More and more word processors are moving to the web these days. This has many advantages. Documents are accessible from anywhere, open to collaboration and sharing, easy to import and export, and just a better way to work in this constantly connected world.
For a while, one of the most popular solutions has been Google Docs. It's a great service, and one that has served me well over the months and years I've been using it. It also helps that there are plenty of Google Docs plugins. Get the most out of Google Docs with these 11 add-ons Get the most out of Google Docs with these 11 add-ons Want to make Google Docs do more? Install these helpful extensions to enhance your Google Docs experience. Read More However, Google Docs is not without its drawbacks, some of which have left me on the constant hunt for the best and brightest online document management app.
Well, I haven't found it yet, but I've found five pretty good alternatives to Google Docs that you might want to check out. All of these, and Google Docs, offer the same basic editing features; Instead of repeating them over and over again, I'll point out the best features that put the app on this list.
The world's most popular office suite also has a free online version Don't pay for Word! 5 reasons why you should use Office Online Don't pay for Word! 5 reasons why you should use Office Online Office Online is the free, cloud-connected version of Microsoft Office. The limitations are offset by features, useful even for desktop Office users. Best of all is its Read more. A Microsoft account is all you need to access almost the full range of Microsoft Office applications. Office Online grants access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook, as well as Sway and other tools.
The deal is so good that some people have shunned buying Microsoft Office 2016 altogether in favor of the free online suite. The introduction of collaboration tools has only strengthened the free service, too.
However, Microsoft has not given us the crown jewels. No, there is a catch. Microsoft Office apps are extremely useful, but they lack some key features. For example, the number of available templates is reduced. In addition to this, you can use the built-in styles, but you cannot create your own. Office Online contains several of these “half features” that you will come across from time to time. Some are despicable. Others can be massively frustrating - I'm looking at you Fusion Format.
Office Online remains an excellent alternative to Google Docs, despite the shortcomings found in several of the applications.
The number of applications Zoho offers Zoho Writer vs. Google Docs and Microsoft Word Online:Is it time to change? Zoho Writer versus Google Docs and Microsoft Word Online:Is it time to change? If you're not completely satisfied with Office Online or Google Drive, try this free online word processor:Zoho Writer 4.0 comes with a clutter-free interface optimized for widescreen monitors. Read More I've become a big fan of Zoho recently, and it has a lot of useful tools at your disposal.
The writer itself is excellent, with loads of editing options, organized in a concise and aesthetically pleasing sidebar. Almost anything you can do in Word can be done in Zoho, from adding a header and footer to publishing a document directly to your blog. It also has advanced options such as mail merge and electronic signature support. Another extremely useful feature is the integrated Zoho chat, so you can chat with collaborators while you work.
Zoho is the most comprehensive of web-based applications. 4 Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office 365 4 Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office 365 Microsoft Office 365 offers the seamless integration of a desktop office suite with its web-based counterpart. Can any of your free alternatives compete? We look at four office suites with both online and offline features. Read More Zoho doesn't get nearly as much pressure as Google Docs, but I don't see a reason not to switch to Zoho.
If you're interested in collaboration, take a good look at Etherpad. No need to register or install Etherpad 10+. No-Log Collaboration Tools You Can Use in 10 Seconds 10+ No-Log Collaboration Tools You Can Use in 10 Seconds Collaborating online can save you and your team both time and money. Collaborating quickly can save a little more. These tools are ready to go when you are. No registration required. Read more . You can simply select one of the public instances running Etherpad Lite, many of which have secure encrypted connections. Once you're connected, share a link to the pad or send invites to your contacts via email.
As users enter, you can edit the text on the keyboard in real time and the changes appear automatically. You can chat in the sidebar, highlight which user made a certain change, and save revisions to revert if someone made a mistake.
Etherpad is perfect for coding and programming, but it's also great for writing and editing documents. Etherpad isn't as feature-rich, and all of its editing is in plain text, but it's so collaborative and helpful that it deserves a mention anyway.
I have had the pleasure of using Dropbox Paper while writing this article. The collaborative online editor is currently in open beta 11 Compelling Reasons to Try Dropbox Paper 11 Compelling Reasons to Try Dropbox Paper We have 11 compelling reasons for you to try Dropbox Paper. The new online document tool is off to a good start with features for personal use and collaborative work. Read more . This means that all you need is a Dropbox account, and you can try out the new service.
Dropbox Paper clearly has some great features. Adding and curating images is exceptionally easy, especially if you already use Dropbox as an image host. Likewise, embedding other content is just as easy. You can embed YouTube, Vimeo, Spotify, SoundCloud, Facebook, Twitter and Google Docs..
As with Dropbox, collaboration and sharing are key 15 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Dropbox 15 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Dropbox Cloud storage services have come and gone, but Dropbox is probably the one who's been here the longest. And now it has upped its game with a host of new features. We are going to explore. Read more . Sharing is as simple as clicking a little blue button and selecting who you'd like to share with. Likewise, and this is a feature I really like, you can “@” People, even if they aren't currently collaborating. The person will receive a notification that you would like to share and will see what he has shared with her..
Another useful collaboration feature is task assignment. You can quickly turn any bulleted list into a to-do list to be assigned to your collaborators.
Nuclino is one of the best free collaboration editors. It is extremely easy to use, has a great user interface (UI) and provides a really satisfying experience in almost all areas. That said, it's not necessarily a direct competitor to Google Docs. Google Docs provides a rounded set of tools 10 Google Docs tips that take seconds and save time 10 Google Docs tips that take seconds and save time documents. Our speed tips will help you do it much faster. Read More
However, writing and editing in Nuclino is aided by clean aesthetics and easy-to-implement editorial tools. Nuclino is also versatile. Multiple groups, multiple boards, easy invites, smart tags, and integration with services like YouTube, Vimeo, and Soundcloud provide extensive service.
However, Nuclino doesn't have much in the box if you want a pure publishing experience. Likewise, there is no built-in spreadsheet app. Consequently, if your team relies on advanced document editing and formatting or even basic spreadsheets, you'll import into Nuclino from another source.
Google Docs is still a great tool, but there are alternatives out there. You can choose a more traditional editor experience in Office Online or Zoho Writer, or try a collaboration experience with Dropbox Paper or Nuclino. It goes without saying that you have a handful of options to consider before starting your next big project!
What's your go to editor, online or off? Which of the above online editors is the best alternative to Google Docs? Let us know your thoughts below!
Originally written by David Pierce on March 26, 2009..
