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The best Microsoft Office Alternatives make it easy to use office software without having to pay for a subscription. Every dollar counts for small businesses. Sometimes, this means you have to be creative with the tech choices you make. Microsoft Office is the most popular office productivity suite, but buying new copies can be expensive if you’re buying new computers or replacing old software.
The desktop version of Microsoft Office costs about $250, while the subscription model for Microsoft Office 365 software as a service (SaaS) costs $6 to $23 a month per user, which quickly adds up. Before you buy new software, think about these free alternatives to Microsoft Office that could help your business save money.
Best Microsoft Office Alternatives
Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is a great choice for people who are on a tight budget, don’t need a lot of bells and whistles, and are used to using open-source office software. If the price of Office is your main complaint, you should look into Open Office.
Even though this open-source software isn’t as full-featured or well-polished as Microsoft’s apps, it’s free, which is hard to beat. Since it is open source software, most of the new features come from volunteer developers who want to make the programme better for the whole community. This is one of the best Microsoft Office Alternatives that you can buy right now.
Features
Pros
- Completely free to use and download
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Easy to share files
Cons
- Limited support
- Not a wide variety of features
LibreOffice
The Document Foundation gave birth to LibreOffice, which split off from OpenOffice in 2010. The suite itself is free and open source. It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software, and it is available in 110 languages. LibreOffice uses the ODF format, but it also works with many other formats, including those used by Microsoft Office.
Most Linux distributions use LibreOffice as their default office suite, and you can also use it on Windows and macOS. There is also an Android version of the LibreOffice viewer. As with most open source software, you can get technical help online, but since this is so easy to use, you won’t need it very often.
Features
Pros
- Free to use and download
- Open-source software
- Compatible with a wide range of file formats
Cons
- No advanced features
- Challenging user interface
WPS Office
WPS Office is a great choice if you need software for simple office tasks. It works with many different types of files and is a great, free alternative to Microsoft Office. Since there are so many free alternatives to Microsoft Office, it’s not surprising that you’re looking around. WPS is another piece of software that has versions for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.
This office suite is free, but it relies on ads to make money. You can get rid of the ads for $30 per year. This suite was made by Kingsoft, a company based in China. WPS Writer, WPS Spreadsheet, and WPS Presentation are all programmes that can be used. WPS Office gets mostly good reviews. This is best Microsoft Office Alternatives you can download.
Features
Pros
- Free to use and download
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Lots of customization options
Cons
- Can have compatibility issues
- Limited support
Calligra
The first version of the Calligra Office suite came out in October 2000 as a part of KOffice. It is an office suite made by KDE, and it can also be used to make graphic designs. It works on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Calligra is a free and open source software suite that can be downloaded from its own website or from KDE’s downloads page.
It has nothing to do with LibreOffice. Calligra doesn’t have the look and feel of MS Office like LibreOffice does. A lot of the useful tabs are on the right side of the screen, not at the top like in MS Office and other office suites. This means that the page you are currently editing doesn’t take up the whole screen. it is one of the best Microsoft Office Alternatives that you can buy.
Features
Pros
- Available for Linux
- Free, open source software
Cons
- MS Office compatibility issues
Dropbox Paper
Dropbox Paper is a great choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs who value easy integration and collaboration. Dropbox isn’t known for its office programmes, but this platform for sharing files has a word processor that competes with the likes of Microsoft Word.
Dropbox Paper works very well with Dropbox, which makes it easy to share files. Dropbox Paper lets multiple people work on the same document at the same time, and you can export files in the popular.docx and.pdf formats.
Features
Pros
- Cloud-based platform
- Real-time collaboration
- Customizable templates
Cons
- Basic features
- Limited file compatibility
OfficeSuite
OfficeSuite is an app that can be used on Android, iOS, and Windows. It was made by MobiSystems. OfficeSuite is often already on devices that are made by Amazon, Toshiba, Sony, and Alcatel. The Android app has been called one of the best business apps.
Your OfficeSuite account lets you sync between devices, and you only need one licence for all of them. You can choose from different levels. The “Basic” level is free and lets users view and change documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Features
Pros
- Allows syncing across devices
- Free tier
Cons
- Free tier is basic
FreeOffice
FreeOffice works well with most other office software and is a great choice for people who want consistent and easy-to-use software. Since it looks and works a lot like Microsoft Office, FreeOffice makes it easy to switch from Microsoft Office.
Free is in the name, so it is. It was made by SoftMaker, and it works on PCs with Windows, Mac, and Linux. TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations are some of the most important apps in FreeOffice 2021. They replace Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, respectively.
Features
Pros
- Free to use and download
- Cross-platform compatibility
- File compatibility with Microsoft Office
Cons
- Basic features
- Ad-supported software
Polaris Office
Polaris Office was first released in March 2014 and is made by Intraware. It’s a free set of office programmes that can be used on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. It seems to be a popular business suite, as companies like Amazon and Samsung use it. Even though the free version gives you a lot, you can upgrade to the business version if you want to.
Their cheapest plan is Polaris Office Smart, which costs about $40/£35/AU$60 per year and can be used on any of your devices. You can also pay about $80, £70, or AU$120 for a lifetime licence that only works on one PC. You can edit many different file types, like PPT, XLS, DOCX, and HWP, with this powerful suite. You can download Polaris Office from here.
Features
Pros
- Excellent free tier
- Cross-platform
Cons
- Ads can be distracting
FAQs
What is a good alternative to Microsoft Office?
- Apache OpenOffice
- LibreOffice
- NeoOffice
- Kingsoft WPS Office
- SSuite Office
- Google’s productivity apps
- Microsoft Office Online
- iWork for iCloud
What is the free equivalent of Microsoft Office?
If you want an easy and free alternative to Microsoft Office, FreeOffice is the right suite for you. Since 1987, SoftMaker has been making office software, and their best-known product is their office suite.
Is Google Docs as good as Microsoft Word?
MS Word is the most popular word processor in educational settings because it is easy to use. On the other hand, tech-savvy people who like to work online and need their documents on multiple devices at all times prefer Google Docs.
Is LibreOffice a good program?
LibreOffice is a good choice for people who want a free, open-source office suite that works with many different file types. But it might not be the best choice for people who need the best performance and the most help.