Google workplace exceeded Microsoft Office 365’s market share in 2022. There is a strong likelihood that it will rise in the future.
Note: Office 365 has been rebranded as Microsoft 365.
Why May Microsoft Office 365 Alternatives Be Needed?
Though not the only one, Microsoft Office 365 is a renowned collection of productivity tools. Alternatives to Microsoft Office are becoming more popular as savvy business owners adopt cutting-edge technology to fit their demands.
Many SMBs and large corporations are looking for new methods to work and cooperate more effectively in the contemporary business environment.
These alternatives include capabilities that might be more user-friendly and economical, making them a desirable choice for companies that wish to maintain their competitiveness.
Although Microsoft Office has been the top suite of business and productivity products, with the rise of cloud computing and the appearance of inexpensive alternatives, companies are increasingly seeking methods to save costs without compromising the effectiveness of their productivity solutions.
These affordable options offer the same functionality and features that Microsoft Office users have grown accustomed to but at a far lower price. It may be advantageous for businesses that want to reduce costs while maintaining a professional working environment.
Furthermore, these alternatives offer extra capabilities not found in Microsoft Office, like collaboration tools that can boost productivity in several ways.
Because Microsoft Office is expensive, many customers have recently opted for other software solutions. Microsoft Office is frequently pricey, and the cost of a subscription can soon mount.
Alternatives to Microsoft Office are more crucial than ever today. As cloud computing becomes more popular, more companies choose alternative hosted solutions over conventional desktop software.
Benefits of Using Microsoft Office 365 Alternatives
Organizations can benefit from MS Office Alternatives that might not be available when utilizing the standard MS Office suite. These options are frequently more economical, enabling businesses to lower overall costs.
Many MS Office Alternatives allow businesses to personalize their workflows and procedures in ways that the conventional MS Office suite may not have permitted. Additionally, they are frequently easier to use, making users familiar with the product faster.
One major drawback of Microsoft 365 is that users must select more than the components they want from the program’s complete feature set.
Users may feel it is not worth paying for features they don’t need because they must buy it or sign up for a monthly subscription for the complete package. However, several alternative office applications now provide the same services for less money; some are free to use.
Some options offer various functions for individuals and organizations, from boosting productivity and streamlining complex processes to cutting costs. These options can help any user increase their efficiency while saving money in the long run.
Additionally, Office apps are only sometimes compatible with other operating systems, making working with people using different platforms challenging. Therefore, MS alternatives can be used in such situations.
Due to increasing competition, businesses are always looking for cost-cutting platforms. In the future, they would prefer tools that can be accessed from anywhere and offer comparable functionalities but with a better cost-benefit ratio.
Now, we will explore the list of MS Office 365 alternatives you can consider.
WPS
WPS offers a variety of solid features and cutting-edge tools for generating, editing, and sharing documents. It is an all-in-one solution for office document processing.
It contains various functionality, ranging from straightforward word processing capabilities to more advanced ones like pivot tables and mail merge.
With WPS Office, you can collaborate with coworkers on documents while accessing them from any location or device. Additionally, exchanging documents is simple, making it the ideal option for personal and professional use.
It has several excellent applications, including text extraction, lengthy image output, watermark creation, and annotation.
Top Features
- It uses less memory and is lightweight.
- Support for 46 languages on mobile.
- WPS cloud two-way synchronization on all platforms.
- Built-in app for file conversion.
It offers all the capabilities of conventional desktop suites, such as chat, calendar, and mail services. WPS also provides a selection of templates, fonts, and themes for document and presentation customization.
All popular operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android, are compatible with WPS Office.
Ashampoo
A well-known software provider called Ashampoo developed an online office suite. It is a powerful collection of innovative tools that will streamline and improve the effectiveness of your work.
It offers a comprehensive selection of office productivity and business applications, including word processors, spreadsheets, presentation software, and other data processing tools.
It has many features, from editing and sharing documents to creating customized forms. The package also includes a selection of templates and clipart that can be used in documents.
It also has features like sophisticated security controls, data sharing and protection, and cloud storage and collaboration.
Top Features
- Auto-hyphenation improvements for better texts.
- Produces PDFs in the ISO-standard PDF/A format.
- XLSX files can be imported without loss.
- SQLite support.
Its single price makes it to use up to 5 devices. Anyone looking for an intuitive office suite should choose Ashampoo due to its user-friendly interface and design.
Zoho
A breakthrough set of productivity tools is Zoho. It allows organizations to streamline their operations and cooperate better than ever. Users benefit from a straightforward and user-friendly environment that makes their work more productive.
It contains capabilities like file storage, task management, email, chat, and document sharing.
Its massive 20 million users globally serve as a good indicator of its popularity. The platform offers necessary tools for companies of all sizes.
It provides the capacity to streamline content management, communications, and collaboration across devices, departments, and locations. Digital document sharing, task management, and improved communication are all possible for businesses.
Top Features
- Data movement from an existing tool is simple using the built-in migration tool.
- Giving businesses access to real-time analytics to aid in decision-making.
- Integrated chat system.
- Feasibility to perform part migration.
Enterprise-grade data security and privacy options are offered by the platform, guaranteeing that customer data is stored properly and securely. The software can be used for free for 15 days.
LibreOffice
Millions of people use the free office suite LibreOffice, an example of open-source software. Over six million people have downloaded this open-source product.
It is a robust collection of software tools that work with Windows, macOS, Linux, and other operating systems and supports all major operating systems.
The LibreOffice suite of applications includes tools for word processing, spreadsheet creation and editing, slideshow creation and editing, database operations, and formula generation.
Top Features
- Easy to extend because of its robust extension mechanisms.
- You can download and use it for free forever.
- Enhancements to the dark mode.
- Charts with tables of data.
- Improved bookmark management.
In addition to its many other functions, it allows users to produce and work with PDF documents. Additionally, the site’s free templates and add-ons can be used to increase usability. The only drawback is that it doesn’t come with technical support.
FreeOffice
One of the most reliable and well-liked free document-creating tools available online is FreeOffice. It offers a secure platform for simple document creation and editing in several languages. The office suite includes word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools.
It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux and integrates with Microsoft Office effortlessly.
It has a feature-rich online editor with various tools like text formatting options, image embedding, and the ability to save projects in formats like PDF and Microsoft Word.
Top Features
- It has touchscreen capabilities for touch-mode computers.
- Possibilities for text wrapping and advanced placement.
- Offers spell checking using the dictionaries of Hunspell.
- OpenGL graphics acceleration is used to create lovely animations and slide transitions.
You can try FreeOffice if you seek a free alternative to the Microsoft Office suite. It has been giving consumers the resources they need to produce and manage documents for more than ten years. Students, businesspeople, and anybody who wishes to handle their documents can try it.
OfficeSuite
The popularity of OfficeSuite has reached 300 million installations from 195 plus countries. It is an all-inclusive office suite for companies, groups, and people. It has all the capabilities required to handle daily tasks.
OfficeSuite includes everything you need, including simple word processing, spreadsheet creation, email writing, and calendar scheduling.
Additionally, the suite has cutting-edge capabilities like custom forms and templates that make it simpler to produce documents with a professional appearance.
It has an intuitive user interface that allows users to swiftly and effortlessly create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. Additionally, it makes it simple to collaborate with coworkers by allowing file sharing and real-time project collaboration.
Top Features
- It has a familiar interface that makes settling in and getting to work easier.
- Compatibility with all widely used formats, such as Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Adobe PDF.
- On Windows, Android, or iOS, you may work on and sync your documents.
- Access and sync your files stored on multiple clouds.
OfficeSuite can assist you in locating the ideal solution for your needs because of its extensive selection of items. It offers a comprehensive range of features for corporate and personal users created to accommodate any requirement and price range.
OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is a seasoned, reliable software developed over twenty years. Instead of being cobbled together from several software products, OpenOffice was created from the ground up as a standalone application. Because of this, it is incredibly consistent and straightforward to use.
The OASIS OpenDocument Format (ISO/IEC 26300) is the first software program in the world to be used as its native file format by Openoffice. This program has a word processor, spreadsheet, presenter, and other features.
It is compatible with many operating systems, including Apple Mac, GNU/Linux, Sun Solaris, and Microsoft Windows. Additionally, it facilitates sharing files with others regardless of the type of computer or device they use because it supports various file formats.
Updates are regular and frequently include new improvements or bug fixes since the passionate community of Openoffice users and developers is constantly inventing and looking for ways to improve the software’s features.
For the average user, it offers many capabilities, such as templates for numerous apps, customizing choices, macros, and collaborative tools. Anyone looking for a high-quality office suite without spending a lot might consider using OpenOffice.
iWork
The leading cloud-based productivity suite for all your Apple-based products is Apple’s iWork. It is a complete solution for companies that need cutting-edge technologies to be effective and efficient.
Users may create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using this extensive and practical suite of applications on any Apple device.
Companies may access their files, collaborate with others, and manage projects online with Apple’s iWork suite.
It comes with Pages (wordprocessor), Numbers (Excel spreadsheet), and Keynote (presentation), all of which work with iOS, macOS, and iPadOS-compatible devices. With these apps, users may quickly generate documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.
The apps are also integrated with iCloud and share information with others like Mail, Messages, and Calendar to facilitate collaboration.
Top Features
- Custom templates to speed up page creation.
- Tracking changes, adding highlights, and having threaded conversations with the team in real-time.
- You may create stunning data visualizations with the help of 700 editable shapes.
- For quick and beautiful presentation development, incorporate 40 themes and 100 cinematic transitions.
The iWork suite is made to offer customers a set of robust and convenient tools for managing their daily work. It makes it simple for users to stay organized and productive no matter where they are, thanks to iCloud integration and support for numerous platforms.
Google Workspace
Google Workspace is a versatile, cutting-edge way for individuals and organizations of all team sizes to connect, develop, and work together to accomplish more.
Google Workspace offers many features and tools that have increased productivity and efficiency across many organizations.
The platform allows users to collaborate on projects, share documents, and have real-time conversations. Furthermore, it enables users to save files on the cloud, making them accessible from any device.
It offers seamless communication and cooperation and enables teams to work together regardless of location. It has many sophisticated features, including team chat, calendars, file sharing, Google Meet, task management, and more.
Top Features
- Includes seamless communication tools such as Google meet, chatroom shared drive, etc.
- Enterprise-grade security to keep data secure.
- Smart canvas to work with multiple people together.
- Workflows can be made more efficient by integrating them with Salesforce or DocuSign.
To best meet their needs, teams can modify their workspaces using Google Workspace’s customizable workspace settings. Additionally, its spam protection helps to stay away from unwanted information. Users can alter Workspace with custom domain names and branding.
OnlyOffice
Ten million users worldwide rely on the award-winning web-based office suite Onlyoffice. It provides users with various functions, including a calendar, contact manager, docs, sheets, slides, and forms.
It has been created to give customers a productive, team-based solution to manage their office operations. Additionally, it offers a private and secure means to save and distribute documents with team members or clients and the option to version history.
The platform offers tools for individuals and organizations of all sizes to make, edit, and work together on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
The platform provides a robust array of office tools for increased productivity and connects with well-known cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box.
Top Features
- Telegram or the built-in chat for seamless communication.
- Integration of Rainbow or Jitsi to create audio and video calls.
- At rest, in transit, and end-to-end are the three stages of encryption.
- Markdown and HTML conversion of documents are simple.
- Textbooks can be converted to e-books with just a few easy clicks.
Its basic yet effective online office suite is the perfect option for anyone searching for a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate user interface. Schools and nonprofit groups can utilize it without charge, and startups with up to 5 people can also adopt it for free.
Polaris Office
Polaris Office has 100 million subscribers and has International standard ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS) certification.
It is an office suite that offers a full range of productivity tools, including spreadsheets, presentations, and documents, both on-premises and in the cloud. It is an easy-to-use tool for small and businesses of all sizes.
Users can securely share documents and files with employees elsewhere, collaborate with them remotely, and manage their company data from any device.
It enables users to store their data on the cloud and access it from anywhere, at any time, by supporting a variety of cloud storage providers. Its collaboration facilities, like real-time editing and a built-in chat system, ensure that project activities are managed without delay.
Top Features
- Convert and edit PDF documents.
- Convenient for real-time editing and document sharing.
- Integrating APIs as per the need.
- Supports various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Users of the Polaris Office suite can easily and rapidly create and share documents with people across different office branches anywhere.
Additionally, it offers templates, webinars, and lessons to assist users in getting the most out of their office suite. It can be used free of cost for up to 15 devices.
Calligra
KDE’s Calligra Suite is an office and graphics application. It is compatible with desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Open-source software called Calligra offers Words, Sheets, and stage as substitutes for Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, respectively.
In addition to these applications, it provides a wide range of capabilities for personal note-taking, project management, database design, and visual creativity and artwork. Microsoft Office users can easily send the documents to anyone else using Calligra Suite.
Top Features
- Embeddable Objects.
- Ease of using vector drawing applications.
- Project Management app.
To support users, the site has up-to-date information in the handbook and tutorials, and users can join the community to personalize the experience and gain knowledge.
Final Words
For many of the benefits and advantages mentioned above, cloud-based alternatives to MS Office are replacing it. In the future, there is a considerable likelihood that Microsoft Office 365 will lose market share to other affordable alternatives unless we see any breakthrough.
There is a strong likelihood that large enterprises and SMBs will eventually switch to more affordable options, given the rise in operational costs.
Next, you can check out the best Microsoft Word alternatives to try out.