Five fantastic free alternatives to Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is beyond a doubt the most recognizable productivity suite out there. But not everyone wants to invest in office software, so we have found you the five best free alternatives.

OpenOffice (Windows|Mac)

Perhaps the best known of our list is OpenOffice. This is a powerful package that provides four main applications: Writer (Work), Calc (Excel), Impress (PowerPoint), and Base (a management tool). All of these are great, but what makes Open Office standout are it add-ons that further increase its power.

LibreOffice (Windows|Mac)

LibreOffice is an off shoot of OpenOffice that is developed with the same ethos. It is a complete suite that continues to grow and renew itself thanks to the support of its ever growing number of followers. Though it is similar to OpenOffice, LibreOffice provides greater compatibility and a faster update cycle.

Google Docs (Web|iOS|Android)

You are probably already well aware of Google’s incredibly versatile online productivity suite. To use Google Docs all you need is a Gmail account to access Drive. From there you can store, manage, and edit all kind of documents for free, either through your browser or with the mobile apps. Best of all these all sync automatically, letting you continue working when on the move.

FreeOffice (Windows)

It may not be the most well-known on the list, but that does not impact FreeOffice’s quality. Offering TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentation’ll, you won’t feel like you are missing anything with this suite. In addition to this, it is fully compatible with all Microsoft file types and it is lightweight, making it perfect for older PCs.

Office Online (Web)

That’s right, a great free alternative to Office is Office… well, Office Online. Microsoft’s connected service that integrates OneDrive, slightly stripped back versions of Word, Excel, and Power Point, plus a few extras like OneNote and Sway. Each of these tools also integrates Skype to better facilitate collaborative work.

And there you have it, 5 apps to help you get productive without spending a cent. If you think we have forgotten any, just let us know in the comments

Next week we’ll talking about Chromecast apps. Subscribe so you don’t miss that, and I’ll see you then.

Related Stories

The best antiviruses of 2016

Top 5 battery saving apps for your smartphone

2016’s most anticipated games

Follow me on Twitter: @DoFuss