The best free office software can provide an alternative platform to the more familiar Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps of Microsoft Office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For most users, Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) remains the original and best office suite, and it takes matters further with an online version that offers cloud backups and mobile use as required. Microsoft Word(opens in new tab), Excel(opens in new tab), Publisher(opens in new tab), Access(opens in new tab), Powerpoint(opens in new tab), and Outlook(opens in new tab) still remain key office apps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Microsoft have now extended their 365 brand to Windows, in the form of Windows 365, a way of accessing your files on a majority of devices from the cloud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, over the years other companies have released rival office suites to help with productivity(opens in new tab), some of which is paid-for and some of which is free – sometimes with the same company offering both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of these alternatives to Microsoft Office(opens in new tab) offer a similar range of software applications, mainly based on creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations(opens in new tab). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, while most offer the ability to work with traditional Microsoft Office documents, do be aware that not all will preserve formatting when exporting from or into Microsoft Office, which can be a problem when sending documents between different programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even still, for home users and new businesses, the idea of being able to create, edit, manage, and organize office documents without incurring costs can be very welcome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here then are the best free office software apps currently available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Microsoft 365 online<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Microsoft’s desktop software carries a subscription fee, but the company has noticed the threat posed by Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and created its own set of free online apps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Microsoft 365 online looks and works just like its desktop equivalent, and although advanced tools like pivot tables are out of reach, but aren\u2019t offered by Google either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you generally use Microsoft document formats, Office Online is a brilliant choice. Unlike Google’s free office suite, it doesn’t need to convert your files before you can work on them, and you can share them easily through your Microsoft OneDrive account. Just log in using your Microsoft account (the same one you use to log into Windows 10) and you’re ready to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n