Like OpenOffice, LibreOffice is a free and open-source Office alternative that runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Give it a try and you might never pay for office software again. LibreOffice has a similar history to Apache OpenOffice, in that both applications spawned from the original. There are also plugins to add features like advanced grammar tools, extra language packs, improved accessibility options (such as export for braille embossers), and plugins for other programs like mind-mapping tool Freemind. LibreOffice's selection of templates might seem a little limited compared to Microsoft's, but this is easily remedied by the huge collection of downloadable options available in the project's online repository.
The open source suite lacks Office's built-in cloud storage option, but that's easily remedied by installing the Dropbox desktop software, which gives you instant access to your account as though it was a folder on your PC. Both have their advantages the NotebookBar will make switching from Microsoft Office more natural, while the old-school layout means everything is visible at a glance, and you can navigate easily using a keyboard rather than a mouse if you prefer.īeyond that, there's little difference between Microsoft's productivity toolkit and LibreOffice. LibreOffice offers a choice of interface styles: a traditional system of icons and toolbars, and an optional NotebookBar (similar to the ribbon used in Microsoft Office since 2007). One that makes it very hard to justify paying a lot of money for the competitor. That makes it not so much a free alternative to Microsoft Office, but an actual rival.
