4 Free Microsoft Office Alternatives Worth Using (2026)
Don't want to keep paying for Microsoft 365? Here's my hands-on take on LibreOffice, Google Docs, WPS Office and OnlyOffice — what each is best at, how well they open Word/Excel files, and how to pick for offline, collaboration or compatibility.
Every time the Microsoft 365 renewal comes around, I hesitate: I mostly just type, build the odd spreadsheet, and occasionally make a deck — do I really need to pay for a whole year of this? After trying the free alternatives properly, the answer is clear: for most people's everyday document needs, free tools are already enough.
As with my other alternatives guides, the move is to work out where you're stuck first, then match it to the list below.
Which need is yours?
- Offline, one suite installed, fully free → LibreOffice
- Online, real-time collaboration → Google Docs/Sheets/Slides
- Most Office-like interface, best compatibility → WPS Office
- Team co-editing without drift, self-hostable → OnlyOffice
The four at a glance (2026)
| Tool | Form | Cost | Best at | I'd recommend it to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LibreOffice | Desktop (open-source) | Free | Offline, complete, cross-platform | People who want offline + free |
| Google Docs | Browser | Free (Workspace paid) | Real-time collaboration | People who collaborate online |
| WPS Office | Desktop / app | Free (with ads) | Most Office-like, compatible | Painless switch from Office |
| OnlyOffice | Desktop / cloud | Free (5 GB) | Co-editing, self-hostable | Teams who want data ownership |
Plans and prices change often — check the official sites for the current state.
My take, one at a time
LibreOffice: the most complete free offline suite
If you want "one suite installed on your computer, works offline, completely free," LibreOffice is the widely agreed best choice. It's open-source, updated by a large community, and includes Writer (documents), Calc (spreadsheets) and Impress (slides). It opens and edits Microsoft's .docx/.xlsx/.pptx, and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. The interface is more "traditional" and less flashy, but it's solid and covers most document work.
Google Docs: the smoothest collaboration
For real-time, multi-person editing, Google Docs/Sheets/Slides are still the most mature — share a link and everyone edits, comments and sees revision history together, all in the browser with autosave. The personal version is free. Paid Google Workspace is mainly for businesses (custom-domain email, more storage, admin features), starting around US$7/user/month. Almost all my collaborative documents live here.
WPS Office: the most painless switch from Office
WPS Office (by Kingsoft) leads on one thing: its interface is almost identical to Microsoft Office — the familiar ribbon layout — and its compatibility with Office formats is the best of this group, with a built-in PDF editor too. Switching from Office, there's barely an adjustment period. Note the free version shows ads; if that bothers you, consider its paid ad-free tier.
OnlyOffice: team co-editing with data you own
If you value co-editing without formatting drift, and want to keep your data in your own hands, OnlyOffice fits well. Its fidelity on .docx/.xlsx collaboration is high, it offers 5 GB of free cloud, and crucially it can be self-hosted. For teams unwilling to put all their documents in someone else's cloud, it's one of the few that balances collaboration with ownership.
So which should you pick?
- Offline, complete, free → LibreOffice
- Online multi-person collaboration → Google Docs
- Most Office-like, best compatibility → WPS Office
- Co-editing without drift, self-hosting → OnlyOffice
A few reminders before you switch
- Test a complex file first. Open your most complicated Word/Excel file in the new tool and check whether the layout holds before moving everything.
- Exchange files with Office users a lot? Then prioritise compatibility — WPS or OnlyOffice — and remember to save as .docx/.xlsx.
- Spreadsheets are great for tracking. Whatever suite you use, the fastest way to keep books or track a project is a ready-made template — open one in any spreadsheet app, such as our business income & expense log or project tracker.
The bottom line
Microsoft Office is powerful, but for people who "just type, build sheets and make decks," the subscription often isn't worth it: use LibreOffice for a complete offline suite, Google Docs for collaboration, WPS for the most Office-like compatibility, and OnlyOffice for co-editing with self-hosting. Test your most complex file first, and if compatibility holds you can switch with confidence — and stop paying year after year.
FAQ
Is there a free office suite that can open Word and Excel files?
Yes, several. LibreOffice is fully free, open-source and works offline, opening and editing .docx, .xlsx and .pptx. Google Docs/Sheets/Slides run free in the browser with real-time collaboration. WPS Office has the most Microsoft-like interface and strong compatibility (though the free version shows ads). For most people's everyday document needs, these free tools are more than enough — you don't necessarily need an Office subscription.
Will formatting break when free tools open Microsoft files?
Simple documents are usually fine, but complex layouts (heavy tables, special fonts, nested formatting, macros) can shift a little when opened across suites. For compatibility, WPS Office reproduces Microsoft formats most faithfully and looks the most familiar; OnlyOffice is built around .docx/.xlsx co-editing without drift. If you frequently exchange files with heavy Office users, those two are the smoothest.
Which is best for collaborating with a team?
For real-time collaboration, Google Docs/Sheets are the most mature and frictionless — share one link and everyone can edit and comment at once. If you value data ownership and want to self-host, OnlyOffice's co-editing is also excellent, with self-hosting and 5 GB of free cloud. In short: Google for the easiest online collaboration, OnlyOffice for self-hosting and control.
Does Google Workspace cost money? How is it different from the free version?
Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are free for personal use. Paid Google Workspace is mainly for businesses — custom-domain business email, larger shared storage, more meeting participants and admin controls — running roughly from US$7/user/month (Business Starter) to US$22 (Business Plus). Individuals and small teams are usually fine on the free version, upgrading only when they need a domain mailbox and management features.