The industry standard for text processing is Microsoft Word. The procedure of writing official documents is made simpler. As a result, selecting an alternative to Microsoft Word may seem as though there are few options. Yes, this widely used word processor has certain shortcomings. In addition to not being free, it only supports a limited number of OSes.
Also, many individuals think it is clumsy and archaic, rendering it useless in the contemporary world. While some people like Microsoft Word, others may rather use other programs with the same or a similar set of capabilities. Go no further if you need a text editor that works across different operating systems but doesn’t want to pay more for Microsoft Word’s premium features that you won’t be utilizing.
Best Microsoft Word Alternatives
1: Google Docs
Google Docs will be the program to challenge Microsoft Word for the title. You only need a Google account to compose, format, and distribute documents. You may download documents in various file types, including DOC and DOCX, and it is easy to use and free.
With each keystroke, Google Documents automatically saves your work because it is directly connected to Google Drive. Online collaboration allows for numerous people to edit a single shared document simultaneously, eliminating the need to transmit back-and-forth draughts.
2: WPS Office
WPS Office Writer is a fantastic substitute if you’ve used Microsoft Word lately and found the user interface too complex. The free text editor resembles Microsoft Word in terms of functionality and look, and it even features a cloud storage service called “OneDrive” that offers 1GB of free space.
With the program’s built-in templates, you may quickly and effortlessly write a variety of documents using WPS Office Free Writer. Most current text file formats, including the most recent iterations of Microsoft Word, are compatible. Inconspicuous adverts support the free version of WPS Office Writer; they can be turned off in commercial editions.
3: Zoho
Over 20 free web apps are available from Zoho, one of which is a Writer word processor. You can connect a Zoho account to another service, like Google or Yahoo. Because of the Interface’s recognition, using Writer shouldn’t provide any difficulties. When working online, information loss is possible if your connection drops, your browser crashes, or you accidentally close it.
You may import and edit Microsoft Word files, add pictures, and make other modifications. Zoho Writer can export to DOCX, ODF, PDF, Latex, RTF, TXT, and HTML, among other popular formats. It can publish the paper to a blog, make it accessible to the public, or interact with Echosign to enable electronic signatures.
4: LibreOffice
LibreOffice Writer should be comfortingly familiar if you have used Microsoft Word for some time. You might even like it if you’re one of those people who really despise the ribbon in Microsoft Word! After all, LibreOffice is a collection of free software that matches the main design and features of the Microsoft Office suite. Yet, it’s free. This is appealing every time.
Most of the capabilities and formatting options in Microsoft Word are available in LibreOffice Writer. Its default file extension is OpenDocument Format, but it also supports the DOC, DOCX, and RTF document formats, so compatibility shouldn’t be a problem.
5: FocusWriter
https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/
If you want to focus on writing without distractions, take a look at FocusWriter, created by Gott Code. The main document is free of all distracting tabs, bars, and options. Drag the mouse pointer to the screen’s boundaries to access the menus, just like in macOS.
It supports the TXT, basic RTF, and basic ODT text file formats and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. You can even turn on typewriter noises if you’re in the mood for a retro office.
6: Apache OpenOffice
www.openoffice.org/product/writer.html
If the creation of the ribbon made you dislike Microsoft Word, Apache’s OpenOffice Writer from 2003 is the relic you want. In addition to keeping up with key updates and patches that are crucial for every firm, this suite also maintains backward compatibility with Office 2003.
Even though OpenOffice Writer imports and exports.doc and.docx files, it is also compatible with.doc and.docx files, and it performs a fantastic job of maintaining formatting. You won’t need to worry when writing intricate Word documents because OpenOffice Writer has many of the same cutting-edge features as Microsoft Word.
7: Jarte
If you want something that doesn’t need a lot of training but still accomplishes what you need, give Jarte a try. It is a basic word processor with the same core as WordPad from Microsoft. works with touchscreen devices and opens files with the RTF, DOC, and DOCX extensions. The fact that Jarte can fit on a flash drive is what really makes it stand out from the competition.
A built-in spell checker, word count, online dictionary and thesaurus, and a copy/paste clipboard are further Jarte features. Your work can be saved in various formats, including Rich Text, Plain Text, Microsoft Word Documents, and even as an HTML or PDF export.
8: AbiWord
Although having an outdated design, AbiWord is one of the few word processors that can be used without installing a whole office suite. It has every capability you could ask for in a desktop word processor. Users worldwide may collaborate on papers more easily thanks to a brand-new online tool called AbiCollab.
Among AbiWord’s many features are spell check, grammar check, header and footer generation, table and column support, templates, and footnotes. We’ve provided all the standard character and paragraph formatting options to assist you in making your documents appear exactly how you want them to.
