your best option is the Windows desktop version.

Just like MS Office, SSuite Office features different versions for 32- and 64-bit systems. However, unlike MS Office, SSuite Office is a 100 percent free office suite and you don’t have to pay any annual license fees.

SSuite Office is a safe MS Office alternative. This is mainly because it doesn’t integrate or contain any third-party add-ons or tools.

Check Out: Evernote vs OneNote

13. WordPerfect

WordPerfect is a popular MS Office alternative. However, as the description states, the suite is more focused on word processing. There are still document, spreadsheet, and presentation applications like you get on MS Office.

The programs you get with WordPerfect include WordPerfect word processor, Quattro Pro spreadsheet application, Presentations slideshow creator, WordPerfect Lightning digital notebook, eBook Publisher, and AfterShot 3 photo-editing and management.

The AfterShot photo-editing program is an advantage to WordPerfect as MS Office doesn’t feature such. Similar to MS Office, WordPerfect features templates, up to 300 of them.

If you work more on data and databases, you’ll find WordPerfect interesting to use due to the Reveal Codes. WordPerfect supports all MS Office standard file formats and also TXT, RTF, WPM, OTF, and Ebook formats.

WordPerfect and MS Office are similar when it comes to the resources they consume. To install WordPerfect, you need about 2.75 GB harddisk space. Furthermore, the most recent version of WordPerfect is exclusive for 64-bit Windows systems.

MS Office and WordPerfect are both premium software. However, while MS Office requires annual license subscriptions, you can pay once and buy WordPerfect for a lifetime. Purchasing WordPerfect costs around $570.

14. Ashampoo Office

Ashampoo Office is rated as one of the best MS Office alternatives by many users. The software is 100 percent Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11 compatible. Just like MS Office, Ashampoo Office is a premium office suite.

The Ashampoo Office alternative to MS Word is Write, its MS Excel alternative is Calculate, and its MS PowerPoint alternative is Present. These are the three standard MS Office alternatives you get with Ashampoo Office.

However, Ashampoo has premium alternatives to these programs which include Ashampoo TextMaker for word processing, Ashampoo PlanMaker for spreadsheets, and Ashampoo Presentations for presentations.

Although the main Ashampoo Office is premium, there’s a free version – Ashampoo Office Free. You can only access the standard alternatives – Write, Calculate, and Present – with the Ashampoo Office Free version.

To access all of the Ashampoo Office programs, you have to pay the $39.99 annual subscription. This is cheaper than all MS Office annual subscription plans. Furthermore, with one subscription, you can use Ashampoo Office on five different computers.

15. Hancom Office

Hancom Office is an ideal MS Office alternative for Windows if you need highly collaborative software. The software suite features five programs – Word, Cell, Show, PDF, and Mail.

With Hancom Office, you can create, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations that are compatible with MS Office Suite programs. The software works with Hancom Space so teams can work and collaborate in real-time.

Some interesting features you get from Hancom Office include enhanced clipboards, smart tags, improved slideshows, enhanced smart art visuals, and enhanced animation usability.

With Hancom Office, you enjoy more integrations than with MS Office. The suite integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, AWS, and more.

Hancom Office and MS Office are both paid software suites. You can first use Hancom Office on a free trial after which you must subscribe to a premium plan to continue. Hancom Office plans start at around $54.99. You also have the option to buy the software for life.

Bottom Line

Out of the 15 office suite programs mentioned above, I’ll recommend Apache Office and LibreOffice as the best alternatives to MS Office you can go for.

They are ideal especially if you’re switching from MS Office due to the high cost. Both of them support saving files in MS Office traditional formats.