- Free Microsoft Word Alternatives For Windows 10
- Free Microsoft Word Alternative For Mac
- Free Office Download
- Free Microsoft Word Alternatives
SoftMaker FreeOffice is a suite of office programs, and one of the included tools is a free word processor called TextMaker. Immediately after opening this word processor for the first time, you're given the option to choose a classic menu style or use a ribbon menu you might already be familiar with. Zoho Docs is probably the best free alternative to Microsoft Word, as it offers numerous handy tools for your business or educational needs. Besides, this is a web-based software, meaning that you can use it right in your browser. It features a user-friendly UI that can be easily managed via a tabbed menu located in the upper part of a window.
Microsoft Word or MS Word is a word processor software, which is developed by Microsoft. It is very popular software for creating all types of documents. If you locked on single word processor software, then there are many alternatives of Microsoft Word; some of them are free and others are paid. Here, I want to discuss the ten free alternatives of MS Word. Five of them are online, that means you can use them online. In addition, another five of them are in downloadable forms that are like MS Word, you have to install them on your computer or laptop.
There are many alternatives to Microsoft Word and Office for the past few years. But the freely downloadable options are less, and the best free downloadable Microsoft Office or Microsoft Word is OpenOffice. If we see the alternative of Microsoft word in a modern way, Google Docs is the best alternative in online form of Microsoft Word.
In many aspects, it is better and easier to go online form rather than offline or downloadable form. You can think of the condition in which you are far from your hometown or computer in which document is stored, and you need that document at present. If you are using offline downloadable software for word processing, then your document is stored in your computer’s hard disk, and it is tougher or impossible to get that document which is far from that computer or hard disk. On the other hand, if you are using online word processing applications, then your file or document is stored in the online cloud and you can easily download that document or file from anywhere, any time and any device. Therefore, it is better to go online versions rather than offline applications nowadays.
Top five online Microsoft Word alternatives that are free to use currently given below:
1. Google Docs
Google Docs is a word processor online application, and it is one of the best alternatives of the Microsoft Word. It is a web-based office suite software offered by Google. It is mainly used for create, edit and share documents. It is well designed with lots of features. It also has various add-ons. The best part of the Google Docs is that you can save documents online in Google Drive. It is easier in Google Docs to download or email documents as an attachment in the formats like Word, ODT, PDF, RTF or plain text. For using Google Docs, you just need a free Google Account. If you want to use Google Docs offline, enable Google Docs offline and then you can edit the document even if you are disconnected from the Internet connection.
2. Office Online
Office Online is a lightweight, web browser-based version of Microsoft Office Suite offered by Microsoft. It was officially released on September 2009 as Office Web Apps. On June 2010, the Office Web Apps re-branded as Office Online. Word Online is a part of Office Online like MS Word is a part of MS Office Suite. It is one of the best possible online alternative to Microsoft Word with free of cost. As it is free of cost, you just need an internet connection and a Microsoft account; therefore, it does not have the full features like in MS Office. But it has added benefits of online software tool. Some features are similar to Google Docs, as you can save documents online in Microsoft OneDrive. Microsoft OneDrive works same as of Google Drive in Google Docs.
3. Zoho
Zoho has around 20 free online applications, which are required for business needs. Zoho Writer is one of the free online application which are offered by Zoho Corporation. In the month of October, 2005 Zoho launched its first cloud based business application called Zoho Writer. It is an online word processing application packed with lots of features. If you see the user interface of the Zoho Writer, you will find it comfortably familiar. As we know that working online has lots of advantages over offline. On the other hand, it also has some disadvantages, sometimes working online can be problematic as it has threats of losing data due to lost in network connection and accidental closing or crash of browser. But fortunately, Zoho Writer automatically saves the document when you finish typing.
4. EtherPad
Etherpad is an online collaborative real-time editor. It is a highly customizable Open Source web-based editor providing collaborative editing in really real-time. The main advantage of the Etherpad is that it does not required email registration. Just start a new pad and then for inviting collaborators you can share the link or you can email them the invitation. The best part of the Etherpad is that you can work on the planned writing project together, even if you are mile apart from friends, colleagues or collaborators. It also has chat box in the sidebar for meta communication. Etherpad has the ability to display each writer’s text in their choice of colour.
5. ThinkFree
ThinkFree Online is the first web-based online office in the world. It is primarily an online editor program. As it is web-based application therefore, you do not need to install it to your desktop, you can use this application online. For using ThinkFree Online, you need to register as a member. Once you have registered, you will be given an online storage of 1GB space called My Office. ThinkFree Online can read and write documents, spreadsheets, and presentations like Microsoft Office. It has a look and feel similar to the Microsoft Office’s MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint. You can also view or save the document in Mobile devices from your My Office storage in ThinkFree Mobile.
Some people do not have internet connection or do not like to work or save documents online or to keep things private in their personal computer storage. If you are one of them then downloadable Microsoft Word alternatives are best for you. You can download and install these downloadable free Microsoft Word Alternatives as per your choice. The offline word processors have complete features, which online word processors do not have.
1. OpenOffice.org
OpenOffice is an open-source office suite. It is a best alternative to the Microsoft Office suite. Here, we are talking about MS Word alternatives, but OpenOffice is not just the alternative to the Microsoft Word. It comprises with applications that are alternatives to Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Access etc. OpenOffice is a suite of six applications, which are Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math, and Base. Writer is a word processor application similar to MS Word. Calc is a spreadsheet application like MS Excel. Impression is a presentation application analogous to MS PowerPoint. Base is a database management application similar to MS Access. All applications of OpenOffice are free of cost. Writer has some advantages over Microsoft Word like it can open PDF files, which can’t open by MS Word.
2. AbiWord
AbiWord is a free and open-source word processor software, which is very similar to the Microsoft Word. It can be run on Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, and other operating systems. Therefore, we can say that AbiWord is a full cross-platform program. It is one of the best free alternative to Microsoft Word. If we talk about the working and user interface of the AbiWord, you will find it similar to the Microsoft Word 2007. AbiWord is the first open-source word processor which has grammar checking. After that, the grammar checking is added to the OpenOffice. AbiWord can be enhanced and expanded with free available plug-ins that will make it more functional.
Free Microsoft Word Alternatives For Windows 10
3. Jarte
Jarte is a free word processor software for users of Microsoft Windows. It is based on the WordPad engine. It is a lighter alternative to the Microsoft Word. Jarte also has paid version, which adds some more functions and features. The paid version of Jarte named as Jarte Plus. Jarte is the best alternative to the WordPad. The standard version of Jarte that is free of cost also has spell checker. If we talk about the look or user interface of the Jarte, it has resemblance to TextEdit. It has three selectable layouts, which are mini, compact, and full. One of the layouts is very similar to the WordPad.
4. IBM Lotus Symphony
Free Microsoft Word Alternative For Mac
IBM Lotus Symphony is a registerware software suite for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. It is a free software but you have to register on its website before downloading. It cannot be downloaded without registration. If we talk about its resemblance, it is similar to the older version of OpenOffice. It supports the Microsoft office files, open document format, and Lotus SmartSuite files. It contains standard text formatting options, tables, charts, shapes, and graphics. Lotus Symphony also has inline spell checking and correction. It works offline after downloading and installing. It also has an online or web-based version, which is known as LotusLive Symphony.
5. NeoOffice
Free Office Download
Free Microsoft Word Alternatives
NeoOffice is an office suite that is made for Mac OS X operating system. It is a free software developed by Planasema Inc. NeoOffice has two editions, one is free and another one is paid. NeoOffice Viewer is the free edition of NeoOffice. It cannot save documents but it can view, export as PDF, and print documents. NeoOffice Classic Edition is the paid version of NeoOffice. It can view, save, edit, and print documents. The free edition of the NeoOffice is not a good choice. NeoOffice is not a best alternative to Microsoft Word. This software is used only for viewing, exporting as PDF and printing documents.