Open source alternatives · Office
Open Source Alternative to Microsoft Office
Microsoft 365 costs US$99.99 a year. LibreOffice is a complete office suite that opens your files, free.
What the paid app costs: US$99.99/yr
Why switch?
Documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are solved problems. LibreOffice has matched Office's core features for over a decade, works fully offline, and never nags you to renew. OnlyOffice is the pick when pixel-perfect DOCX compatibility matters.
Compare the alternatives
| Alternative | License | Platforms | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LibreOffice | MPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | The full free office suite |
| OnlyOffice | AGPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux, web | For perfect Office file compatibility |
LibreOffice
Free forever MPL-2.0 · Windows, macOS, Linux
- Writer, Calc, Impress included
- Opens DOCX, XLSX, PPTX
- No account, works offline
The full free office suite
OnlyOffice
Free forever AGPL-3.0 · Windows, macOS, Linux, web
- Best MS format compatibility
- Clean modern interface
- Collaborative editing
For perfect Office file compatibility
Which one should you pick?
- LibreOffice: The full free office suite
- OnlyOffice: For perfect Office file compatibility
Frequently asked questions
Will my Word documents open correctly?
Yes, LibreOffice and OnlyOffice open DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX. OnlyOffice preserves complex formatting best.
Can I collaborate like Google Docs?
OnlyOffice supports real-time collaborative editing, self-hosted or on their cloud.
Is LibreOffice really free for business?
Yes, MPL-2.0 licensed, free for commercial use with no user limits.