Microsoft Office is a great suite of tools, but it’s not the only option out there. In fact, there are a number of free office suites that can do everything that Microsoft Office can – and sometimes even more. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at 5 of the best free office suites available today. So if you’re looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office, be sure to check out the options listed below!
What’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021?
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that comes with free updates and the latest features. Microsoft Office 2021, on the other hand, is a one-time purchase that includes classic versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. If you’re not sure what’s best for your needs – or if you’d like to try both options before making a decision – be sure to check out our comparison of Microsoft 365 and Office 2021.
What Is the Cost of Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 comes in several versions: Personal, Home, and Business. The Personal version costs $69.99 per year for one Microsoft account with access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote on one device (Windows or Mac). It also includes free 1 GB cloud storage via OneDrive. The Family Pack costs $99.99 per year and includes up to six family members plus free 1 GB cloud storage via OneDrive for each member of your family group. A free trial is available if you’d like to try it before you buy!
What Is the Cost of Office 2021?
Office 2021 is a standalone program that can be purchased at any time without a subscription fee and it includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Office Home & Student 2021 version costs $149.99 once off.
Learn more about the differences between Microsoft 365 and Office 2021.
Is the office suite compatible with Microsoft office?
Yes, most office suites are compatible with Microsoft Office. In fact, many of them can open and edit Microsoft Office files without any issue. So if you’re looking for an office suite that is compatible with your current setup, be sure to check out the options below!
Free online office suites
If you don’t want to download any office software, free online office suites can be a great alternative. While free online office suites aren’t as powerful as their offline counterparts, they’re free and easy to use – making them perfect for basic tasks like writing documents or creating spreadsheets on the go. One of the main benefits of Google Drive and Microsoft 365 Office Online is that you may access your documents and drive from mobile devices.
Microsoft 365 Office Online
Using Microsoft Office products on a daily basis in work or school may get you accustomed to the application. Another incentive is the prospect of replacing software completely and learning everything from the ground up. Microsoft comes out to meet personal user needs. To access your favorite Word and Excel programs, you can create a free personal Microsoft 365 account. Outlook, PowerPoint, and 5 GB of OneDrive are included in the basic account. All of that sounds fantastic but comes with one major drawback. Because all of those programs may only be used online, you won’t be able to use your account to run desktop applications.
If that’s all you need for your personal needs you can sign up here for a free Microsoft 365 account.
Google Drive
If you like the idea of using internet applications wherever you go and don’t want to install anything, you can use Google services. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are a suite of free online productivity tools that can replace Microsoft Office for many users. They work in any web browser and include features similar to those found in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. What’s more, they’re compatible with Microsoft Office documents so you can easily share files between the two programs. The Google equivalent of Microsoft’s OneDrive is Drive, which gives you 17GB of space with a free account.
One downside is that Google products don’t always look as polished as Microsoft Office products do – but they get the job done! If you’re looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office, be sure to check out Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
There are a lot of Google products that you may not be aware of.
Free desktop office suits
If you’re looking for free office software that’s available offline, free desktop office suites are the way to go. They offer more features and options than free online suites but may require some initial setup if you don’t already have them installed on your PC or laptop.
Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is free and open-source office software. It’s a free alternative to Microsoft Office that has been available for over 20 years. The suite includes a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet program (Calc), a presentation tool (Impress), a drawing program (Draw), a database application (Base), and a formula editor (Math).
Apache OpenOffice has more of a community feel to it than many other free office suites out there. If you’re multilingual, note that Apache OpenOffice gives you greater flexibility in terms of languages thanks to the availability of plugins, which you can use to download language upgrades.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is free and open-source office software. The suite includes a Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet program), Impress (presentation tool), Draw (vector graphics), Base (database application), and Math (mathematical formula editor). LibreOffice supports Microsoft Office file formats for documents made in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint – so you can easily share files between the two programs! This makes it one of the best free alternatives to Microsoft Office for people who want something with similar features but don’t need all those extra apps that come packaged along with MS Office like Outlook or Publisher.
LibreOffice is a workhorse. It will be the best office program you’ve ever used. Give it a try and see if you don’t agree.
SoftMaker FreeOffice
SoftMaker FreeOffice is a free, cross-platform office suite that’s compatible with Microsoft Office file formats and looks very similar to it. It offers all the features you need to create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The best part? It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux so no matter what computer you’re using, you can access your files!
The software works with all Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file types. This means you can view and save files in formats like DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.
One downside to SoftMaker FreeOffice is that it doesn’t have quite as many features as some of the other free office suites out there. However, it’s still a great option if you’re looking for something simple and easy to use.
Conclusion
While Microsoft Office is a great suite of tools, it’s not the only option out there. In fact, there are a number of free office suites that can do everything that Microsoft Office can – and sometimes even more. If you’re looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office, be sure to check out the options listed!
