Are you looking for some free Microsoft Office alternatives that you can install on your Windows PC or Mac book? Then you should look no further because in this article I have selected the best Microsoft Office alternatives for you. Maybe you already know about WPS Office, but I will be introducing you to 4 more options you can choose from. Go through each one of them and make your choice because they all work perfectly with various operating systems.
Microsoft Office was released in 1988, and ever since then, it has been a raging success. Software like MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint has awesome functionality, a wide range of features, and easy collaboration. This makes them ideal for both students and professionals.
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While Microsoft Office has a great selection of productivity software/programs, some people consider it to be quite expensive, starting at $69.99 per year for one user. As a result of the high price tag, many people are now looking for free Microsoft Office alternatives.
If you are one of them, then I am glad to introduce to you some of the alternatives of Microsoft Office. These five free Microsoft Office alternatives are preferable options to most people and the premium is also available at much lower prices. Though they might not be able to match the power of Microsoft Office, they are definitely worth a try.
5 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives That Are Free
The five free Microsoft Office alternatives I want to show you today are:
- OpenOffice
- Google Docs
- LibreOffice
- Apple iWork
- WPS Office
These five options I listed above are all great alternatives to Microsoft Office for an average user. The good thing is that they are free. While some features you can find in Microsoft Office might be missing in these, they all offer the tools you need to create professional documents, presentations, and spreadsheets using your personal computer.
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Now, let me introduce you to each of them.
OpenOffice
OpenOffice is made by Apache, and it is perhaps one of the best-known free Microsoft Office alternatives. Not only because it is completely free, but the apps are also open-source, which is why the suite is called OpenOffice. Being open-source simply means that anyone can look at and contribute to the software. This means it is constantly being improved upon by its community.
This particular software is not as advanced compared to some of the other options I talked about on this page. Also, if collaboration is one of your major factors, then you might consider looking at other options found in the list above. That being said, OpenOffice allows users to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations as simply as possible.
OpenOffice users can import and export Microsoft Office documents, which might be an important feature for those that work with others. OpenOffice is compatible with Windows, OS X, and Linux, and you can download it online.
Google Docs
Google Docs is probably the most well-known free Microsoft Office alternative. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other programs serve as extremely powerful alternatives to the Microsoft Office suite.
Google Docs platform is entirely cloud-based. This means that documents are stored in the cloud and the apps themselves are web-based.
Another good thing is that Google Docs collaboration tools are second to none. Users can share documents quickly and easily, and multiple people can access and edit a document at the same time. Google Docs also has an effective spell-check system, which is great for professional writers.
Users of Google Docs can also import and export Microsoft Office documents, so there are no worries about not being able to collaborate with people using different programs.
Sheets and Slides are also comparable to their Microsoft counterparts, allowing users to easily create modern presentations and share them with others.
If you do not mind working with web-based applications, Google Docs is probably the best and free Microsoft Office alternatives you can find out there.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is similar to OpenOffice in so many ways. It is also completely free and was actually created as part of the same initiative that led to the creation of OpenOffice.
However, since leaving Apache back in 2010, LibreOffice has grown to become a much more powerful alternative to Microsoft Office. Using LibreOffice, you can create documents, diagrams, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, and lots more. It offers a range of more advanced features than OpenOffice, an example is a built-in Wikipedia editor. You can also download LibreOffice online.
Apple iWork
If you are making use of Apple products, then these option will be the best for you.
Apple has its own suite of productivity apps called iWork. It includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Like you might already know about apps designed by Apple, each of these apps is also beautifully designed, simple, and comes with full features.
These iWork programs make it easy for users to create professional documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. These apps are compatible with Word; therefore, collaboration should not be an issue. These apps also work very well with iCloud, making them even better for users in the Apple ecosystem.
To add icing to the cake, the iWork suite is also completely free. This makes it one of the best free Microsoft Office alternatives for Apple users.
WPS Office
Formerly known as Kingsoft Office, WPS Office is now a true competitor to Microsoft Office.
WPS Office has the Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheets applications, which offer many of the same tools and features you will find in the Microsoft counterparts. Though it may not be as popular as MS Office, WPS Office is nearly as powerful as the Microsoft programs many users have to get accustomed to.
The applications are very lightweight, run smoothly, and it is also compatible with Microsoft Office. WPS Office can also run on Windows or Mac, as well as on mobile devices.
Best of it all, it is one of the free Microsoft Office alternatives you can find today. There is also a premium version available for just $29.99 per year. The premium version offers a few additional features for a heavy user, but they are not important for an average user. You can download WPS Office online.
Conclusion
Each of the free Microsoft Office alternatives I talked about on this page has great features. But the real question is if any one of them is anywhere close to Microsoft Office in terms of features. The answer simply depends on what you need as a user. Microsoft Office is definitely the king, but those who are looking for alternatives will have no problem with any of these.
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