Free & open source alternatives to Microsoft Word

4 free word processing apps to use instead of Microsoft Word by Microsoft

The best free alternative to Microsoft Word is LibreOffice. Writer covers tables of contents, mail merge, track changes and PDF export, and opens and saves .docx.

Other great options: ONLYOFFICE Desktop, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and WPS Office.

Quick pick: For desktop use: LibreOffice Writer or ONLYOFFICE. For writing together online: Google Docs.

Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.

Official ways to use Microsoft Word for free

Word for the web is free at office.com with a Microsoft account.
Word on mobile is free for basic creating and editing.

Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.

4 best alternatives to Microsoft Word

LibreOffice

Office & PDF

Open sourceEasy to use

Writer covers tables of contents, mail merge, track changes and PDF export, and opens and saves .docx.

Open-source office suite that replaces Microsoft Office: Writer, Calc, Impress and Draw. Works fully offline and is available in many languages.

Free for organizations and businesses, no license fees
Opens and saves .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
Many interface languages, works without internet

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux

LibreOffice details Official website ↗

ONLYOFFICE Desktop

Office & PDF HealthGood (83/100)5,705

Open sourceEasy to use

An interface like modern Word that keeps .docx formatting well.

Open-source office suite with a ribbon interface like modern Office. Keeps .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formatting better than LibreOffice.

Familiar Word- and Excel-style interface
Good fidelity with Office file formats
Mobile apps and a self-hosted server edition for collaboration

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

ONLYOFFICE Desktop details Official website ↗

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides

Office & PDF

FreeEasy to use

Google Docs lets many people edit at once and supports voice typing.

Google's browser-based office suite, free with a Google account. Several people can edit the same file at once, and it saves to Google Drive automatically.

Real-time co-editing with version history
Opens and exports .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
Works on phones

Platforms: Web · Android · iPhone

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides details Official website ↗

WPS Office

Office & PDF

FreemiumEasy to use

WPS Writer looks like Word and is lightweight; it shows ads.

Lightweight office suite from Kingsoft that looks almost identical to Microsoft Office. Mobile apps are available too.

Interface is nearly the same as Office
Light and quick to open on older computers

Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone

WPS Office details Official website ↗

Quick comparison

App	Type	Platforms	Ease of use	GitHub stars
LibreOffice	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux	Easy to use	—
ONLYOFFICE Desktop	Open source	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	5,705
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides	Free	Web, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	—
WPS Office	Freemium	Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone	Easy to use	—

Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.

FAQ

What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Word?

The most popular picks are LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE Desktop, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and WPS Office. For desktop use: LibreOffice Writer or ONLYOFFICE. For writing together online: Google Docs.

Can LibreOffice Writer open and save Word .docx files?

Yes. Writer opens .docx and can save in that format by default (Tools > Options > Load/Save > General). Simple documents round-trip cleanly; complex layouts with text boxes or unusual fonts are worth checking in Word.