10 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives in 2024

On some days, it is unbelievable how many documents drive the world. There are information documents, calculation documents, process map documents, and project collaboration documents, out of which are but a few.

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Thank heavens, most of these documents are now in electronic form – the world needs as many trees as possible right now!

Chances are you have to create documents in whatever environment you are in, be it an office or otherwise.

MS Office is one of the old guards and may have been the best bet a few years ago (if you work in a business setting), but there are quite some more effective and efficient apps today. They may also save you money.

To give a heads-up to those options, here are the 10 best Microsoft Office rivals in 2024.

What Should You Look for in a Microsoft Office Alternative?

First, try to determine how challenging the tasks you perform are. Why do you need more enhancements and just straightforward tools? Maybe you like minimalistic, even boring because we are absolutely okay with getting things done without adding unnecessary frills.

Then look out for these features:

The simple design enables the user to comprehend how the application works readily.
Some of the mimeType that it is possible to manage include Word documents such as Word (.doc and.docx), spreadsheets like Excel (.xls and .xlsx), and presentation formats like PowerPoint (.ppt and .pptx).
Business productivity tools to improve your efficiency, for instance, to create tasks right from the document.
Easy synchronization with mobile devices for work at any time.
You and your team can receive the updates in real-time in clauses based on cloud storage, making file sharing and team management easy.

10 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives to Use in 2024

Maybe you want a fresh approach to collaborating on the team documents available online. Or maybe you want to prepare a report and show it to your boss so that you may get that important project as a freelancer.

Well, whether that describes you, now you have learned something about what you seek; let us consider some of the greatest possible Microsoft Office options.

1. ClickUp

ClickUp is an online collaboration software tool and is also an open office software like MS Office that users can access for free. It’s very flexible; you can configure it to match your workflow. Moreover, the easy-to-use forms and structures of the drag-and-drop layouts ensure that the program is easy to use.

Any of the many templates are available, and ClickUp AI can assist you in creating one or choose not to use a template to start with an empty document. You can also use some of the documents, especially those you frequently use, as templates to avoid the time of creating them later. Then, sort your documents so that you can search for them and insert them wherever in the relevant workspace.

ClickUp best features:

Create ClickUp Docs with multiple styling.
You and your team, for instance, can easily edit the documents before ensuring they are word-perfect.
I can say that using a computer allows you to format documents so that the structure of the corresponding document is as professional as possible
Make goals from the textual data in the documents that you can then monitor.
On the issue of migration from one technical platform to another, it is easy if you wish to move from Google Workspace, Asana, Microsoft Excel, or Monday.com. It integrates well with Zoom, Slack, and Dropbox, among popular tools.

ClickUp limitations:

The basic installation does not allow for the use of enhancement facilities such as analysis or project deadlines, but it is simple to obtain a paid edition
Some of these features are numerous and honest, and it may take a while to discover how best to use them all.

ClickUp pricing:

Free Forever
Unlimited: $5/month per user
Business: $12/month per user
Business Plus: $19/month per user
Enterprise: Contact for pricing
The AI feature is added to all ClickUp’s paid plans and costs $5 per Workspace member per month

ClickUp ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.7/5 (8,200+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,700+ reviews)

2. LibreOffice

This Microsoft Office substitute was developed from the initial OpenOffice. It is an office suite that is entirely open source, meaning its creators designed it with the philosophy of sharing. Using access to word processing capabilities, including spreadsheet, database, and presentation tools, this office utility is intended to enable you to produce clearly structured looks and well-formatted texts of the documents used in your work.

The current release offers enhanced dark mode where you can toggle the interface brightness, the chart of data tables inclusion, and overall improved performance and compatibility.

LibreOffice’s best features:

The application’s layout is also simple and easy for the end users to navigate.
It can work with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint files, as well as Open Document Text (ODT)
There are many formats that it can export to. This includes opening the document and saving it as a PDF file
It is made from Free and open-source software; therefore, you can use it, share it, or even enhance it according to your desire.

LibreOffice limitations:

It doesn’t provide technical support unless you purchase an answer based on the LibreOffice system from one of its partners
It does not have a basic email application like Outlook and does not offer everything in Microsoft Office.

LibreOffice pricing:

Free with optional donation

LibreOffice ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.3/5 (250+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.3/5 (2,000+ reviews)

3. WPS Office

WPS Office for Kingsoft is a work tool specially created for performing activities involving word processing, document creation and editing, spreadsheets, and even the presentation of ideas or concepts. It enhances creativity apart from enabling you to monitor revisions that you or other users make to your documents. Here, you can learn how to edit its contents, combine, split, or even convert PDF files.

No matter whether you are writing a report, a project plan, a resume, a work schedule, or delivering a shorthand jet keynote, this set offers several categories of free templates so that you do not need to bother to format your document.

WPS Office’s best features:

It works with MS Office and Google Docs.
It is free to download on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux operating systems.
If you can connect to the internet, you can work from anywhere on a PC, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone and even up to 9 devices if using the Pro edition.
Preserve the integrity of your data by setting and modifying data permissions.
The PC version is now available in 13 languages, whereas the mobile version is available in 46 languages

WPS Office limitations:

The free office suite relies on advertisements, which makes them useful for covering some of the expenses, which can sometimes be invasive, especially when working.
You must use the Pro or the Enterprise version for additional options and a capacious store.

WPS Office pricing:

WPS Standard: Free
WPS Pro: $23.99 for 6 months if you go for 2 months free or $35.99 per year fee.
WPS Enterprise: Contact for pricing

WPS Office ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.4/5 (260+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.5/5 (1,300+ reviews)

4. Google Workspace

Formerly known as G Suite, this software application suite is an online counterpart of Microsoft Office. To give you an idea, it is the Gmail of the business world for those from the start-up rookie to the large corporations. This is to give organizations a way to monitor how Google Workspace is being utilized and manage security options.

All the plans let you use Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Drive, and Gmail, and you can create a business email address. Following that package cost, you get relatively more storage for each user, more participants in a video conference, enhanced security, and better technical support.

Google Workspace’s best features:

Office files can be accessed on the internet anytime using a web browser.
Google Workspace has better security features and integrates better than Gmail.
They must be shared with specific settings to allow for synchronization with the Google Calendar so that all meeting documents are in one spot.
For businesses, the per-user pooled storage can be associated with many users, meaning that that storage will be pooled for many users in an organization.
Support is available 24/7

Google Workspace limitations:

It lives in a browser, and if you have issues with connection, you cannot work while being offline
One domain can be linked only by one package; if you have other domains, then you have to buy several packages and use different logins

Google Workspace pricing:

Free Trial: For 14 days
Individual Plan: There is a $9.99 monthly subscription fee, but you can get a 10% discount if you commit for a year.
Business Starter: $6 per month per user, with a 12-month contract.
Business Standard: $12/month per user, with a 12-month contract.
Business Plus: $18 per user monthly (annual subscription compulsory)
Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Google Workspace ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.6/5 (40,500+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.7/5 (14,600+ reviews)

5. Calligra Office

One of the best free Microsoft Office alternatives is an office suite and a graphic art suite; that graphic technology is throughout all the applications. It is also free and openly available software.

Regarding the word processor, called Calligra Words, the application allows desktop publishing on word processing via drag-drop. Additional drawings and effects within Calligra Stage presentations can be inserted with the help of plug-ins, and the calculation and spreadsheet tool Sheets enable the creation of flowcharts and mind maps as well.

Calligra Office’s best features:

You can quickly add graphic icons to your outputs to make them look good.
Select between the templates suitable for numerous scenarios or develop a new structure.
A wide variety of formula lists means developing your formula within the Sheets is possible.
The system is simple, with optimal user interactivity so that one can achieve more within a short span of time.
There is also a project management tool for moderate to large projects.

Calligra Office limitations:

However, smaller, hardworking Open Source Office suite users exist, and they feel that some of its features are inadequate to offer competition to the other Open Source Office suites.
The software is not as updated as often as some of the other free Microsoft Office alternatives.

Calligra Office pricing:

Free with optional donation

Calligra Office ratings and reviews:

G2: No ratings or reviews yet
Capterra: No ratings or reviews yet

6. Apple iWork

The apps involved in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation are Apple iWork’s pages, numbers, and Keynote. As expected, they are developed for deployment on Apple products such as the Mac, iPhone, and iPad and through iCloud.com on the web. However, it can open, create, and modify documents using document types such as DOC, XLSX, and PPTX.

The many templates available allow you to develop highly efficient, calculated, attractive, and business-like documents that meet your individual requirements. Track changes are integrated with highlight features and a built-in chat option for the rest of the team.

Apple iWork’s best features:

The first impression is that the user interface is clean and easy on the eye.
One can simply navigate through the ‘Graphic Design’ pull-down on the toolbar to design attractive documents.
If you use it for work on the iPad, you write notes and use illustrations with the Apple Pencil.
Another feature that makes it easy to move your work from one Apple gadget to another

Apple iWork limitations:

Anybody using a document that is involved in a project needs to be using Apple iWork
To do this, if you are opening iWork documents in a Microsoft Office environment, you should look for cases of formatting that may have gone missing or characters that are missing.

Apple iWork pricing:

It remains a free version for anyone who has an iCloud account.

Apple iWork ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.4/5 for Apple Numbers for more than 140 contributions
Capterra: No ratings or reviews yet

7. Dropbox Paper

As mentioned earlier, Dropbox Paper is Dropbox’s editing tool. A simultaneous feature it has is that it allows for commenting on the work done by your team and enables you to assign tasks right from the document.

Easy designs make creating documents easy. You can also insert various files into a cognitive load, such as Google Maps, SoundCloud, clips from YouTube, and GIFs to make a point and to make it more engaging—then the document transforms into a presentation.

Dropbox Paper’s best features:

You can access the Dropbox site by creating an account with them, regardless of whether it is a free basic account.
Simple project management templates are available to help you begin work immediately: Project plan, collaborative wall, social media calendar, and meeting minutes.
Simplify meeting management with an easy-to-navigate source for your meeting agenda, minutes, and action items list.
Documents can be downloaded to be used for offline purposes, such as using Microsoft Word.

Dropbox Paper limitations:

To use the Dropbox Paper, you’re required to have a Dropbox account – basic Dropbox accounts come with up to 2GB storage for free
Some users of these formats and project layouts complain that the formats seem limited compared to the Office Suite.

Dropbox Paper pricing:

Free Trial: In the Special offer for the Standard, Advanced, and Professional packages, clients can do it for 30 days.
Plus, if paid annually, it is $9.99 per user upfront for a single user or 2TB.
Standard: $15/month per user for small teams of at least three 5TB when billed annually
Family: $22.99/month for up to six users, 2TB ( if paid annually)
Advanced: $24 per user per month and $18 per user per month for teams with at least three members if more space is needed
Professional: Up to $196.58 annually per user for freelancers, $228 when billed monthly, 3 TB annually
Enterprise: Pricing should be requested; this website builder is virtually untethered regarding space.

Dropbox Paper ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.1/5 (4,400+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.4/5 (200+ reviews)

8. Apache OpenOffice

Based on the Microsoft Office suite and used by millions of people, this is an absolutely free open-source office suite. Over time, it has been developed and may often be introduced by users of the system it serves.

With the standard word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications, the data is stored in the Open Document Format (ODF) but is nonetheless compatible with most other office software applications.

Apache OpenOffice’s best features:

It is easy to use because it operates similarly to most other office software and has most of the options İt offers
I can use it on just about any computer and in some languages
It is completely free, and you can use it with the intent and purpose you see fit.

Apache OpenOffice limitations:

If you are also using the Microsoft Office Suite, then it may sometimes trigger some compatibility problems
There are opinions that the interface is somewhat primitive and should be updated.

Apache OpenOffice pricing:

It is free to use (but you could ‘give something back’ by offering time to work on the system if you have software development skills).

Apache OpenOffice ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.3/5 (300+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.4/5 (450+ reviews)

9. OfficeSuite

OfficeSuite is essentially what the name suggests: a collection of typical office utilities. Besides the typical word processing, spreadsheet, and slide show software applications, this is a Microsoft Office clone with E-Mail and calendar.

Help write documents in a team by using highlighting, comments, drawings, and track changes. With access to an advanced dedicated PDF editor, you can take the next steps to add form data, enable editing rights, enable signatures, password-protect your files, or even export your PDF files to other formats.

OfficeSuite’s best features:

Make your new files from a list of templates available to use in a few simple steps
OfficeSuite can synchronize with the Microsoft Office format, Google Docs, or Open Document format system.
It works on Windows, Android, and iOS, and you can merge documents between a Windows and an Android app or an iPhone, for instance.
Can be easily synchronized for cloud storage and sharing link applications such as OneDrive, Google Drive, and DropBox

OfficeSuite limitations:

Supplemental, there aren’t effective collaboration tools for engaging your team in a live collaborative mode
The find and replace function is somewhat limited compared to some other Microsoft Office options in this list

OfficeSuite pricing:

Free Office Suite Trial: For seven consecutive days, the Saver Plus, Personal, and Family packages have been active.
Personal: $39.99/year for one user
Family: $59.99/year for 6 users
Business: $3.99/per month per user
Business Extra: $6.99/ per month per user for per user for the advanced PDF editor
Home & Business 2024: $99.99 for one user and only one payment

OfficeSuite ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.5/5 (30+ reviews)
Capterra: 4.0/5 (20+ reviews)

10. Polaris Office

With Polaris Office, you can open and edit Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel spreadsheets in your browser and effectively manage PDF files. Select from numerous options and templates to meet your needs and ensure your output looks professional. Share the document with your colleagues and monitor the changes as they occur.

The recently added AI functionality raises this Microsoft Office competitor to a new level, helping you get more from your work and making content creation easier.

Polaris Office’s best features:

Most people find it very simple to work with or very easy to work with.
The latest version of Polaris Office can run on both PC and mobile devices.
These templates can be adapted to your requirements, if any.
It provides assurance features for sensitive documentation.
The product is not static, but it is updated constantly, and new features are introduced at least once a week

Polaris Office limitations:

The storage capacity could be a little higher to allow for more programs to be available at one time, and it is not so friendly if one needs to save a little more than usual.
If you are using the free version, you will have to endure the ads for you to be compelled to go for the premium version

Polaris Office pricing:

Polaris Office Smart (cloud): $39.99/year for nine devices
Polaris Office Pro (cloud): The paid version is $59.999 per annum for usage on 15 devices and, of course, more storage space.
Windows or MacOS (PC): $79.99 for one PC (lifetime purchase)
iOS (mobile): $39.99 (lifetime purchase)
Polaris Office Business: $83.88 yearly for use on more than one device

Polaris Office ratings and reviews:

G2: 4.2/5 (20 reviews)
Capterra: 4.4/5 (16 reviews)