Back in 2002, we had an idea of what it would be like not to pay for Microsoft Office. Sun Microsystems released OpenOffice, a completely free office suite that rivals Microsoft Office offerings. But the sun could be setting on that legendary software.
OpenOffice was a trendsetter. Users got a word processor, a spreadsheet, a presentation program, and a few other applications. It was a free download that worked on all platforms, including Linux, which Microsoft never supported. It was the best free office suite not made by Microsoft..
But now, Ars Technica is reporting that OpenOffice might be shutting down soon. Ever since Apache took over the software, it has been largely neglected. Most of the developers who helped with the open source project moved to LibreOffice, a better Microsoft Office alternative Is the New LibreOffice a Better Microsoft Office Alternative? Is the new LibreOffice a better Microsoft Office alternative? LibreOffice, a longtime Microsoft Office contender, just got a makeover and major updates. After being suppressed by bug bugs over the years, has LibreOffice finally found the winning formula? Read More
According to Ars Technica, Dennis Hamilton, the head of the OpenOffice initiative at Apache, recently started an email thread in which he said retirement from the project is a serious possibility. He wrote:
While the developers and fans in the thread promised to keep the software, it's not looking good. Recently, OpenOffice failed to plug a major security hole in a timely manner, suggesting that users should switch to Microsoft Office or LibreOffice.
If OpenOffice itself says you should look elsewhere, maybe it's time to drop it and adopt a new free office suite. These are the best free and low-cost alternatives 9 of the best free and low-cost alternatives to Microsoft Office 9 of the best free and low-cost alternatives to Microsoft Office Microsoft Office has dominated the market for word documents, spreadsheets and slideshows. For years, and for good reason, it's one of the best. However, there is a downside and that is the price... Read more on OpenOffice.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
LibreOffice grew out of the team that used to work on OpenOffice, so you'll be right at home when you switch to it. It has the same set of applications as OpenOffice and has a much more active developer community.
In fact, LibreOffice 5.1 added some great new features. Is LibreOffice worthy of the Office Crown? Is LibreOffice worthy of the office crown? LibreOffice is the king of free office suites. It's unlikely to replace Microsoft Office in a business environment, but it's a great alternative for casual users. This is what's new in LibreOffice 5.1. Read More One of them is the ability to open and save files to cloud services directly, like Google Drive, OneDrive, etc. The 5.2 update even adds two-factor authentication support. What is two-factor authentication and why should you use it? Two-Factor Authentication and Why You Should Use It Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is a security method that requires two different ways to prove your identity. It is commonly used in daily life. For example, paying with a credit card requires not only the card,… Read more .
Developer support is important because of the LibreOffice extensions. It's the same logic as using Chrome because more developers make extensions for it. With the wide variety of extensions here, you'll be able to do almost anything you want in LibreOffice.
Download: LibreOffice for Windows, Mac, or Linux (free)
Platforms: Windows, Linux
SoftMaker has been gaining a loyal following for its new office suite, FreeOffice. It is being promoted as the best free Microsoft Word and Office alternative Do you need a Microsoft Word and Office alternative? Try FreeOffice 2016 Need an alternative to Microsoft Word and Office? Try FreeOffice 2016 Microsoft Office is the most advanced office suite on the planet. But why shell out money when you can use a free alternative that still offers everything you need? FreeOffice 2016 might be right for... Read More SoftMaker has made sure that FreeOffice works great with files created and formatted in Microsoft Office. It is loss free.
That's the big seller behind FreeOffice:being able to open and work on DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files without the formatting going haywire. That happens more often than you think with office suites. However, there is a problem:FreeOffice cannot save documents in those same formats.
More than anything, FreeOffice feels snappy and comfortable. If you're coming from an older version of Microsoft, you'll feel right at home in FreeOffice. It doesn't have the famous Microsoft Ribbon, but it's not a huge loss either.
FreeOffice has other advantages, such as exporting in ePub format for eBook readers How to make an EPUB file for iPad, Nook, Kobo and more How to make an EPUB file for iPad, Nook, Kobo and more. Read more, create PDF. Shapes, a built-in automatic text expander for increased productivity 7 Awesome Uses for PhraseExpress Text Expander 7 Awesome Uses for PhraseExpress Text Expander On my never-ending quest to find new ways to automate my typing activities and shave precious seconds off my work, I always appreciate new and creative technologies that... Read More You'll love it!
Download: SoftMaker FreeOffice for Windows or Linux (free)
Platforms: Windows, Linux
Many users love the Microsoft Office Ribbon menu and its customization. How to optimize the Office Ribbon or Menu 2016 interface. How to optimize the Office 2016 Ribbon or Menu interface. Do you often look for menu items in Microsoft Office? It's time to reorganize and customize the Ribbon menu for your personal needs. You will be surprised how flexible and easy it is! Read More All except one:WPS Office, made by Kingsoft.
Kingsoft WPS office is great software. WPS stands for Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheets, the three applications that are included in the suite. They closely resemble the professional look of Microsoft Office, and are actually much lighter on the system. More importantly, you can open, edit and save files such as DOCX, XLSX and PPTX, according to Microsoft file formats.
WPS Office is more the perfect Microsoft Office alternative than the perfect OpenOffice alternative. You won't get extensions or support for cloud saves, for example. But you need to find out which office suite is best for you. Which office suite is the best for you? Which office suite is best for you? You will be pressured to find an occupation that does not require word or number processing of any kind. And you may be wondering, is Microsoft Office really the best solution? Here are your options. Read more . If you were using OpenOffice as a way to get away from Microsoft Office, try replacing it with WPS Office first.
Download: WPS Office for Windows (free) or for Linux (free)
Platforms: Mac, Web
There's no WPS Office or FreeOffice for Mac, but don't worry, Mac users get Apple's iWork for free! If you bought a Mac in or after 2013, you can download Apple's official office suite without paying a dime.
Pages, numbers, and keynotes are for word processing applications, spreadsheets, and presentations. Of these, Keynotes is possibly even better than PowerPoint, it's what Steve Jobs used to make all those legendary presentations. And yes, it works perfectly with Microsoft Office files, just like FreeOffice.
iWork is best used with iCloud. How the new iWork for iCloud works with your Apple devices How the new iWork for iCloud works with your Apple devices iWork for iCloud is a suite of online office applications (consisting of pages, notes, and numbers) that sync with versions Mac and iOS of the programs. The online versions of iWork mirror most... Read More It's yet another reason to buy the Apple ecosystem, not Apple vs. Android devices:Buy the ecosystem, not the Apple vs. Apple device. Android:Buy the Ecosystem, Not the Device You love your Android phone and want to buy a tablet. Everyone tells you that the iPad is the best tablet, and it really is the best; But you still have to buy an Android tablet. Read more.
Also, unlike any of the other apps featured here, iWork also works in a web browser. Just turn on your iCloud and get to work.
Download: Pages for Mac (free), Numbers for Mac (free), Keynote for Mac (free)
The slow decline of OpenOffice in recent years has been well documented. Several users have switched to LibreOffice or other alternatives, but there are still a few who hold on faithfully.
Are you still an OpenOffice user? Do you think it will close? If you change, what do you use now and why? Let's talk in the comments..
