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A thousand years ago, the term “Best Office Software” referred to a collection of rooms within a physical building where people would gather during weekdays for tasks like typing letters, conducting meetings, calculating finances, and engaging in casual conversations at the water cooler. The idea of an office suite has changed, though. Now, an office suite is a group of software programs that can be placed on computers or mobile devices. People can do different jobs on their own or with others, and they don’t have to wait for specific workdays to do so.
Even though Best Office Software haven’t replaced water cooler chats, many companies now use business texting apps to talk to each other. Microsoft 365, which used to be called Office 365 and Microsoft Office, is the most popular office program and is used all over the world. Still, it’s important to remember that Microsoft 365 might not be the best option for everyone. We looked at similar and nearly identical options from Apple, Corel, The Document Foundation, Google, and SoftMaker to help you choose the best suite for your needs.
Best Office Software Comparison Table
| Microsoft Office Professional 2021 | Google Workspace | Microsoft 365 online | Zoho Workplace | LibreOffice | WPS Office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Word Processing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spreadsheets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Presentations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | |
| Cloud Storage | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Collaboration | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Database Management | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Cost | Paid | Paid | Subscription | Paid | Free | Free |
| Platforms | Windows | Web, Mobile | Web, Mobile | Web, Mobile | Windows | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Microsoft Office Professional 2021
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Powerful word processing software with advanced editing and formatting tools |
| Microsoft Excel | Comprehensive spreadsheet program for data analysis and calculations |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Create dynamic presentations with multimedia elements and slide transitions |
| Microsoft Outlook | Email management, calendar, and contacts organizer |
| Microsoft Access | Relational database management system for storing and analyzing data |
The Best Office Software of workplace productivity tools known as Microsoft workplace, which has now been rebranded as Microsoft 365, is unrivaled. You won’t ever have to worry about whether or not the components of this suite are compatible with one another because they are so well developed, feature-packed, and extensively utilized. There are free versions of standard applications like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel that may be downloaded from the internet.
Support for real-time collaborative editing is even more versatile than it is in Google’s apps because papers can be stored on a Microsoft SharePoint Server, in a personal OneDrive folder, or on Dropbox when using Microsoft software. This is in contrast to the situation with Google’s apps, where the documents must be stored locally.
The Good
- A wide range of uses for professionals
- Features and tools for a wide range of office jobs
- Compatible with other Microsoft Office users in a lot of ways
- Updates and help from Microsoft on a regular basis
The Bad
- Compared to free or other office tools, it is more expensive.
- License limits and limitations
- Complex traits that are harder to learn
Google Workspace
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Google Docs | Collaborative online word processing with real-time editing |
| Google Sheets | Web-based spreadsheet program for data management and analysis |
| Google Slides | Create and deliver visually appealing presentations online |
| Gmail | Email service with advanced search capabilities and customizable filters |
| Google Drive | Cloud storage for easy file sharing and synchronization |
Any firm that requires a collaboration-ready office suite, a website, shared calendars, and mail services will find that Google Workspace offers a lot to provide for their needs. In contrast to Microsoft’s offerings, Google Workspace can only be accessed through the cloud. Whether this is an advantage or drawback depends on your needs.
If you want to ensure that everything produced by your business is always available in the cloud, the best method to do so is to use apps that are exclusive to the cloud. Google Workspace is an excellent option because of the simplicity, beauty, speed, and depth it provides.
The Good
- Collaboration that works well and changing in real time
- Integration with other Google services is very good.
- Using the cloud to store files and view them from any device
- Strong search and organizing tools
The Bad
- Some apps have limited offline functions
- Dependence on being connected to the internet
- Possible problems with files from Microsoft Office
Microsoft 365 online
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Word Online | Online version of Word with basic editing and collaboration features |
| Microsoft Excel Online | Web-based spreadsheet program for data analysis and sharing |
| Microsoft PowerPoint Online | Create and deliver presentations through a browser |
| Outlook Online | Web-based email client and organizational tool |
| OneDrive | Cloud storage for file storage, sharing, and collaboration |
You thought it would cost you to use Microsoft Office? Yes, if you want to use all the tools. But because free competitors like Google’s Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) are a threat, Microsoft has made its own free online Office tools. Microsoft 365 Online looks and acts the same as its desktop version. There aren’t any advanced tools like pivot tables, but Google doesn’t have them either.
Office Online is a great choice if you use Microsoft document types most of the time. Unlike Google’s free office program, it doesn’t need to convert your files before you can work on them, and you can easily share them through your Microsoft OneDrive account. Just sign in with your Microsoft account, which is the same one you use to sign in to Windows 10, and you’re good to go.
The Good
- Interface that Microsoft Office users will be used to
- Documents and files are easy to get to from any internet-connected gadget.
- Integration without a hitch with desktop Microsoft Office programs
- Collaboration tools for writing papers together and sharing them
The Bad
- Compared to the full desktop Microsoft Office suite, it has less features.
- Access and editing choices are limited when you’re offline.
- Some of the more advanced tools might not be in the online versions.
Zoho Workplace
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Zoho Writer | Online word processing software with collaboration and sharing features |
| Zoho Sheet | Web-based spreadsheet program for data analysis and visualization |
| Zoho Show | Create and deliver dynamic presentations online |
| Zoho Mail | Email service with task management and calendar integration |
| Zoho Docs | Cloud storage and file management solution |
Zoho Workplace is a Best Office Software on its own. It’s definitely more like a PC office suite, and it’s good enough that companies like the BBC and Nike use it often. Zoho’s new word processor, which drops the classic Word-style interface in favor of a sidebar for formatting, looks great and can make documents that look professional. It also comes with a great spreadsheet and a decent presentation package.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Zoho Workplace also has a powerful tool for making websites, a way to handle files, and many tools for working together. Some are simple, so they probably won’t replace what you already have, but if you’re just starting out as a small business, Zoho is probably a good place to start.
The Good
- Integrated suite with different office software
- Affordable price plans for features that help teams work together
- Possibility to connect with other Zoho apps
The Bad
- Might not have as many tools as other well-known office suites.
- Problems with how Microsoft Office files work together
- Hill to climb for new users
LibreOffice
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| LibreOffice Writer | Word processing software with advanced formatting and styling options |
| LibreOffice Calc | Spreadsheet program for data analysis and calculations |
| LibreOffice Impress | Create multimedia presentations with slide transitions and animations |
| LibreOffice Base | Relational database management system for storing and manipulating data |
| LibreOffice Draw | Vector graphics editor for diagrams, flowcharts, and illustrations |
LibreOffice, a Best Office Software and open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, came in at number two on our list of the most popular office suites. Free to download and use, and more crucially, LibreOffice is widely regarded as one of the top open-source office suites available today.
Although the name LibreOffice might not be as recognizable to some of you as its previous moniker, OpenOffice.org, some of you might recognize it. This fantastic open-source office software package has been improved and brought up to date with the release of LibreOffice.
The Good
- Office software that is free and open source
- Compatibility across platforms
- Rich set of tools for making and changing documents
- Multiple file types, including Microsoft Office formats, are supported.
The Bad
- Some commercial options may have a more polished user experience.
- Compared to paid office suites, it has less technical help.
- Updates and new features will come out less often
WPS Office
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| WPS Writer | Word processing software with a familiar interface and rich formatting options |
| WPS Spreadsheets | Spreadsheet program for data management and analysis |
| WPS Presentation | Create visually appealing presentations with slide transitions and animations |
| WPS PDF | Convert documents to PDF format and vice versa |
| WPS Cloud | Cloud storage and file sharing platform |
WPS Office is not only a wonderful addition to Windows 10, but it is also one of the Best Office Software that are compatible with Windows 11. Kingsoft, a software business based in Beijing, is responsible for the production of WPS. Kingsoft is a Chinese corporation.
The acronym WPS is an efficient way to summarize the three most important applications that ought to be included in any office suite. These applications are known as writer, presentation, and spreadsheets.
The Good
- There is a free version with a full set of features.
- Interface and tools that are easy to use
- Good compatibility with the file types used by Microsoft Office
- Built-in PDF editing and transfer tools
The Bad
- There are a lot of ads in the free version.
- Compared to other office tools, it doesn’t have as many ways to work together.
- Compared to commercial options, there is less help and updating.
FAQs
Yes, most office tools can be changed to fit your needs. Most of the time, you can change the layout, fonts, styles, and templates to your liking. You can also change choices for grammar and spelling, auto-correction, formatting, and more.
It depends on the suite and program in question. Some office software can be used and edited without an internet link, while others may need to be connected to the internet to work properly. Suites like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace can be used without an internet connection, but some features might be restricted or not work at all.
Yes, a lot of office software packages can be used with different operating systems. For example, Microsoft Office is available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Google Workspace and Apple iWork both work on more than one platform, which makes them easy to use on a variety of devices.