Open Source Microsoft Word Alternatives

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 13 is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Microsoft Word are Apache OpenOffice Writer, ONLYOFFICE, AbiWord and Manuskript.

Microsoft Word alternatives are mainly Word Processors but may also be Note-taking Tools or Novel Authoring Tools. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word alternatives page was last updated

Microsoft Word

905

Paid • Proprietary
Word Processor

Microsoft Word, part of the Microsoft 365 (Office) but also sold as a standalone...

More about Microsoft Word

LibreOffice - Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
ReactOS
83 LibreOffice - Writer alternatives
Writer has all the features you need from a modern, full-featured word processing or desktop publishing tool.
- - 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.
Suggest and vote on features
LibreOffice - Writer Features
1. PortableLibreOffice - Writer can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
2. Spell CheckingLibreOffice - Writer can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
3. Privacy focusedLibreOffice - Writer is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
4. Ad-freeLibreOffice - Writer doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of LibreOffice - Writer.
6. Works OfflineLibreOffice - Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
7. Dark ModeLibreOffice - Writer supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
8. Distraction-freeLibreOffice - Writer has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
9. WYSIWYG SupportLibreOffice - Writer integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Export to PDF
Built-in PDF converter
Export to Word
LibreOffice Integration
Compatible with Microsoft Office
Auto Correction
Basic fonts
FOSS
Export to HTML
Export to EPUB
Comments about LibreOffice - Writer as a Alternative to Microsoft Word
Almost everyone thinks LibreOffice - Writer is a great Microsoft Word alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
lharolds
It has virtually everything that MS Word does with exception of the most exotic functions - but it's 100% Open Source and 100% free.
Top positive comment•
17

chtfn
Does everything I need it to do, and keeps improving with two major releases a year. A big focus on interoperability (including supporting old, obscure formats) which is very important. And a community you can join to learn new skills, and to contribute back to the project if you have the capacity to do so.
Top positive comment•
1

WofWca
No worse than Word, + FOSS
Positive comment•
0

valerie
The only thing Word realistically has over LibreOffice - Writer is the fact that it has a few functions (that are seldom used), so, in 99 cases out of 100, there are no drawbacks.
Positive comment•
1

Guest
Libre office is just quit easy to use just like word and it's also free
Positive comment•
0

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5 of 53 comments
Apache OpenOffice Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
80 Apache OpenOffice Writer alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
Apache OpenOffice Writer Features
1. Spell CheckingApache OpenOffice Writer can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
2. Ad-freeApache OpenOffice Writer doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Works OfflineApache OpenOffice Writer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Export to PDF
Fractions
FOSS
Comments about Apache OpenOffice Writer as a Alternative to Microsoft Word
Most users think Apache OpenOffice Writer is a great Microsoft Word alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
chtfn
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 positive comment•
5

Martin Martin
It is basically a free version of Microsoft Office.
Top positive comment•
2

AndreStork
It's pretty much the worst Office alternative available. It has a bad UI and I shouldn't talk about compatibility with .docx files
Top negative comment•
0

Larry Tucker
I like OpenOffice's easier user features and dropdowns better than Word. I do use Word with Grammarly after I've finished my writing for editing.
Positive comment•
0

Pietro Smusi
Free, simple, open-source. The interface is a bit old-styled, but you may actually like that more.
Positive comment•
1

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5 of 9 comments
ONLYOFFICE
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Open Source
Office Suite
Word Processor
Spreadsheet App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
AppImageHub
Snapcraft
Flathub
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Flatpak
Cloudron
64 ONLYOFFICE alternatives
ONLYOFFICE is an open-source online collaborative office combining editors for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and forms. It is compatible with all popular formats and features maximum support for MS Office files.
- - ONLYOFFICE is the most popular SaaS & Self-Hosted alternative to Microsoft Word.
Suggest and vote on features
ONLYOFFICE Features
1. Works OfflineONLYOFFICE can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in ONLYOFFICE simultaneously.
3. PortableONLYOFFICE can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
4. End-to-End EncryptionONLYOFFICE has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
5. Dark ModeONLYOFFICE supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. Ad-freeONLYOFFICE doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Spell CheckingONLYOFFICE can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
8. Privacy focusedONLYOFFICE is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
Compatible with Microsoft Office
Tabbed interface
Nextcloud integration
FOSS
Cloud based
Export to PDF
Multiple languages
Collaborative Workspaces
Integrated Youtube support
Built-in translation
Comments about ONLYOFFICE as a Alternative to Microsoft Word
Almost everyone thinks ONLYOFFICE is a great Microsoft Word alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Risei
It has a nice UI, and good support for microsoft document formats.
Top positive comment•
2

Guest
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.
Top positive comment•
1

Daniel Castelli
Best alternative I tested to date.
Positive comment•
0

Hudson Borges
Its one of the best options to Microsoft Office, it has almost all tools. And is by far better then LibreOffice or OpenOffice.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Very similar layout to Microsoft Office so its the best alternative for people use to that. And especially for me, ecuations in google docs and libre office are ugly compare to Microsoft format which OnlyOffice use.
Positive comment•
1

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5 of 6 comments
AbiWord
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Word Processor
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
GTK+
AmigaOS
Flathub
Flatpak
70 AbiWord alternatives
AbiWord is a free software word processor. The name "AbiWord" (pronounced "Abby Word") is derived from the root of the Spanish word "abierto", meaning "open". It runs on Linux, Mac OS X (PowerPC), ReactOS, BeOS (unsupported), AmigaOS 4.
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AbiWord Features
1. LightweightAbiWord consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. PortableAbiWord can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Spell CheckingAbiWord can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
4. Works OfflineAbiWord can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
5. Distraction-freeAbiWord has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
6. Ad-freeAbiWord doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
Multiple languages
Comments about AbiWord as a Alternative to Microsoft Word
Most users think AbiWord is a great Microsoft Word alternative.
thomaszoschke
It does what the user wants. It's a full featured text processor. It is affordable. It is not coded like a swamp.
Positive comment•
2

Daria Nowacka
Very simple to use, I really like it
Positive comment•
1

kaylinTechAU
AbiWord is a great simple word processor. However it doesn't have many advanced features. Just a simple text document. And it's free!
Positive comment•
8
Manuskript
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Note-taking Tool
Novel Authoring Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Flathub
100 Manuskript alternatives
Manuskript is an open-source tool for writers, with outliner, character management, plot development, distraction-free editor, etc.
Suggest and vote on features
Manuskript Features
1. Works OfflineManuskript can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Ad-freeManuskript doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
3. Dark ModeManuskript supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
4. Support for MarkDownManuskript supports MarkDown for document formatting.
5. File VersioningManuskript has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Outliner
Tree structure
Tracking of plots
Distraction-free Writing
Tracking of characters
Plot visualisation
Track Characters
Visual timeline
Tracking of locations
Visual Organization
Comments about Manuskript as a Alternative to Microsoft Word
Most users think Manuskript is a great Microsoft Word alternative.
Guest
Manuskript is an app for planning and writing books. It is not a word processor, or an appropriate alternative to MS Word.
Negative comment•
2
Story Architect (STARC)
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Text Editor
Note-taking Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Chrome OS
AppImageHub
Flathub
30 Story Architect (STARC) alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Story Architect (STARC) Features
1. LightweightStory Architect (STARC) consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
2. Spell CheckingStory Architect (STARC) can detect and correct all types of grammar and spelling mistakes.
3. Real time collaborationMultiple users can work together in Story Architect (STARC) simultaneously.
4. PortableStory Architect (STARC) can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. AutocompletionStory Architect (STARC) can predict and complete the rest of a word or phrase you're typing.
6. Support for ThemesYou can use themes and templates to change the look and feel of Story Architect (STARC).
7. Distraction-freeStory Architect (STARC) has a distraction-free mode for when you need to focus.
8. Dark ModeStory Architect (STARC) supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
9. Hierarchical StructureOrganize your notes, pages, documents, etc., hierarchically with Story Architect (STARC).
Outliner
Screenwriting
Writing assistance
Collaborative writing
Export to PDF
Visual Novel
Tracking of plots
No Coding Required
Tree structure
Works Offline
Quoll Writer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Novel Authoring Tool
Windows
53 Quoll Writer alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Quoll Writer Features
Track Characters
Outliner
Distraction-free Writing
Writing assistance
Writing statistics
Character database
Cross Linking
Fullscreen support
Story Management
Export to PDF