The Best Open Source Microsoft Word AlternativesTop Word Processors and other similar apps like Microsoft Word

The best open source alternative to Microsoft Word is LibreOffice - Writer. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Microsoft Word and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Microsoft Word are ONLYOFFICE, Apache OpenOffice Writer, AbiWord and Proton Docs.

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Microsoft Word alternatives are mainly Word Processors, but if you're looking for Note-taking Tools or Team Collaboration Tools you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Mac, Free, Windows, Linux, iPad and Asia. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Microsoft Word.
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Alternatives list

  1. LibreOffice - Writer icon

    LibreOffice - Writer

     1298 likes
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    An open-source word processor offering rich formatting and style options across multiple platforms. Versatile enough to handle both simple memos and complex book publishing, it supports a wide range of document formats and Microsoft Word compatibility, enhancing productivity through templates and layouts.

    86 LibreOffice - Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • ReactOS
    LibreOffice - Writer screenshot 1
     
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    801
    Comments about LibreOffice - Writer as an Alternative to Microsoft Word
    Comment summary: LibreOffice Writer is frequently praised as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Word. Users commend its open-source nature and compatibility across multiple platforms. Its capability to handle a wide range of functions like Word, without a price, is highlighted. However, some users note challenges with certain features, such as image cropping and citation management. While newer versions may face compatibility issues with DOCX files, many find it a suitable replacement for Word.
    Top Positive Comment
    KuboFHromoslav
    41

    If you do not need some very rare functions, LibreOffice Writer is better and totally libre alternative!

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It's the best alternative I could find for Microsoft Office.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    harrietwintrose
    Positive
    0

    Probably has more functionality, but more important is that fid the UI much cleaner and so much easier to use.

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    3 of 61 comments
    Microsoft Word Icon
    LibreOffice - Writer icon

    • Almost everyone thinks LibreOffice - Writer is a great Microsoft Word alternative.

    • LibreOffice - Writer is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Microsoft Word.

    • LibreOffice - Writer is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Microsoft Word.

    • LibreOffice - Writer is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Word is Paid and Proprietary
    • LibreOffice - Writer is Privacy focused and LightweightMicrosoft Word is not according to our users
  2. ONLYOFFICE icon

    ONLYOFFICE

     637 likes
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    Open-source office suite offering document, spreadsheet, and presentation editing with co-editing modes, plugin support, integration across 30+ services, robust security, and mobile access. Available in Community, Enterprise, and Home Server editions for versatile deployment.

    71 ONLYOFFICE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    • Cloudron
    ONLYOFFICE screenshot 1
     
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    82
    Comments about ONLYOFFICE as an Alternative to Microsoft Word
    Top Positive Comment
    Alternative Software
    2

    Very easy to use and has a familiar interface. It’s much better than LibreOffice for both compatibility with MS Word and its overall design.

    RemovedUser
    Positive
    2

    Best alternative I tested to date.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    If you know how to use Word, the you will feel at home using OnlyOffice. It's feature rich, supports all platforms and even the browser. You can collaborate with other people, and OnlyOffcie respects your privacy.

    Compared to something like Apple Pages, it's not the cleanest and smoothest experience, but if you have used MS Word og LibreOffice, it won't be a problem.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 7 comments
    Microsoft Word Icon
    ONLYOFFICE icon

    • Almost everyone thinks ONLYOFFICE is a great Microsoft Word alternative.

    • ONLYOFFICE is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad, SaaS, Android Tablet & Self-Hosted alternative to Microsoft Word.

    • ONLYOFFICE is Free Personal and Open SourceMicrosoft Word is Paid and Proprietary
    • ONLYOFFICE is Privacy focusedMicrosoft Word is not according to our users
  4. Apache OpenOffice Writer icon

    Apache OpenOffice Writer

     682 likes
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    Writer, part of the Apache OpenOffice suite, is an open-source word processor. It supports the ISO standard Open Document Format (ODF) for data interchange as its default file format, as well as Microsoft Office 97-2003 formats, Microsoft Office 2007...

    72 Apache OpenOffice Writer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Main window
     
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    108
    Comments about Apache OpenOffice Writer as an Alternative to Microsoft Word
    Top Positive Comment
    chtfn
    6

    Unfortunately, is lagging far behind LibreOffice. Would be great to see development pick up and take a different direction, but it seems very much stalled, with the latest major in 2014 (7 years ago at the time of writing). I strongly recommend using LibreOffice instead, for security reasons, and also for newer features.

    Top Negative Comment
    AndreStork
    1

    It's pretty much the worst Office alternative available. It has a bad UI and I shouldn't talk about compatibility with .docx files

    KuboFHromoslav
    Positive
    1

    OpenOffice was a great alternative to Word about 15 years ago. Since then, the development has staled and the new leader is LibreOffice. Unless you are using OpenOffice for some obscure, niche reason (compatibility with very old stuff, "not fixing what is not broken", etc) a much better alternative to MS Word would be LibreOffice.

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    3 of 10 comments
    Microsoft Word Icon
    Apache OpenOffice Writer icon

    • Most users think Apache OpenOffice Writer is a great Microsoft Word alternative.

    • Apache OpenOffice Writer is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Word is Paid and Proprietary
    • Apache OpenOffice Writer is Privacy focusedMicrosoft Word is not according to our users
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    ONLYOFFICE icon
    ONLYOFFICE

    Open-source office suite offering document, spreadsheet, and presentation editing with co-editing modes, plugin support, integration across 30+ services, robust security, and mobile access. Available in Community, Enterprise, and...

    https://www.onlyoffice.com
    Learn More
  6. AbiWord icon

    AbiWord

     260 likes
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    AbiWord is a free word processing program similar to Microsoft® Word. It is suitable for a wide variety of word processing tasks.

    67 AbiWord alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • GTK
    • Flatpak
    • AmigaOS
    AbiWord on Linux
     
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    42
    Comments about AbiWord as an Alternative to Microsoft Word
    thomaszoschke
    Positive
    2

    It does what the user wants. It's a full featured text processor. It is affordable. It is not coded like a swamp.

    kaylinTechAU
    Positive
    8

    AbiWord is a great simple word processor. However it doesn't have many advanced features. Just a simple text document. And it's free!

    Daria Nowacka
    Positive
    1

    Very simple to use, I really like it

    Microsoft Word Icon
    AbiWord icon

    • Most users think AbiWord is a great Microsoft Word alternative.

    • AbiWord is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Word is Paid and Proprietary
    • AbiWord is LightweightMicrosoft Word is not according to our users
  10. Quoll Writer icon

    Quoll Writer

     38 likes
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    Focus on your words not the interface. Quoll Writer is a writing application that helps you focus on your words. Clean and uncluttered. Feature rich. Features are where you would expect them to be.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Quoll Writer screenshot 1
     
  11. Story Architect (STARC) icon

    Story Architect (STARC)

     14 likes
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    A smooth yet powerful writing experience for devoted authors. With only wanted features and native workflow it runs faster than all your previous apps combined.

    42 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once or Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • Android
    Story Architect (STARC) screenshot 1
     
  12. Fileverse icon

    Fileverse

     16 likes
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    Trustless collaboration platform with decentralized file-sharing, collaborative editing, cheap storage, privacy controls, onchain team and community access, website and blog publishing, open workflows, customizable spaces, and alternatives to traditional online suites.

    119 Fileverse alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Fileverse screenshot 1
     
  13. Daino Notes icon

    Daino Notes

     8 likes
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    Offers fast, distraction-free note-taking via a high-performance editor with real-time Markdown, local-first storage, image support, Kanban task boards, intuitive drag-and-drop, keyboard shortcuts, configurable themes, fast search, and cross-platform access.

    75 Daino Notes alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Daino Notes screenshot 1
     
  14. Calligra Words icon

    Calligra Words

     26 likes
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    Words is an intuitive word processor and desktop publisher application. With it, you can create informative and attractive documents with pleasure and ease.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Calligra Words screenshot 1
     
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    10
    Comments about Calligra Words as an Alternative to Microsoft Word
    Centaro
    Negative
    0

    It lacks many features and the UI is a mess.

    Microsoft Word Icon
    Calligra Words icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Calligra Words is a great Microsoft Word alternative.

    • Calligra Words is Free and Open SourceMicrosoft Word is Paid and Proprietary
  15. Airborn icon

    Airborn

     102 likes
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    Create and edit documents online without sacrificing your privacy.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Document overview
     
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    1
    30
    Comments about Airborn as an Alternative to Microsoft Word
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Cloud based document storage and editing, without giving up your privacy.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Microsoft Word Icon
    Airborn icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Airborn is a great Microsoft Word alternative.

    • Airborn is Freemium and Open SourceMicrosoft Word is Paid and Proprietary
    • Airborn is Security-focused and Privacy focusedMicrosoft Word is not according to our users
12 of 25 Microsoft Word alternatives