Apache OpenOffice Writer icon
Apache OpenOffice Writer icon

Apache OpenOffice Writer

 682 likes

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...

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License model

  • FreeOpen Source

Application type

Country of Origin

  • US flagUnited States

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • BSD
Discontinued

Last major release was in 2014

2.6 / 5 Avg rating (5)
682likes
13comments
0news articles

Features

Suggest and vote on features

Properties

  1.  Privacy focused

Features

  1.  Export to PDF
  2.  Spell Checking
  3.  Fractions
  4.  Works Offline
  5.  Ad-free
  6.  Full-Text Search
  7.  No Tracking
  8.  No registration required

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Apache OpenOffice Writer information

AlternativeTo Categories

Office & ProductivityNews & Books

GitHub repository

  •  1,040 Stars
  •  334 Forks
  •  14 Open Issues
  •   Updated Jun 13, 2025 
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Our users have written 13 comments and reviews about Apache OpenOffice Writer, and it has gotten 682 likes

Apache OpenOffice Writer was added to AlternativeTo by Stuck on Oct 15, 2008 and this page was last updated Dec 20, 2024. Apache OpenOffice Writer is sometimes referred to as OpenOffice Writer, Writer, Open Office Writer.

Comments and Reviews

   
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Comment summary: Apache OpenOffice Writer receives mixed feedback. Users praise its free and accessible nature, with some finding it comparable to Microsoft Word. Its PDF export feature is frequently used, but compatibility issues with Word formats create concerns for job applications. While users appreciate its object placement capability, it lacks features compared to LibreOffice and Microsoft Word. Some users recommend LibreOffice for improved updates and features since the developer split.
Top Positive Comment
Guest
Feb 24, 2019
0

It sends documents out in .doc format. It has served me well for a good ten years or more and I am used to it. Pages is also on my computer and I HATE it. I have to transfer any Pages documents into OpenOffice to get them into .doc format, which is required by the literary magazines I send to. I The Mac keeps kicking me into Pages if I locate a document from anywhere but in Open Office Writer.

Top Negative Comment
valerie
Dec 6, 2022
1

Apache OpenOffice is very, very, very outdated. It's missing features, and it looks archaic. You're better off going with LibreOffice or OnlyOffice.

NameLessGO
Jun 17, 2024
0

LibreOffice - Writer icon LibreOffice - Writer is the successor to Apache OpenOffice Writer icon Apache OpenOffice Writer, commonly known as Apache OpenOffice icon Apache OpenOffice, which had its last major update in 2014. LibreOffice icon LibreOffice adds many extra features and improved Microsoft 365 Copilot icon Microsoft 365 Copilot compatibility, and has regular releases with security updates.

Learn more about the history of OpenOffice and LibreOffice here, and check out this comparison:

Muhammad Farag
Apr 1, 2019
0

Much fewer features than MS office and Libre office, it also has a confusing interface.

tuva-hayabi
Dec 16, 2017
1

Guys, try LibreOffice or SoftMaker Office! I use both of them since years, in the past under Windows, and nowadays on GNU/Linux, and they are great office suites.

sam2016
Jan 7, 2016
2

In 2010 OpenOffice.org split into Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Most of the developers switched joined the LibreOffice fork, so that has received far more work (fixes, improved compatibility and new features) over the past 5 years.

Robert L.
Nov 25, 2013
0

Open Office is a very good alternative for its (expensive) competitor Microsoft Office Word. In some ways it's even better, especially when placing different objects in your document. Unfortunately there are some Word documents that get messed up in Open Office.

[Edited by Venom88, November 27]

Danilo_Venom
Nov 26, 2013
Robert L.
Nov 26, 2013

Sorry, Apache OpenOffice Writer.

Danilo_Venom
Nov 27, 2013

I fixed the app you are talking about. No problem :)

Robert L.
Nov 27, 2013

Thanks!

User4800649
Jul 11, 2014

Sorry but IMHO this is a VERY BAD option to Ms Office, in my case Writer - Ms Word in particular. I've used Word for ages but now I don't want to buy for my personal PC. With OpenOffice I've found myself extremely limited in my endeavors. Really bad usability, changing entered data by default (auto-formatting) without a possibility to avoid it and just now Writer simply crashed... Honestly, I think online editors might a better option...

tuva-hayabi
Dec 16, 2017

@User4800649 You might try SoftMaker Office. Version 2018 has even a Ribbon menu, and it is highly compatible to Microsoft Office.

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7 of 13 comments

What is Apache OpenOffice Writer?

Writer, part of the Apache OpenOffice icon 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 format (ability to "open" documents in version 3), among others.