Microsoft Office once unquestionably occupied the world of productivity suites and programs. However, the subscription model and the high price of Office 2019 have led to a retinue of options falling outside Microsoft's banner. The best option for Microsoft Office allows users the freedom to create and edit - many are also compatible with files created in Word, Excel and other Microsoft programs. If you're loyal to Microsoft's product, it's also worth trying out web-based applications in Office, which emulate a lot of the office's primary features in your browser for free.
Outside of that, there are capable options available for both Windows and MacOS, whether you're looking for a quick means to copy your resume or string together on complex formulas before an important business presentation. Below are some of our favorites.
Best choice for Microsoft Office
Best Office Options: FreeOffice
The latest version of SoftMaker's FreeOffice comes with full compatibility for DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT and PPTX file formats, with a lot of work going into making them lossless. This means that you will not get any unexpected surprises when transferring your files to Word, which makes the software perfect for those who want a free alternative to Word but still work regularly with Word software Is required to do.
FreeOffice is also easy on the eyes and should be very familiar to Word users. The toolbar and document-creation options are the same in the Office suite, and the latest software updates ensure that the program is quick and relatively zero in loading time. Even PlanMaker, the suite's Excel option, provides features such as conditional formatting and pivot tables, which previous Excel users will be able to jump without the need for a tutorial.
FreeOffice is also an excellent option for completing commercial projects. Not only does it provide compatibility with password-protected files, but it can also help you create PDF files or ePUB files and track document changes. More common features - such as spell-checking - also wait in the wings, making sure you are not missing anything related to the office.
Best web-based Microsoft Office option: Google's G Suite / Google Apps
Google's online suite needs no introduction. Cloud-based software remains ideal if you need to work with others on a project - especially if everyone is familiar with Google Drive, where files can be stored and shared. The current iteration of Docs supports PDFs, DOC files and even iWork files, so you don't have to worry about lost information. It is also integrated with most of Google's other services, including Gmail and Calendar. There is also a G Suite productivity solution for businesses, which is a strong competitor of Microsoft's office offerings across many enterprises.
The interface is classic Google - minimal and often-confusing. Some devices or capabilities may be hidden deep in menus or not made available for unknown reasons, which can make it difficult to choose software without any previous experience. Nevertheless, if you are used to Chrome or Chrome OS, then you know what to expect and should not have much problem navigating the menu.
In addition, the ability to work on documents, edit work and discuss changes with people who are working on the same file - all in the same window - is incredibly useful and different file types Is well implemented in. For some, this is one reason for choosing Google's offer over Microsoft's payment or otherwise. This is a great option for people with limited storage (such as Chromebook users), or for those who need to edit at a short distance.
Google Docs G Suite
Best Full-featured Microsoft Office Options: LibreOffice
The creators of LibreOffice took a look at Microsoft Office and said, "Make sure we can do everything that Office can't do." So far, the differences are so numerous that one has created a useful (and lengthy) graph that shows additional compatibility compared to Microsoft's suite of LibreOffice offers. It includes support for a large number of document formats on both MacOS and Windows. If you are using more specialized software and are concerned that Office will not be able to handle your industry-specific formats, you will be more than happy to step into LibreOffice.
The open-source community behind LibreOffice remains active and continues to create extensions that allow you to equip your app with any features you may need. And both "released" (slightly larger, but still very recent) and "pre-released" (have the latest and latest features, but may not have been tested for very long) given the versions currently available You are also guaranteed to see regular improvements with LibreOffice.
Finally, if you like Office, but are looking for a highly-customizable option that can expand on the tools Microsoft provides while offering solid compatibility, LibreOffice is for you. Of course, learning and building LibreOffice into the software you want can take a little work, so give yourself enough time to figure out what's at your disposal.
Windows macOS linux
Best Microsoft Word Clone: WPS Office
WPS's Office option comes with author, presentation, and spreadsheet, all copied to Microsoft's iconic suite. All files you create with these apps will be fully compatible with their Microsoft counterparts, and have an additional suite of PDF conversion tools required for you to export or import in a more ready-friendly format. Also, this suite is available for free on both Android and iOS devices.
If you are used to a specific interface in Word programs then WPS is ideal and want to mimic the experience as closely as possible. No time to learn new tools? No worries. Even the template options are based on Microsoft's traditional templates, making it easy to find your preferred method of starting and filling a document. In addition, the interface more closely resembles the new versions of Microsoft Office than our other pics, so jumping right in can be easier than you expect.
However, everything has content to copy to Microsoft. The software includes some useful tools of its own, including organic ways to change paragraph layouts with your mouse, advanced section navigation, and document tabs that allow you to quickly manage multiple documents. This makes WPS Office a great choice for laptops and / or schoolwork.
Windows linux android ios
Best iMac Office Alternative: iWork
Apple's iWork was not originally designed for compatibility with Office Docs, but over time, developers decided to add more functionality. You can import Microsoft files and edit them into pages, numbers, or keynotes as needed, which is a big benefit that makes iWork the perfect office option for those working on Macs. These days, even Windows PC users can use iWork if they have no problem doing so via iCloud (Apple does not currently provide compatible desktop versions).
Of course, access is more determined by your familiarity with iWork than anything else. These applications may eventually be able to produce similar documents, but they do not really resemble Microsoft Office when it comes to the interface. The devices are located in different places and are slightly more ambiguous than their Microsoft counterparts, so if this is your first time using these apps, you can expect a strong learning curve before things get simpler .
Also, keep in mind that iWork is built to work with iCloud. If you currently use a cloud backup solution, this will make it much easier to share documents on the cloud and store them off-site if necessary. This can be extremely useful if your entire team is on board, but as with Google Docs and G Suite, everyone needs to be on the same page. If you are a mobile user, you also want to note that iWork Suite is broken into three different apps, each of which needs to be downloaded individually.
Page number keynote
Editors recommendations
