Microsoft Word Alternatives

Microsoft Word is a full-featured word processor for creating, formatting, and editing documents, including real-time collaboration and AI-assisted writing. Users frequently praise its comprehensive features, though many seek alternatives due to high costs or preference for open-source solutions.

LibreOffice Writer ranks as the top alternative, offering a free, open-source replacement that handles most Word workflows without licensing fees. ONLYOFFICE takes second place with strong Microsoft-format compatibility and office-style co-editing that teams need for collaborative document work. Google Docs rounds out the top three with web-first editing and real-time collaboration, though some users raise privacy concerns about surveillance.

For specialized writing needs, Story Architect adds character tracking, plot management, and scene organization that goes well beyond typical office tools. Framapad brings built-in group chat with color-identified participants for live brainstorming sessions. The landscape splits between full office suites and collaboration-first web editors, giving users options across different workflow preferences.

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Microsoft Word is a word processor, with alternatives spanning full office suites and web collaboration editors. Open source options like LibreOffice Writer, ONLYOFFICE, and AbiWord provide transparent licensing and offline-friendly editing for users who prioritize open-source software.

Linux users have native support in LibreOffice Writer, ONLYOFFICE, and AbiWord without Windows dependencies. For self-hosted collaboration, ONLYOFFICE, Etherpad, and Framapad offer control over where documents live, useful for organizations that need data sovereignty. Web-based editing through Google Docs, ONLYOFFICE, and Word Online serves teams that need browser-based workflows with collaboration features for distributed teams. Cross-platform users can choose ONLYOFFICE, WPS Writer, and Zoho Writer for editing across desktop and mobile devices.

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Alternatives list

  1. Angel Writer icon
     4 likes
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    Angel Writer is a free text editor allowing you to create impressive documents that contain formatted text, graphics and tables. You can learn how to work with Angel Writer in five minutes since it is very similar to Microsoft Word.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  2. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    SecureWords is the word processor with built-in password protection and 256-bit encryption.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  3. Write 2 icon
     1 like
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    Write 2 is a cute lightweight word processor for our daily writing tasks. It is fast, clean, intuitive to use and has a native (Mac-like) and uncluttered interface.

    Write 2 has some nifty features and tools that are sure to make it your word processor of choice for all your dai.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  4. RoughDraft icon
     1 like
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    RoughDraft is a freeware word processor for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP. Although suitable for general use, it has features specifically designed for creative writing: novels, short stories, articles, plays and screenplays.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. Doccera icon
     1 like
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    A modern AI document editor, write your documents with ease with intergrated Context aware AI.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
     
  6. Pub Suite icon
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    Next-Generation Text Processing.

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
     
  7. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Merge Word is a user friendly word processing application. It is fully compatible with most word processing file formats. It is a great value in comparison to other word processors. It is part of Merge Soft Office.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Letters is a modern, minimalist word processor for the GNOME desktop, with support for reading and writing DOCX, ODT, MD and HTML, using the Pandoc library.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
  9. AmigaWriter icon
     3 likes
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    Word processing program from Haage and Partner, processed some Amiga formats and is compatible with Microsoft Office 2000.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • AmigaOS
     
  10. X Word icon
     1 like
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    Quicker, simpler and easier, X Word as a fantastic word processor meets every essential need of your daily word processing tasks. To create the tables and insert the pictures make your document more rich and colorful.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  11. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Save My Research is a private, record-keeping system, online tool for teams or individuals as a searchable journal to remember the history of their decisions.

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
     
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