19 Top Alternatives to Microsoft Office Software Package

Quick Overview

Do you know that there are just many alternative office suites to Microsoft Office? And there are both free and cheaper solutions that provide various useful features almost the same to MS Office. You don’t have to pay a dime to create word documents, spreadsheets, presentation or graphics. You can create them online or on your desktop computer. Let see quick overview of two good free replacements.

There is no doubt that OpenOffice is a leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases, you can get your work done just like having MS Office. The program can read and write most of the file formats found in Microsoft Office including Word (doc), Excel (xls), PowerPoint (ppt) and Access. Another point that makes OpenOffice become the best alternative is that it can be downloaded and used completely free of charge for any purpose: domestic, commercial, educational, public administration. You can use both personal and commercial. No registration is required, just download and use for free of charge. You may install it on as many computers as you like.

The good free online office suite is Google Docs. It is a free web-based productivity suite which includes three main solutions word processor, spreadsheet and presentation. With the power of Google server, it runs fast even with average connection. The program is simple and easy to use with various templates available. And it is a good tool for collaboration with more flexibility where you can access program anywhere, anytime.

I hope you got some ideas. Now let see the rest of all 19 solutions in the following:

Free Solutions

1. OpenOffice.org

(Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris)
OpenOffice.org is commonly known as OpenOffice, an open source office software suite available for multiple platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris. It is a leading open-source office software suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases. It is available in many languages and works on all common computers.

2. Google Docs

(Web-based / Online)
Google Docs is a free web-based office suite programs which includes word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and form application offered by Google Inc. It allows users to create and edit documents online while collaborating in real-time with other users. The program is simple and easy to use. You need an account to use the programs. If you already had an account with Google services like Gmail, you can use it for login.

3. IBM Lotus Symphony

(Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)
IBM Lotus Symphony is a free office suite software application for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations. The program is currently distributed as freeware which you can download and use for free of charge. Symphony is available multiple platforms including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. The suite consists of three main applications: IBM Lotus Symphony Documents is a word processor; IBM Lotus Symphony Spreadsheets is a spreadsheet program; IBM Lotus Symphony Presentations.

4. Zoho Office Suite

(Web-based / Online)
Zoho Office Suite is a web-based online office suite developed by ZOHO Corporation. It provide complete productivity suite which containing word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, note-taking, project management, invoicing, planner, chart, wikis, CRM and several other applications. The program is software as a service (SaaS) or cloud computing applications, whereby software utilities are hosted on remote servers rather than on personal computers. Therefore you don’t to install anything; you can access the utilities via a web browser. Zoho applications are free to use at the entry-level and require a fee for more extensive or professional use.

5. ThinkFree Office

(Web-based / Online, Desktop)
ThinkFree Office is productivity suite by Haansoft Corporation. The program is written in Java that runs on Windows, Linux, and Macintosh platforms. ThinkFree Office includes a word processor (Write), a spreadsheet (Calc), a presentation program (Show), and a WYSIWYG HTML and blog editor (Note). With Microsoft Office compatibility, you can open and edit .doc, .xls, and .ppt file. There is no service charge to use ThinkFree Online service for now. However, they do have plans to charge for certain services in the future. The software is offered 30 days free trial for desktop version.

6. NeoOffice

(Mac OS X)
NeoOffice is a full-featured set of office applications including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs for Mac OS X. The program is created an office suite that adapted to the unique needs of Mac users by taking the features in Sun Microsystems’ OpenOffice.org office suite and adding improvements. Since NeoOffice is distributed under the GNU General Public License, you can copy it as much as you like and give it to whomever you want provided that you copy the source along with the binaries.

7. KOffice

(Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris)
KOffice is an integrated office suite built on the KDE platform. It is a cross-platform office suite software package which is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris operating system. All its components are released under free software and open source licenses. You can download and use the software for free of charge. It consists of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, project management, graphic editor, data management, and diagramming and flow charting application.

8. GNOME Office

(Cross-platform)
GNOME Office is a free office suite for GNOME which consists of various applications including word processing, spreadsheet, groupware, document viewer, database and financial tool. Each application is available as separate package rather than put it all in one suite like many office suit software programs such OpenOffice.

Good Alternatives with Cheaper Price (Paid Solution)

1. WordPerfect Office

(Windows)
WordPerfect Office is one of the top alternatives to MS Office. It is an office suite developed by Corel Corporation. The program is classified into several editions including: Standard, Professional, Home and Student Edition, and Family Pack. Standard Edition is an essential office software package for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and email. Professional Edition is an office productivity package for business environments and power users. Home and Student Edition is designed for home and school users.

2. StarOffice

(Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris)
When looking for good alternative to Microsoft Office. StarOffice is must be one of them, a productive software package developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. The suite includes powerful and integrated word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing, and database capabilities. You can also open, edit and save Microsoft Office files. It is now supported on Macintosh OS X. StarOffice is one of most affordable office suite program, just a fraction of the cost compare to MS Office.

3. iWork

(Mac OS X)
iWork is an office suite of desktop applications created by Apple for the Mac OS X operating system. The package includes word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications. iWork also includes access to iWork.com, a beta service that allows users to upload and share documents online with others, who can download them and give feedback. You can try iWork free for 30 days. Download the trial version of iWork and try it for yourself. MS office compatibility, you can open, save and email Microsoft Office files.

4. Kingsoft Office

(Windows)
Kingsoft Office is an office suite software package which is commonly known simply as KSO, developed by Zhuhai based Chinese software developer Kingsoft. It is designed for an alternative to Microsoft Office regarding word processing, spreadsheet and presentation. The program is Microsoft Office compatible.

5. EIOffice

(Windows, Linux)
EIOffice is a product of Evermore software. It is also known as Evermore Integrated Office. The program is available for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating system. The program is available for both personal and enterprise needs. EIOffice is one of low cost office system, which includes Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Presentation. It also provides professional document editing tools, and Microsoft Office Docx support. EIOffice Science Editor, a useful editing and publishing tool for creating math and science related documents and reports integrated directly inside the program.

6. MarinerPak

(Mac OS X)
MarinerPak is an office suite for Mac users. The package includes two main applications word processor (Mariner Write) and spreadsheet (Mariner Calc). Mariner Write provides hundreds of intuitive features such as the ability to read Microsoft Word documents and customizable headers, footers, endnotes, and footnotes. Mariner Calc offers more than 150 built-in functions, charts, named ranges, split and freeze window panes, print preview, find, sorting, auto-sum, protected worksheets, and cell borders.

7. Celframe Office

(Windows)
Celframe Office is an office suite for Microsoft Windows and developed by the US based IT company Celframe. It includes key desktop applications such as Celframe Write, Spreadsheet, Database, Studio, Power Presentation, Photo Album, Draw, Sync, Post Box, Voyager and Viewer. The program also support file formats of Microsoft Office (.doc, .xls, .ppt, .mdb), OpenDocument (.odt, .ods, .odp, .odb), Adobe Photoshop (.psd), Adobe Flash (.swf) for import and export of files. Therefore, users can share and edit files with users of Microsoft Office, OpenOffice.org, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, and CorelDraw.

8. Ability Office

(Windows)
Ability Office developed by Ability Plus Software. The suite consists of several applications including word processor, spreadsheet, database and modules for presentation and image editing. There are two editions: home and business package available for you to choose. Ability Office Home provides six applications in one affordable office suite. Ability Office Business offers seven fully featured applications in one software package, specifically designed for the needs of businesses.

9. EasyOffice Premium

(Windows)
EasyOffice Premium is a rich featured office suite software program developed by E-Press Corp. It provides complete office solution including creating and editing edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, reads and writes PDF files just like Adobe, all the features of MS Office, anti-virus program similar to Norton Anti-virus, e-mail and contact management like Outlook.

10. SoftMaker Office

(Windows, Linux, Windows CE, Pocket PC)
SoftMaker Office developed by the German company SoftMaker Software GmbH. The software is available for multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, Windows CE and Pocket PC. The user interface is based on Microsoft Office’ look and feel. With this office suite, users can read and write Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. TextMaker also supports the open document standard OpenDocument, making it compatible with OpenOffice.org. In addition, the program can export documents, worksheets, and presentations to PDF format.

11. GoBeProductive

(Windows)
GoBeProductive is a software package developed by Gobe Software. This personal productivity software includes word processing, spreadsheet, graphic design, image processing and presentation capabilities into one program. Users can create text documents, design the layout, add an image, retouch photos, drop in a 3D chart and then turn it into a slide presentation, all in a single file.

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