While Microsoft Office dominates the app business on PCs around the world, there are many free alternatives, which lack nothing and can be used effectively without suffering from limitations.
There are free and open source suites like LibreOffice that support the Open Document Format (ODP) and then also commercial Office suites that can be used for free on a personal level, such as WPS Office.
In this list of free alternatives to Microsoft Office available for Windows and Mac PCs, we will see updated and modern suites that include programs equivalent to Word, Excel and Powerpoint, which are unrestricted and complete, with interface and correction of the Italian text and which, Above all, they have full support and compatibility, in reading, editing and creation, for Office file formats such as DOCX, XLSX and PPTX .
1) LibreOffice
When Oracle, a major American company, acquired ownership of OpenOffice, some independent developers started anew and released LibreOffice as a free and open source program for Windows, Macintosh and Linux.
LibreOffice has become a mature project and fully supported by its developers who often release functionality and security updates.
LibreOffice has therefore become significantly better than OpenOffice, it has everything that is required by an expert user of Word, Excel and Powerpoint, without shortcomings in functionality and with full integration of common file formats (doc, xls, ppt).
LibreOffice is the default suite for most Linux distributions and is also available for use on Windows and macOS and there is also a LibreOffice viewer for Android.
Download LibreOffice here
2) OpenOffice
When it comes to alternatives for Office, the first program that comes to mind is Apache OpenOffice (AOO), because it was one of the most popular open-source office programs to create documents and texts, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. yet.
It is available in many languages, including Italian, and works on all computers, including Linux and Mac.
The files are saved with the ODP format but can also open files created with Microsoft Office.
Compared to LibreOffice, Openoffice is however less advanced as a program because it is updated less and less frequently.
Although it remains a viable alternative to Microsoft Office, it is probably not the best suite to choose from, always second to LibreOffice.
Download Openoffice Here
3) WPS Office
WPS Office was released in 2016 by the Chinese developer Kingsoft and is an office suite available for Windows, Linux, Android and iPhone.
The suite is available for free without limitation to have the Writer, Presentation and Spreadsheets programs (equivalent to Word, Powerpoint and Excel) while the paid suite eliminates advertising and enables the cloud to save documents.
WPS also has the fast and easy to use PDF to Word converter. It supports bulk export and can even split PDF files if needed.
WPS Office 2016 has a user interface very similar to that of the latest version of Microsoft Office, for those who want a better aesthetic than that offered by LibreOffice.
Download WPSOffice here
4) Free Office
SoftMaker FreeOffice Office is an office suite that comes with a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a presentation program.
FreeOffice is a complete office suite, free to use both at home and in the office.
The program is available for Windows and Linux, updated to 2018, with also a basic version for Android.
The programs are fully compatible with all Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats, both DOCX, XLSX and PPTX as well as older DOC, PPT and XLS formats.
The new interface that was launched this year allows you to work with modern or classic menus and toolbars, is practically identical to Microsoft Office and also supports touchscreen controls.
To download FreeOffice you have to
Download FreeOffice from here (you must first create an account)
5) OnlyOffice
OnlyOffice is a very good alternative to Microsoft Office, completely free, very suitable for small businesses because it allows up to 20 connections simultaneously.
This suite not only offers programs for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets, but it is also very useful in order fulfillment and sales documentation procedures.
The convenient calendar feature allows the user to keep up to date on personal work-related activities and keep an eye on deadlines.
Download OnlyOffice Here
6) Calligra Suite
Calligra is another free Office suite that comes with Words, word processor application for writing documents, Sheets spreadsheet program, Stage which is a powerful and easy presentation program and several others.
It is an office suite developed by KDE, available on Linux, macOS, Windows and Android, completely different from LibreOffice.
While LibreOffice looks like Microsoft Office, Calligra completely changes its approach, with the function tabs positioned on the right side of the screen.
One of the extra features that sets Calligra apart is the mapping and project management tool, basically a program similar to Visio.
Calligra allows you to read DOCX and DOX formats but unfortunately cannot modify them (this is a limitation).
Download for free Calligra Qui
7) Polaris Office
Polaris Office is an alternative to Microsoft Office initially released in March 2014 and recently updated, very popular in some companies such as Samsung and Amazon
The suite is available for Android, iPhone, Windows and macOS, in Italian, in a free version with some advertisements or in a paid corporate version
The free version is quite complete, excellent for editing files of various formats including PPT, XLS, DOCX and HWP and also for converting and editing PDF documents.
Download Polaris Office from here
8) iWork
iWork is Apple's alternative to Microsoft Office which includes the Pages, Keynote and Numbers programs, essentially equivalent to Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
iWork can only be installed on macOS, but there are versions on the cloud that can be used by users of other platforms.
iWork is much lighter than MS Office, with basic functions, suitable for most Mac users.
iWork is free and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store in three separate apps, Pages, Keynote and Numbers.
Numbers, the equivalent of Excel, is very simplified and excellent for those who are not experts, while Pages is clearly inferior to Word.
Keynote is the best program in the suite, comparable to Powerpoint with many models for making splendid presentations.
Note that while MS Office may not be able to open documents created with iWork apps, all iWork applications can still be open and create files of compatible formats.
Download iWork from here
9) Microsoft Office online, the web version of Word, Powerpoint and Excel, can be used for free via the website and has the complete programs with all the tools.
10) Google Docs
You can write, edit and open Office files also with the Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Presentations apps, without downloading anything, directly online, on PC and smartphone.
About the Google Docs suite, we have written several articles:
- Top 10 useful and special Google Docs features
- Guide to using Google Docs as an expert
- Open Office documents online with Chrome or Firefox, without downloading them
READ ALSO: Free and online Alternative Office to write and save documents
There are free and open source suites like LibreOffice that support the Open Document Format (ODP) and then also commercial Office suites that can be used for free on a personal level, such as WPS Office.
In this list of free alternatives to Microsoft Office available for Windows and Mac PCs, we will see updated and modern suites that include programs equivalent to Word, Excel and Powerpoint, which are unrestricted and complete, with interface and correction of the Italian text and which, Above all, they have full support and compatibility, in reading, editing and creation, for Office file formats such as DOCX, XLSX and PPTX .
Article Index
- LibreOffice
- OpenOffice
- WPS Office
- Free Office
- onlyoffice
- Calligra Suite
- Polaris Office
- iWork
- Microsoft Office online
- Google Docs
Alternative programs to Microsoft Office
1) LibreOffice
When Oracle, a major American company, acquired ownership of OpenOffice, some independent developers started anew and released LibreOffice as a free and open source program for Windows, Macintosh and Linux.
LibreOffice has become a mature project and fully supported by its developers who often release functionality and security updates.
LibreOffice has therefore become significantly better than OpenOffice, it has everything that is required by an expert user of Word, Excel and Powerpoint, without shortcomings in functionality and with full integration of common file formats (doc, xls, ppt).
LibreOffice is the default suite for most Linux distributions and is also available for use on Windows and macOS and there is also a LibreOffice viewer for Android.
Download LibreOffice here
2) OpenOffice
When it comes to alternatives for Office, the first program that comes to mind is Apache OpenOffice (AOO), because it was one of the most popular open-source office programs to create documents and texts, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more. yet.
It is available in many languages, including Italian, and works on all computers, including Linux and Mac.
The files are saved with the ODP format but can also open files created with Microsoft Office.
Compared to LibreOffice, Openoffice is however less advanced as a program because it is updated less and less frequently.
Although it remains a viable alternative to Microsoft Office, it is probably not the best suite to choose from, always second to LibreOffice.
Download Openoffice Here
3) WPS Office
WPS Office was released in 2016 by the Chinese developer Kingsoft and is an office suite available for Windows, Linux, Android and iPhone.
The suite is available for free without limitation to have the Writer, Presentation and Spreadsheets programs (equivalent to Word, Powerpoint and Excel) while the paid suite eliminates advertising and enables the cloud to save documents.
WPS also has the fast and easy to use PDF to Word converter. It supports bulk export and can even split PDF files if needed.
WPS Office 2016 has a user interface very similar to that of the latest version of Microsoft Office, for those who want a better aesthetic than that offered by LibreOffice.
Download WPSOffice here
4) Free Office
SoftMaker FreeOffice Office is an office suite that comes with a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a presentation program.
FreeOffice is a complete office suite, free to use both at home and in the office.
The program is available for Windows and Linux, updated to 2018, with also a basic version for Android.
The programs are fully compatible with all Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats, both DOCX, XLSX and PPTX as well as older DOC, PPT and XLS formats.
The new interface that was launched this year allows you to work with modern or classic menus and toolbars, is practically identical to Microsoft Office and also supports touchscreen controls.
To download FreeOffice you have to
Download FreeOffice from here (you must first create an account)
5) OnlyOffice
OnlyOffice is a very good alternative to Microsoft Office, completely free, very suitable for small businesses because it allows up to 20 connections simultaneously.
This suite not only offers programs for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets, but it is also very useful in order fulfillment and sales documentation procedures.
The convenient calendar feature allows the user to keep up to date on personal work-related activities and keep an eye on deadlines.
Download OnlyOffice Here
6) Calligra Suite
Calligra is another free Office suite that comes with Words, word processor application for writing documents, Sheets spreadsheet program, Stage which is a powerful and easy presentation program and several others.
It is an office suite developed by KDE, available on Linux, macOS, Windows and Android, completely different from LibreOffice.
While LibreOffice looks like Microsoft Office, Calligra completely changes its approach, with the function tabs positioned on the right side of the screen.
One of the extra features that sets Calligra apart is the mapping and project management tool, basically a program similar to Visio.
Calligra allows you to read DOCX and DOX formats but unfortunately cannot modify them (this is a limitation).
Download for free Calligra Qui
7) Polaris Office
Polaris Office is an alternative to Microsoft Office initially released in March 2014 and recently updated, very popular in some companies such as Samsung and Amazon
The suite is available for Android, iPhone, Windows and macOS, in Italian, in a free version with some advertisements or in a paid corporate version
The free version is quite complete, excellent for editing files of various formats including PPT, XLS, DOCX and HWP and also for converting and editing PDF documents.
Download Polaris Office from here
8) iWork
iWork is Apple's alternative to Microsoft Office which includes the Pages, Keynote and Numbers programs, essentially equivalent to Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
iWork can only be installed on macOS, but there are versions on the cloud that can be used by users of other platforms.
iWork is much lighter than MS Office, with basic functions, suitable for most Mac users.
iWork is free and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store in three separate apps, Pages, Keynote and Numbers.
Numbers, the equivalent of Excel, is very simplified and excellent for those who are not experts, while Pages is clearly inferior to Word.
Keynote is the best program in the suite, comparable to Powerpoint with many models for making splendid presentations.
Note that while MS Office may not be able to open documents created with iWork apps, all iWork applications can still be open and create files of compatible formats.
Download iWork from here
9) Microsoft Office online, the web version of Word, Powerpoint and Excel, can be used for free via the website and has the complete programs with all the tools.
10) Google Docs
You can write, edit and open Office files also with the Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Presentations apps, without downloading anything, directly online, on PC and smartphone.
About the Google Docs suite, we have written several articles:
- Top 10 useful and special Google Docs features
- Guide to using Google Docs as an expert
- Open Office documents online with Chrome or Firefox, without downloading them
READ ALSO: Free and online Alternative Office to write and save documents
