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Writing On-the-Go: The Convenience of a Free Online Word Document Writer

In today’s fast-paced world, being able to work efficiently and conveniently is essential. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply someone who needs to jot down their thoughts on-the-go, having access to a free online word document writer can be a game-changer. With the advancement of technology, you no longer have to rely on traditional word processing software installed on your computer. In this article, we will explore the various benefits and features of using a free online word document writer.

Access from Anywhere

One of the most significant advantages of using a free online word document writer is the ability to access your documents from anywhere with an internet connection. Gone are the days when you had to carry around a USB drive or worry about forgetting an important file on your home computer. With an online word document writer, all your files are securely stored in the cloud and can be accessed from any device – be it your laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone.

Collaboration Made Easy

Collaboration is an essential aspect of many writing projects, whether it’s working with colleagues on a business proposal or collaborating with classmates on a group assignment. A free online word document writer provides seamless collaboration features that allow multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously. You can easily share your documents with others and grant them permission to view or edit them in real-time. This eliminates the need for back-and-forth email exchanges or merging different versions of the same file.

Automatic Saving and Version Control

We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling when our computer crashes or loses power before we had a chance to save our work. With a free online word document writer, this fear becomes obsolete. These tools automatically save your progress as you go along, ensuring that no changes are lost due to unforeseen circumstances.

Furthermore, version control is another valuable feature offered by many online word document writers. You can easily track and revert to previous versions of your document, making it easy to undo any unwanted changes or compare different drafts.

Rich Editing and Formatting Options

A free online word document writer often comes equipped with a wide range of editing and formatting options, rivaling those of traditional desktop software. You can format your text, adjust margins, add tables, insert images, and much more. These tools also provide spell-checkers and grammar-checkers to help you polish your writing.

Additionally, many online word document writers offer templates for various purposes such as resumes, letters, reports, and presentations. These templates can save you time and effort by providing a pre-designed structure that you can customize to suit your needs.

In conclusion, the convenience of a free online word document writer cannot be overstated. It allows you to access your files from anywhere, collaborate seamlessly with others, automatically save your work, and provides a plethora of editing options. Whether you’re a student trying to meet deadlines or a professional constantly on the move, using an online word document writer can greatly enhance your productivity while ensuring that your documents are always safe and easily accessible.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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8 Best Free Word Processors for Windows 10/11 to Edit Docs

8 best free word processors for windows 10/11, microsoft word.

The most common word processor you can use on your Windows computer is Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Word is a word processing software developed by Microsoft. It supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS platforms.

Microsoft Word offers a standalone product and also acts as a component of Microsoft Office Suite.

You can try Microsoft Word for free for one month. After one month of the free trial of Microsoft 365 , you will lose many features if you don’t pay for a Microsoft 365 subscription. To get the full version of Microsoft Word, you can purchase the standalone Word app or buy a Microsoft 365 subscription .

If you don’t want to buy Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 suite, you can try Microsoft Office Online for free. The web version of Microsoft Office is free to use and offers Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps.

Some new OEM computers may come with Microsoft Office and Windows OS preinstalled. You can easily activate Microsoft Office by following the instructions along with the computer.

If you are searching for some third-party free word processors for Windows 10/11, you may try the tools below.

Also read: If you’ve experienced data loss due to hard drive failure, this article on hdd data recovery offers invaluable insights into the recovery process.

This post introduces what the Text Recovery converter is and how to use it to open a file and recover text from a corrupted Word document.

WPS Office is a lightweight and feature-rich free office suite. It is made up of three primary components: WPS Writer, WPS Presentation, and WPS Spreadsheet. You can download WPS Office for free on multiple platforms like Windows 11/10/8/7, Mac, Linux, Android, or iOS.

It allows you to edit files in Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and PDF. It has good compatibility and is the best alternative to Microsoft Office. The program can open and save all Microsoft Office document formats (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, etc.), HTML, RTF, XML, PDF, PPT, etc.

It offers 100,000+ free templates by category to let you customize your design with various documents like resumes, project plans, reports, etc.

WPS Office also features synchronization and seamless collaboration on all platforms.

Grammarly for Word and Outlook helps check grammar/spelling errors in your documents or emails. Check how to add Grammarly plugin to Microsoft Word or Outlook.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free online word processor that lets you create and collaborate on online documents. You can edit documents together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device.

Google Docs is a part of the free and web-based Google Docs Editors suite developed by Google. You can easily access Google Docs in one of your browsers.

It supports opening and saving documents of various file formats, e.g. Microsoft Word, the standard OpenDocument format, Rich text format, plain Unicode text, and zipped HTML.

Google Docs supports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome OS, and BlackBerry OS. It supports 100 languages.

Writer is another powerful free word processor for Windows 10/11. You can use this program to create beautiful and inspiring documents for free. It lets you collaborate with teammates in real-time. This professional free writing assistant offers contextual grammar, readability and style suggestions and provides change-tracking tools to speed up your review process. It also features WordPress integration that lets you post content directly to your WordPress or Blogger pages.

This free word processing software for Windows 10/11 works well with Word. You can easily open and edit your Microsoft Word documents. It lets you save the documents as Microsoft Word, PDF, or other popular file formats.

Writer is completely free and with no ads at all.

Learn how to add Grammarly extension for Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Opera browser to help check your writing mistakes everywhere online.

WordPerfect

WordPerfect is also a free word processing application that is compatible with Windows 7 and later. It is an all-in-one Office suite that provides document, spreadsheet, and presentation applications. You can use this program to craft impressive documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It supports 60+ file formats. You can use it to open, edit, and save DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, PDF, TXT, RTF, WPM, OTF, EBOOK, and more.

LibreOffice Writer

This free and open-source word processing tool allows you to edit all kinds of documents. It is similar to Microsoft Word and Corel’s WordPerfect related to features and file format compatibility.

LibreOffice Writer can open and save many formats including Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX), OpenDocument, XHTML, and more.

It contains a spelling and grammar checker, some drawing tools, form building tools, calculation functions, an equation editor, and more.

It is also able to import, edit, and export PDF files.

This program is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD.

Apache OpenOffice

Apache OpenOffice is also an open-source free office suite. It includes a free word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet (Calc), a presentation application (Impress), a drawing application (Draw), a formula editor (Math), and a database management application (Base).

It lets you create and edit word documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, and more. Its default file format is the OpenDocument format (ODF). It can also read and write files from many other office software. You can download this program on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

SoftMaker FreeOffice

If you are looking for a good free word processor for Windows 10/11, you can also try SoftMaker FreeOffice. It supports Windows 11/10/8/7, macOS 10.12 or later, and Linux.

This free software allows you to create and edit word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It is compatible with Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Tip: For more free word processing tools, you can check the list of Word processors from Wikipedia.

Check the guide for Microsoft/Windows Defender download, install, uninstall, reinstall on Windows 10/11. Also learn how to fix can’t open Windows Defender.

Best Free File Recovery Software for Windows 10/11

If you mistakenly deleted some Word documents or lost some important files, you can try a free data recovery program to recover the deleted/lost files .

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is a professional free data recovery program for Windows. You can use it to recover any deleted or lost files, photos, videos, emails, etc. from Windows computers, USB flash drives, SD/memory cards, external hard drives, SSDs, etc.

It helps you tackle various data loss situations including mistaken file deletion, hard drive corruption, system crash, malware/virus infection, etc. It can even help you recover data when the PC won’t boot .

It has a very simple interface and features very simple operation. Even novice users can operate this program with ease and use it to recover deleted/lost data in a few steps. Check the simple guide below.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery Free Click to Download 100% Clean & Safe

• Launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery to access its main UI.
• Choose the target drive or device that contains your deleted or lost files. Under Logical Drives , you can select the target drive and click the Scan Under the Devices tab, you can select the whole device or disk to scan. If you don’t know the exact drive that contains the deleted or lost files, you can choose the entire device to scan.
• After the scan process finishes, you can check the scan result to find if the deleted/lost files are there. Check wanted files and click the Save button to choose a destination to store the recovered files.

Free PC Backup Program to Back up Your Files

To avoid permanent data loss, the best way is to make a backup of important files. To back up large files or bulk of files at a fast speed, you can utilize a professional data backup application.

MiniTool ShadowMaker is a good PC backup utility that is 100% clean and free. It lets you not only back up your Windows OS but also back up any data on your PC. You can choose an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or network drive to store the backed-up data.

You can use MiniTool ShadowMaker to easily create a system image backup of your Windows OS. If your computer has problems, you can use this program to easily restore your Windows OS from the backups.

As a professional file backup tool, it lets you choose any files, folders, partitions, or even the whole disk content to make a backup. It supports automatic file backup and you can set a schedule to automatically back up the selected data. It also supports incremental backup and you can set it to only keep the latest backup.

Aside from the backup method, it also supports file sync.

Get this free tool to back up your Windows OS and data now.

MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Click to Download 100% Clean & Safe

• Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker.
• Click the Backup module.
• Click the Source section to choose the files and folders you want to back up.
• Click the Destination section to choose the target location or device to store the backups.
• Click the Back up Now button to start the backup process at a very fast speed.

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This post introduces the 10 best free Word processors for Windows 10/11 and you can choose a preferred tool to easily create, edit, or print documents on your computer. A free file data recovery method and a file backup method are also provided to help keep your data safe. Hope it helps.

For more computer tips and tricks, you can visit MiniTool News Center.

To find more useful computer software from MiniTool, you can visit its official website. Free tools like MiniTool Partition Wizard , MiniTool MovieMaker, MiniTool Video Converter, MiniTool Video Repair , MiniTool uTube Downloader, etc. are also provided. You can try these programs if you like.

MiniTool Partition Wizard is a professional free disk partition manager that lets you easily manage hard disk partitions by yourself.

MiniTool MovieMaker is a free video editor for Windows that lets you import, edit, and export videos.

MiniTool Video Converter lets you convert any video or audio format, record computer screen, download YouTube videos, etc.

MiniTool Video Repair lets you repair corrupted MP4 /MOV video files for free.

If you have any issues when using these tools, you can contact [email protected] .

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Best 10 Free Microsoft Word Alternatives 2023

Senior Content Marketing Manager

August 15, 2023

Microsoft Office Word is undoubtedly the most widely-used text editor. It allows you to create documents easily. So finding Microsoft Word alternatives can feel like a short list of options.

Why would anyone want to choose something else?

Well, this dominant word processor does have its drawbacks. There’s no free version, and it only works on a limited number of operating systems. Also, many think it’s a bit too complicated and unusable for today’s needs. 

Although MS Word has fans, some people prefer to use a different program with similar capabilities. We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for text editors that work across various operating systems and don’t want to pay for Microsoft Word premium features you don’t use.

Here’s our review of the 10 best free Microsoft Word alternatives, features, pricing, and ratings for all!

What is Microsoft Word? 

1. clickup docs, 2. google docs, 3. libreoffice writer, 4. wps office free writer, 5. focuswriter, 6. zoho docs, 8. freeoffice textmaker, 9. write monkey, 10. iwork pages.

Microsoft Word, or MS Word, is a document processor published by Microsoft and is one of the productivity apps included in the Microsoft Office suite. First released in 1983, the program is the brainchild of Richard Brodie and Charles Simonyi. It is available for MS Windows, Android, Apple iOS, and Apple macOS and is compatible with the Linux OS using WINE. Notable Microsoft Word features include: 

• Allows users to create professional-quality documents
• Allows font and text formatting
• HTML and image support
• Advanced page layout
• Grammar check

If you’re fed up with the unnecessary features you pay for with an MS Office subscription, there are several word processors you can use instead. These document editors can get downloaded for free and are excellent for those who only need a word processor and not the other features from Microsoft Office. 

Microsoft Word benefits vs. limitations

Undoubtedly, the most notable MS Word benefit is its ability to help you produce documents in different formats. It’s also easy to work with and can integrate your documents with other media within the Microsoft Office suite, including worksheets, presentations, flowcharts , and graphs. Its ability to track edits and changes in your documents ensures easy collaboration when working in a team.

Nonetheless, Microsoft Word can get expensive because users often purchase additional tools they’ll never need or use. Furthermore, the program may not always be intuitive. For example, you may encounter downtimes when incorporating pictures into your documents or aligning text around the images. 

10 best Microsoft Word alternatives

If you’re looking for a free but feature-rich MS Word alternative, the Docs feature in ClickUp is just what you need. The document editor helps you create eye-catching and functional documents, wikis, and more in one user-friendly platform.

You can add tables, embed bookmarks, and more while formatting your documents. ClickUp is more than merely a text editor. It’s a hub where teams come together to plan, organize, and collaborate on work using tasks, Docs, Chat, Goals , Whiteboards , and more. Tag team members through comments, assign action items, and convert plain text into tasks.

Users working on one project can conveniently add widgets to change product statuses, assign tasks, update workflows, and more within one editor. It’s easy to keep your work organized because ClickUp categorizes your documents for quick access and searchability. Critical resources can also get managed and added to any section of your Workspace. 

🔑 ClickUp Docs k ey features

• Create Docs with rich formatting options
• Create relationships to link Docs and tasks
• Easily assign tasks and update workflows
• Compatible with various file formats

✅ ClickUp Docs pros

• Unmatched customization capabilities
• Top-notch team collaboration
• Categorizes your work
• Real-time reporting

❌ ClickUp Docs cons

• Not all ClickUp views are available on the mobile app (yet!)

💸 ClickUp Docs pricing

• ClickUp offers a Free Forever Plan and paid plans starting at $7/user per month

💬 ClickUp Docs customer ratings

• G2: 4.7/5 (3,880+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (2,480+ reviews)

Arguably, Google Docs is a powerful word processor and among the better-known alternatives to Microsoft Word. It mirrors Microsoft Word in terms of functionality. It allows users to create files and share them in various formats. The functionality of Google Docs can get extended using different add-ons. Although Google Docs is a web-based text editor, it allows you to work on documents offline. 

You can continue to edit your documents even without an internet connection. Since it’s a file-sharing service, Google Docs is excellent for real-time collaboration. It provides G Suite integration and is compatible with multiple file formats, including PDF. 

🔑 Google Docs key features

• Add-ons such as MLA, DocuSign, and LucidChart
• Offers real-time collaboration
• Works like MS Word

✅ Google Docs p ros

• Speech recognition and ability to translate files from various foreign languages
• Saves work automatically
• Allows offline editing

❌ Google Docs cons

• Formatting issues may arise when importing content from formats such as PDF or RTF
• It has a restricted selection of templates

💸 Google Docs p ricing

• Google Docs is a free text editor, but pricing plans in the Google Workspace suite start at $6 per user per month

💬 Google Docs c ustomer ratings

• Capterra: 4.7/5 (25,928+ reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 ‎(39,800+ reviews)

Dubbed the all-inclusive word processor for all types of text-based work, LibreOffice Writer is among the most impressive alternatives to Microsoft Word. It’s compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. LibreOffice Writer is considered a feature-packed analog version of MS Word and comes with all the tools you need for text-based work.

The text editor is available in two versions, and both feature templates and wizards for creating all document types. It also supports different file formats and allows you to export documents to PDF without additional software. So if you’re looking for a text editor that stands in for Microsoft Word, you won’t go wrong with LibreOffice. 

🔑 LibreOffice Writer key features

• Excellent format compatibility
• Available in two versions to suit your needs
• Downloadable without providing your information

✅ LibreOffice Writer pros

• Document template galleries
• No ads and paywalls
• Supports multiple plugins

❌ LibreOffice Writer cons

• Technical support isn’t provided
• Slow and takes a lot of memory because it’s a Java program

💸 LibreOffice Writer pricing

• The Collabora version is free for up to 20 users but can get upgraded to a paid plan for up to 99 users at $18 per user yearly
• The CIB version costs $14.99 per user yearly and can get installed on up to 10 devices

💬 LibreOffice Writer c ustomer ratings

• G2: 4.1/5 ‎(59 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (1,370+ reviews)

Anyone who has used the newer versions of Microsoft Word but didn’t like the complexity should consider switching to WPS Office Writer. The free text editor looks and works almost like Microsoft Word and even features its equivalent of OneDrive, which offers 1GB of free cloud storage. 

WPS Office Free Writer comes with templates to help you create multiple document tasks. It’s compatible with most text file formats, including current MS Word versions. Discrete ads support the free version of WPS Office Writer, but you can remove them by choosing the premium versions. This is an impressive word processor and one of the best alternatives to Microsoft Word. 

🔑 WPS Office Free Writer key features

• The WPS PDF to Word converter allows you to work on multiple document formats
• The free version provides basic editing tools needed to work on your documents
• Cloud storage offers a secure space for your documents
• Designed to mirror Microsoft Word

✅ WPS Office Free Writer p ros

• Provides impressive file format support
• The nested interface mimics Microsoft Word
• Free cloud storage

❌ WPS Office Free Writer c ons

• May contain pop-up ads

💸 WPS Office Free Writer p ricing 

• WPS Office Premium subscription costs $3.99 monthly, $18.99 for six months, and $29.99 annually

💬 WPS Office Free Writer c ustomer ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (‎232 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (841 reviews)

This MS Word alternative is touted as the ideal text editor for fast drafts, thanks to the relative ease of formatting docs. It’s compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows OS. It’s excellent for those who want to type out a page or two without worrying about formatting. 

FocusWriter features a suite of clever tools designed to optimize productivity . As the name suggests, the text editor blocks out all distractions so that you focus on your drafts. When you open the text editor, a blank page is all you’ll see. 

🔑 FocusWriter key features

• Features alerts that get triggered at specified times
• Designed to minimize distractions as you work

✅ FocusWriter pros

• The timers and alarms come in handy when working against time
• The fading features allow you to focus on your work
• Your work gets saved automatically

❌ FocusWriter cons

• Excellent for productivity but not ideal for editing documents

💸 FocusWriter pricing

• Free for life

💬 FocusWriter c ustomer ratings

• Capterra: 4.6/5 (68 reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 (12 reviews)

Bonus: Check out these Microsoft Whiteboard alternatives !

Few text editors are better suited for educational and business tasks than Zoho Docs. The web-based software can be used in your favorite browser and comes with a user-friendly UI that can easily get managed via tabbed menus. In addition, Zoho Docs allows users to upload and download documents in DOCX format. It also supports collaboration, enabling you to work in real-time with your colleagues. 

🔑 Zoho Docs key features

• Two-way synchronization, recovery, and file encryption
• Blends with other text editors seamlessly
• Can serve as an email marketing solution
• Provides cloud storage for your docs

✅ Zoho Docs pros

• Document management and visibility
• Saves your docs automatically
• Robust password security

❌ Zoho Docs cons

• The free version has limited space, making it unsuitable for editing large documents

💸 Zoho Docs pricing

• $5 per month per user when you upgrade your subscription

💬 Zoho Docs c ustomer ratings

• G2: 4.4/5 (206 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (151 reviews)

Bonus: Microsoft Access Competitors !

This Microsoft Word alternative has features to help you create documents in multiple formats and collaborate with your team in real-time. With this text editor, you can create documents and tables, embed graphics, and more. It also has an in-built Mail Merge tool that allows you to fill out your email fields automatically. 

🔑 AbiWord key features

• Fitted with multiple plugins and features that make it highly functional
• Compatibility with various platforms and text formats
• Saves your documents automatically
• HTML support

✅ AbiWord pros

• The plugin architecture can be expanded
• Saves your files in DOCX format
• Available in multiple languages

❌ AbiWord cons

• You can’t export PDF files

💸 AbiWord pricing

• Inquire with AbiWord for pricing

💬 AbiWord c ustomer ratings

• G2: 4.1/5 (15 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (1,378 reviews)

This impressive Microsoft Word alternative comes with handy templates for creating everyday documents. FreeOffice TextMaker has all the features to expect from a modern text editor, including advanced formatting options, change-tracking, and the ability to create databases for managing footnotes and bibliographies. 

🔑 FreeOffice TextMaker key features

• Ability to track changes when collaborating on text editing projects
• You can create your templates and save them for future use
• Neat and easy-to-navigate intuitive user interface

✅ FreeOffice TextMaker pros

• Can print multiple pages per worksheet
• It Opens password-secured files
• Can export files to EPUB format

❌ FreeOffice TextMaker cons

• Doesn’t support DOCX files

💸 FreeOffice TextMaker pricing

💬 freeoffice textmaker c ustomer ratings.

• G2: 4.3/5 (110 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (235 reviews)

This productivity-focused program comes equipped with quick shortcuts to make word processing easier. It’s only compatible with Windows OS and is designed to optimize your output without worrying about formatting or editing. Although Write Monkey may not be ideal for creating documents such as CVs or letters, it’s excellent for committing ideas to paper or later development. It’s only compatible with TXT files, and therefore, you must convert different formats before working on them. 

🔑 Write Monkey key features

• Productivity-focused
• Only works with TXT format
• Designed to help you commit ideas to memory
• Available as a portable app

✅ Write Monkey pros

• Distraction-free interface optimizes productivity
• Handy keyboard shortcut
• Supports markup

❌ Write Monkey cons

• Not suitable for creating large files

💸 Write Monkey pricing

💬 write monkey c ustomer ratings.

• G2: 4.4/5 (27 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.9/5 (179 reviews)

If you want an MS Office alternative with multiple templates that allow the creation of various document types such as resumes, books, newsletters, and reports, you’ll love iWork Pages. The convenient text editor allows you to make changes to your documents in one click and provides robust password protection and the ability to work with files in different formats. 

🔑 iWork Pages key features

• Easy to export and import Microsoft docs
• Available as part of the iWork suite
• Navigable, user-friendly intuitive interface

✅ iWork Pages pros

• Offers limitless document creation options on one page
• Advanced features are offered by Apple’s graphic
• Saves your work in multiple formats as you prefer

❌ iWork Pages cons

• Only compatible with iOS and macOS

💸 iWork Pages pricing

• 50GB: $0.99 per month
• 200GB: $2.99 per month
• 2TB: $9.99 per month

💬 iWork Pages c ustomer ratings

• G2: 4.6/5 (13 reviews)
• Capterra: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)

Get more done with time-saving Docs in ClickUp

There are many options for Microsoft Word alternatives. Nonetheless, few offer the flexibility and functionality of ClickUp Docs. One thing that stands out about ClickUp is that it’s a collaboration-driven platform focused on helping you to team up in real-time.

Sign up for ClickUp Docs for free today to enjoy unlimited text editing!

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

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10+ Free MS Word Alternatives You Can Use Today

While many people believe that they are "locked" into using Microsoft Word for all their document creation needs, it simply isn't true. Over the past few years, there have been many Microsoft Word and Office alternatives that were released and that have gained traction. Now, there are alternatives to the costly application from Microsoft, many of which are free.

Today we're going to explore eleven alternatives to Microsoft Word that you can quickly and easily start using today. Some will be online and some will be downloadable applications that can be installed on your local computer, but all will enable you to wean yourself off of Microsoft Word and still be productive.

This is because they can all work in conjunction with the applications you already use with MS Word. Take your everyday PDF converter tool, for instance. Working with PDF documents is difficult and you may think it even harder if you swap out an application in your usual software lineup. This simply isn't true, though. Able2Extract Professional, for instance, lets you work easily with any MS Word alternative there is. Simply convert your PDF to Word and then import or upload your converted results into any one of the Word processors in this list. You won't miss a single beat!

So if you need a good list of free alternatives to MS Word, look no further. Let's get started on our tour of eleven free alternatives to Microsoft Word.

Online Microsoft Word Alternatives

Sometimes it's easier to create and collaborate online in real-time than by editing and managing multiple versions on your local hard drive and sending the files via email. The web-based word processing applications below will not only let you create the documents online but also quickly and easily share them with others.

Xodo is an online document management platform that offers a powerful Word editing tool. Users can edit and revise Docx files directly in their web browser without any software installation. With an intuitive interface and a comprehensive set of editing tools, Xodo's Docx Word Editor is fast and easy to use. Xodo gives you the ability to make changes to text with popular formatting, font, spacing, and text colour options, making it an efficient tool for both individuals and business users. Any changes you make can instantly be downloaded and saved back into Docx format seamlessly. Because Xodo offers a full suite of document tools, you can keep your Word document in Xodo to view or convert to PDF without having to leave the platform. Xodo takes top spot because of its ease of use, quality editing tools, and smooth performance while editing.

Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is a free online word processor offered by the online cloud storage provider. To start using it, you will need a Dropbox account. Once logged in, you get full access to the online suite. The minimalist interface is very intuitive and its simplicity allows you to focus on your content. You can also do a number of things that go beyond creating a textual document. You can add rich media, such as audio, video and images. Dropbox Paper also allows you to access apps that let you embed Trello cards, Youtube videos or SlideShare decks. Other collaborative features include document link-sharing, creating and assigning checklist items to members or embedding one of your Dropbox documents. Dropbox Paper, overall, does an excellent job at creating dynamic documents you can share and access online.

Office Online

For Microsoft Word and Office aficionados, the best possible free online alternative for their document editing needs is definitely Word online, which comes as part of the Office Online suite. Although free MS Word web app is not a full-fledged version of its paid counterpart, it allows you to open, create and edit Word documents online. Also, it offers some additional benefits of online software tools. For example, the ability to access and see updates from co-authors to your docs literally from anywhere in real time with only an Internet connection and the latest 2016 version. You can share and collaborate on documents. An equally alluring feature of Office Online is its cross-platform compatibility. So, if you're a Chromebook or Linux OS user, MS Word web app is the most elegant way to get access to Microsoft's document editing features - for free!

Google Docs

Google Docs allows you to create, collaborate and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings and even forms. Google Docs is packed with features, which can be further extended with various add-ons . While it will automatically save the file online and store it there, you can also have the documents published as a web page, downloaded or emailed as an attachment in Word, ODT, PDF, plain text or RTF formats. You can invite collaborators to work on the document with you or only allow others to view it without the ability to edit. And if you are apprehensive of having to depend on the Internet connection for document processing, don't worry. You can enable Google Docs offline access and keep editing your documents even when you are disconnected from Internet. All it takes is a free Google account.

Etherpad is an online document editor primarily intended for collaborative editing in, as the site claims, "really real time". It's an open source, highly customizable tool for online document collaboration with friends, fellow students and classmates, or colleagues at work. One of its advantages, especially appealing to users who are reluctant to use services which require email registration, is that there is no sign up with Etherpad. All you need to do is start a new pad and share the link to it with your collaborators. You can also invite them by email if you prefer. After that, you can start working on the planned writing project together, in real-time, even if you are miles apart.

Zoho offers around 20 free online applications including Writer for word processing. You can link your Zoho account to your Google and Yahoo accounts, as well. The Writer's interface shouldn't cause anyone problems as it is comfortably familiar. When working online there's always the risk of losing data due to a lost network connection, accidentally closing your browser or having your browser crash. Luckily Zoho automatically saves your documents for you, as you finish typing. Zoho Writer is well-equipped with features that allow you to work easily online: two-way desktop sync, large file transfer, encryption, file recovery, two-step authentication, in-app chat, and more. You can import and work with MS Word documents, allowing you to insert images, and edit content as needed. Zoho Writer offers all the standard text formatting and document creation features and can export to DOCX, ODF, PDF, Latex, RTF, TXT and even HTML. It can plug into Echosign for digital signatures, publish the document to a blog or make it public for all to see. Zoho Docs is completely free to use.

Downloadable Microsoft Word Alternatives

Some people are reluctant to cut the ties to their local computer and put all their work and business documents online. If you're one of them and don't want to rely on an Internet connection, here are several free word processing applications to round out our list. These you can download and install on your local computer. Take advantage of all the desktop features of MS Word without the hefty price tag!

Apache OpenOffice

The Apache OpenOffice package actually includes six programs that all use the same engine making them inherently the same and extremely easy to learn and use. The 6 applications included in the Apache OpenOffice suite are: Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (diagrams and illustrations) and Base (database manipulation) and Math (mathematical equations). Writer can even natively do some things that Word cannot, like open PDF files without the addition of a plug-in or commercial add-on. As the software is open source it is maintained by a large community meaning help and bug fixes are freely available and quickly created. The downside to Writer is that it can only open DOCX files without the ability to edit and save them. You can install this suite on Windows XP to Windows 10, macOS and Linux.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is another open source Microsoft Office alternative and a successor of the OpenOffice.org project (in 2010, Oracle/Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice projects went separate ways). LibreOffice is distributed as a “monolithic software” consisting of seven components: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math, and Charts. LibreOffice Writer is a free and powerful word processor available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This Microsoft Word alternative can edit and save DOCX file format meaning that if you often collaborate on documents with Microsoft Office users, LibreOffice Writer is your best choice. It offers multi-language support, a spelling and grammar checker, ability to export in PDF and EPUB ebook format, AutoCorrect and AutoComplete features, a lot of extensions and document templates, and more regular updates and major and minor releases than Apache OpenOffice.

Jarte is based on Microsoft WordPad Engine, but is still free. There is a paid version of the software that adds on some extra functionality, but the free version is more than adequate and fully compatible with Word and WordPad documents. Features include an ergonomic tabbed interface, small resource requirements, portability, support for touchscreens, and quick loading time. It also has built-in spell checking and can export to HTML and PDF files. Jarte allows you to insert images, tables, hyperlinks and everything else that you have come to expect from Word. Jarte contains no ads, trial periods or crippled features and is funded through user purchases of the Jarte Plus version.

WPS Office is a free document processing suite whose WPS Writer app will serve you well as a Microsoft Word alternative. WPS Office 2016 Free can open and save to a long list of popular file formats native to those applications like docx, doc, and more. You can get the application in languages other than English: French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish and Russian. The suite has the same familiar look and feel of MS Office with one exception--it has a tabbed viewing window, so you can open more than one document at a time. And also worth mentioning is WPS Cloud , the company's cloud document storage service that offers up to 1GB of free storage that you can use. This is perfect if you're trying to find a free Word alternative that's not only scalable for teams, but can also be as collaborative and seamless as its Microsoft counterpart.

SoftMaker FreeOffice

SoftMaker FreeOffice is another great free suite that offers a full featured Microsoft Word alternative. The suite's TextMaker application allows you to focus on creating documents just as you would in MS Word. This suite offers up essential editing features and even a handful of basic templates for creating and editing documents. Tables, charts, shapes and graphics are available along with standard text formatting options. This application provides you with everything you need. The entire suite is available for Windows, Linux, and Android, so you can keep your document processing tasks going even while away from your desktop.

Whether you are looking for a free locally installed Microsoft Word alternative or an online one for easier collaboration and online file storage, there are many available. The eleven that are covered in this article are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but should give you a good starting point. The obvious giants in the arena are Google Docs and Openoffice.org which are probably also the most popular, though Zoho does offer a wider selection of applications. In the end, the one that best suits you will be the one that offers the features you need the most.

No matter which one you pick, you're guaranteed a fully functional, robust word processor at zero cost. If you also want a completely free PDF viewer with powerful features for Windows, Mac, or Linux, give Slim PDF Reader 2 a chance today!

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If you're tired of paying for Microsoft Office features you don't use, here are free alternatives to Word you can download and start using today.

Google Docs: Best for sharing and real time collaboration

Apache openoffice writer: best for long and complex documents, zoho writer: best for automation, libreoffice writer: best for customization, wps office writer: best for advanced features, microsoft office word online: best for users who prefer microsoft word's interface.

Microsoft Word has its devotees, but find one person who loves it, and you’ll probably find several who don’t. From redesigns that hide familiar menu items to overly complicated and often unused features, there’s a lot to be desired in a simple word processor that Microsoft Word doesn’t deliver due to its complex nature.

Microsoft Word as a part of Microsoft Office is expensive — for instance, Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs $22 for each user per month.

SEE: Discover the best free alternatives to Microsoft Excel .

If you don’t need all the features that Microsoft Word offers, it can be hard to justify paying that price, especially in a small business environment where you just need a word processor. Don’t pay for what you won’t use and take a look at one of these six free Microsoft Word alternatives instead.

Alternatives to Microsoft Word comparison

How to choose the best free alternatives to microsoft word, review methodology.

This chart provides a general overview of Microsoft Word capabilities. We evaluated each tool further to determine which might suit your needs best.

Google Docs, which is easily the most popular Microsoft Word alternative on this list, is free to everyone with a Google account.

If you want the basic features of Microsoft Word, you don’t need to look any further than Google Doc — it supports all your basic word processing needs and is tightly integrated with Google Drive and other products. Since everything is saved in Google’s cloud, you don’t need to worry about losing your work ( Figure A ). Docs automatically save after every single keystroke, so in the event of a crash, you should be able to pick up right where you left off, down to the letter. Google Docs also supports Microsoft Word’s .doc and .docx formats, so you shouldn’t have any problems importing and editing those files.

One of its best features for business users is real-time collaboration. If you share a document with another Google user, both of you can be in the document simultaneously, see the other user’s cursor position, watch what they’re typing, and chat with each other. It’s a great collaboration tool that stands out among word processors.

Advanced users may find the features lacking — it really is a bare-bones word processor.

Standout features

• Real-time collaboration capability.
• Pageless view.
• Table templates.
• Watermarks.
• Document summary.
• Google Meet integration.
• Menu shortcut that lets you tag people, add elements and perform other actions.
• Commenting, notes and suggestions.
• Meeting notes.
• Email draft.
• Checklists.
• Customizable templates.
• In-doc chat capability.
• Table of contents sidebar.
• Find and replace capability.
• Intuitive, easy to learn and use.
• Easy sharing and collaboration.
• Easy track changes.
• Versatile and user friendly.
• Limited offline capability.
• Some users reported that it has limited advanced formatting and editing capabilities.
• Sometimes crashes occur when too many people are working on the same document.

SEE: Become a Google Docs power user .

If you hate Microsoft Word because of its ribbon, then Apache’s OpenOffice Writer is the 2003 throwback you want. It has a classic interface that, while it can look a bit cluttered, mimics the menus that Microsoft tossed out when Office 2007 was released ( Figure B ). It will definitely feel familiar to Office 2003 users, with the added perk of still receiving updates and security patches, which is important for a business software suite.

OpenOffice Writer has its own document format, but it also supports .doc and .docx files, and it does a great job of maintaining formatting when importing those types of files. Many of the advanced features of Microsoft Word are included in OpenOffice Writer as well, so editing complex Word documents won’t be an issue.

If online collaboration or native cloud support is a selling point, then you may want to pass on OpenOffice Writer because it includes neither. It’s possible to store files in a cloud drive and access them using OpenOffice, but you’ll need the desktop client of Google Drive , Microsoft OneDrive or Apple iCloud installed so that you can open your cloud storage like a local computer folder.

• Table of contents and references.
• AutoCorrect dictionary.
• AutoComplete capability.
• Multi-page display.
• HTML, PDF, and MediaWiki formats.
• Supports .docx and .doc.
• Familiar, Microsoft-like interface.
• Over 900 templates.
• Commenting/Notes.
• It doesn’t have mobile apps.
• The user interface isn’t intuitive.

Zoho Writer is a free document creation tool with a clean writing interface and powerful built-in capabilities. Writing documents in Writer is largely distraction-free, while important text tools are still within reach. The native features of Writer, many of which leverage the capabilities of other Zoho apps, really set it apart from the rest. Use the built-in AI tool, Zia, for better quality content, fast grammar fixes and insight into the document’s readability for different audiences ( Figure C ).

The Document Sign tool puts e-signature tools right in the doc so that teams can go from draft to approval to signature, all in the same space. Document Fillable tools also put forms right in your documents, giving them a professional feel that’s ready for embedding anywhere you need a form.

Not to be outdone by Google Docs or Microsoft Word, Zoho Writer’s real-time collaboration has granular controls, including comments, suggestions, text masking to hide some items from collaborators and even content locks for blocks of text. Zoho Writer is built for corporate collaboration, legal approvals and creative teams.

• WordPress integration.
• Comments and notes.
• Lock or mask sensitive information.
• Post to WordPress from Zoho Writer.
• Word document import.
• Export to .docx and .pdf.
• Document automation.
• Document fillable.
• Real-time collaboration.
• Offline editing capability.
• Integrates well with Zoho WorkDrive and other products in the Zoho suite.
• Users say the editor gets slow when working with large documents.
• Zoho Writer spell checker could be improved.

The Document Foundation’s LibreOffice Writer, like OpenOffice, is a completely free and open-source product that offers word processing, support for .doc and .docx file formats and all the tools the average Microsoft Word user will need in a word processor. LibreOffice Writer and OpenOffice Writer are similar in a lot of ways: interface style, file format support, lack of cloud integration and real-time collaboration, and general word processing features ( Figure D ). Both are solid choices for those looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Word, and selecting one over the other largely comes down to preference.

One aspect of LibreOffice stands out, and it is’’t what’s in the app — it’s the community-driven nature of the platform. Collaborating with users and developers to improve the product is front and center on LibreOffice’s website, and that focus has grown LibreOffice into a thriving community of users and coders that keep making it better .

• Desktop publishing.
• Integrated calculation function.
• Drawing tools.
• Spellchecker, thesaurus, AutoCorrect and hyphenation.
• Works well with MS Office files.
• Installs on Windows, Linux and Mac.
• Supports drag-and-drop.
• Some users reported that the tool is sometimes slow.
• Limited documentation.

If you want a word processor as feature-packed as Word but don’t want to pay a premium, check out WPS Office Writer. It’s a full-featured application suite that feels premium.

WPS Office Writer does most of the same things as Microsoft Word, and it includes native cloud support to make storing documents online a snap; however, it does lack real-time collaboration ( Figure E ). Look at any review of WPS Office Writer, and you’ll find statements that attest to how much it’s like Word. With its inclusion of more features than other free suites like OpenOffice, this might be the one to go for — especially considering it’s free.

With anything free and high quality, there’s usually a catch, and you might be able to guess what it is in our modern age of “freemium” apps: Ads. Don’t let that dissuade you from trying WPS Writer — you might not see an ad. There’s no banner across the top of the app; ads only appear when you want to use select features like printing or exporting to PDF. If you need to do one of those things, you’ll have to sit through a roughly 10-second ad, which unlocks the feature for 30 minutes. If you like what WPS Writer offers, you can eliminate ads by paying a yearly subscription fee of $29.99 or $9.99 for three months.

Key features

• PDF file support.
• File format conversion.
• PDF to Word conversion.
• Document to picture export.
• Picture to text conversion.
• Skins and design customization.
• Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.
• Supports 13 languages on PC and 46 languages on mobile.
• 20GB of cloud storage.
• WPS Office is compatible with 47 common document formats.
• The free version contains ads.
• Some users say the app is a bit slow.

Don’t overlook Microsoft’s free alternative to the paid version of Word: Office Online. Like Google Docs, Microsoft Word Online is a simplified, cloud-based version of Word ( Figure F ). It lacks many of the advanced features of a locally-installed version of Word, but this is as close as you can get for users who want a free version of Word.

Similarities between Google Docs and Word Online are present all the way down to the interface, but with a few tweaks you can make it feel more like the Microsoft ribbon instead of the dropdown menus Google Docs uses. Documents created in Word Online are saved in Microsoft OneDrive, and real-time collaboration features like those in Google Docs are available as well. One big plus in Word Online’s favor is formatting: If you create a document in Word Online and then import it to a local version of Microsoft Word, it’s going to retain the formatting way better than a Google Docs file.

• .docm, .docx, .pptm, .pptx, .xlsm, and. xlsx support.
• 5GB of cloud storage.
• Templates, fonts, icons and stickers.
• Spelling and grammar.
• Auto-save function.
• Dictation and voice command capability.
• Familiar environment for Microsoft Office users.
• Limited features compared to the offline version.
• It may contain ads.

SEE: Explore everything Microsoft 365 has to offer.

When selecting the best free alternatives to Microsoft Word, there are a few key factors to consider.

• Assess your specific requirements and determine the features and functionalities you need from word processing software. This could include document formatting options, collaboration capabilities, compatibility with various file formats and available templates.
• Conduct thorough research on popular options such as Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer, Apache OpenOffice Writer, Zoho Writer and WPS Office Writer.
• Read user reviews, compare features and test the software to see how well it meets your requirements.
• Consider factors like compatibility with Microsoft Word formats, integration with cloud storage and ongoing support and updates.

By evaluating these criteria, you can make an informed decision and choose the alternative that best suits your needs.

We analyzed each Microsoft Word alternative based on five key data points: free, support for Microsoft Word format, offline access, templates and ability to meet needs. All the tools in our comparison group satisfy these criteria. We evaluated how well each alternative fulfills users’ needs in terms of functionality, ease of use, formatting capabilities and other relevant factors. This criterion helps assess the overall suitability of the tool for different types of users and their specific requirements.

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Best free word processor of 2023

Alternatives to Microsoft Word

• The best free word processor in full

Best overall

Best for cloud, best for collaboration, best for productivity, best for text files, how we test.

The best free word processor makes it simple and easy way to type up documents on your computer, without needing to pay for a software license.

The best free word processor of 2023 in full 1. Best overall 2. Best for cloud 3. Best for collaboration 4. Best for productivity 5. Best basic 6. Best for text files 7. FAQs 8. How we test

However, while there are some good, free word processing programs out there, they tend to not have so many features as paid-for software. Even when they do, there can be compatibility issues with moving document formats between software platforms, especially when importing to Microsoft Word .

Here we’re looking at the very best word processors that can be used offline (particularly useful for distraction-free writing), but there are also several excellent browser-based tools to consider if you'd rather do your writing online.

These then are the best free word processors and alternatives to Microsoft Word, that will provide a reliable platform for you to work from, at home or in the office.

We've also featured the best Microsoft Office alternatives .

The best word processor available today is: Microsoft Word For sheer features and convenience it's still hard to beat Microsoft Word. While it's not free like the tools listed below, the latest version fully integrates with Microsoft OneDrive, and lets you shift material seamlessly between the whole suite of Microsoft 365 apps.

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The best free word processor in full:

1. libreoffice writer.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy.

LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice, and the two offer very similar word processing apps, but LibreOffice receives more frequent updates and has a more lively userbase, so we're inclined to lean in its favor. 

The word processor, Writer, is a feature-packed analog of Microsoft Word, packed with all the tools you could need for any text-based work. 

The two versions of Writer include wizards and templates for common document types, such as invoices and letters, and it’s easy to create your own templates for future use as well. The word processors also work together with the other office software in their respective suites – so you can use Base to create a bibliography, for example.

Both word processors support all the most popular file formats, and can export documents to PDF without the need for additional software. If you’re looking for a word processor that can stand in for Microsoft Word, either of these two will be a perfect candidate.

Read our full LibreOffice review .

2. WPS Office Free Writer

Reasons to avoid.

If you’ve used a modern version of Microsoft Word, there’ll be no learning curve when you switch to Writer – the word processing component of WPS Office Free.

This free word processor looks and behaves almost exactly like its premium counterpart, and even has its own equivalent of OneDrive, offering 1GB free cloud storage.

Its selection of pre-installed templates gives you everything you need for common document types, and you can easily create your own for bespoke tasks. It’s compatible with every text file format you can think of, including current and legacy versions of Microsoft Word dating back to Office 97.

WPS Office Writer is supported by discrete ads, which can be removed by upgrading to the premium version, but they’re barely noticeable and no features are locked behind a paywall. Overall, WPS Writer is very impressive, and in our opinion it’s the best free word processor available to download today.

WPS recently launched a free PDF to Word converter as well, which is a great companion to its word processor.

Read our full WPS Office Free review .

3. Google Docs

When it comes to free word processing, Google Docs may seem like one of the most obvious choices, and has the advantage of saving your work automatically so you don’t have to worry if your connection fails. 

It’s also a good choice for collaborative working, and means you don’t have to upload work to a separate cloud storage service. 

However, it has a limited selection of templates, there’s no way to import content from other Google applications, it suffers from the formatting issues when importing mentioned above, and any online tool is going to be surrounded by distractions like social media.

Read our full Google Docs review .

4. FocusWriter

If you simply want to hammer out some words without worrying about formatting, you could just use Windows’ built-in Notepad app, but FocusWriter is full of clever tools that will help you maximize productivity without ever getting in the way.

As the name implies, FocusWriter blocks out all distractions so you can give that all-important first draft your full attention. In normal use, all you see is a blank page – toolbars are only visible if you move your mouse pointer to the edge of the screen – but there’s a killer feature in Focused Text, which fades everything into the background except the current paragraph or sentence.

FocusWriter also features alerts that are triggered at certain times, or when you’ve reached a predefined word count, so you don’t need to worry about watching a counter (as you would in Microsoft Word). This also makes FocusWriter a good tool to use in tandem with the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working hard for a period of time that’s long enough for you to work productively, but not so long that you become fatigued.

It’s not great for editing, but for productivity, FocusWriter is hard to beat.

Read our full FocusWriter review .

5. FreeOffice TextMaker

TextMaker – the word processing element of SoftMaker FreeOffice – is good looking, and comes with several handy templates for creating letters and other everyday documents. The selection isn’t as extensive as some of its rivals’, but you can also make new designs for future use and save them in TMV format.

All the features you’d expect from a modern word processor are present and correct, including advanced formatting options, the ability to create databases for managing bibliographies and footnotes, and a function for tracking changes to collaborative projects.

The only real drawback of TextMaker is its inability to save your work in DOCX format (though you can open and edit these files with no difficulty). This feature is limited to the premium version of SoftMaker Office.

Read our full FreeOffice review .

6. Writemonkey

WriteMonkey is another no-frills word processor designed to help you maximize your output without fussing with editing and formatting. It’s not intended for documents like letters or CVs, but is great for committing early ideas to paper (or screen) so you have the raw material to develop later.

Unlike FocusWriter, which is compatible with all the most common text formats (including Microsoft’s DOC and DOCX), WriteMonkey only works with TXT files, so you’ll have to convert any works in progress before opening them. WriteMonkey’s hidden controls are trickier to navigate, too – everything is accessed via a large right-click menu, or a vast collection of keyboard shortcuts.

That said, if you’re happy to commit those shortcuts to memory, you’ll find WriteMonkey faster to use than toolbar-based alternatives.

We also like the ability to look words up in Wikipedia, Google Images, Poetry.com, Answers.com, and many others without opening a browser winder manually and leaving yourself open to the temptations of Twitter and Facebook.

WriteMonkey is a portable app, so there’s no need to install it – just extract all the downloaded files to a removable drive or cloud storage service and fire it up by running the file WriteMonkey.exe.

Read our full Writemonkey review .

We've also featured the best free cloud apps for business .

Which free word processor is best for you?

When deciding which free word processor to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options. That means if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require.

How we tested the best free word processor

To test for the best free word processor we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations, especially looking at how it worked with different file formats. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.

Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .  

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12 Best Free Alternatives to MS Word

Best alternative word processor programs to MS Word

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These free word processors can be a great alternative to Microsoft Word . Many have very similar characteristics to Word and since they're free, you'll be saving hundreds of dollars by using one of them.

All of the free word processors below can create, edit, and print documents. Many of them can open and edit Word documents, automatically check your spelling, use a wide selection of free MS Word templates, create tables and columns, and much more.

Our top picks for a free word processor are the first ones on the list. These have the most features and we suggest checking them out first to see if they'll fit your word processing needs. You should find that most of them can handle just about everything Microsoft Word can.

Free Word Processors Alternatives to MS Word

If you're looking for a free word processor that doesn't require a download, check out this list of free online word processors that you can access from anywhere you have an internet connection.

All of these word processor programs are 100 percent freeware , which means that you won't ever have to purchase the program, uninstall it after so-many days, donate a small fee, purchase add-ons for basic functionality, etc. The word processor tools below are free to download at no cost.

WPS Office Writer

Features a tabbed interface for better document management.

Includes 1 GB of cloud storage.

Free templates built in.

The whole suite has to be downloaded to use Writer.

WPS Office (previously called Kingsoft Office) is a suite that includes a word processor, called Writer, that's easy to use because of its tabbed interface, clean design, and uncluttered menu.

Spell check is performed automatically as you would expect to be done in a good word processor. You can easily toggle spell check on and off from the menu at the bottom.

Writer supports full-screen mode, dual page layout, and the option to hide the menus, which makes for a perfect distraction-free writing experience. There's even a viewing mode to protect against eye damage, turning the background of the page into a greenish color.

You can also add custom dictionaries, read/write to popular file types, create a cover page and table of contents, use built-in templates, encrypt documents, and easily view all the pages of a document from a side pane.

Writer is part of the WPS Office software, so you have to download the whole suite to get the Writer portion. It runs on Windows , Linux , Mac , and mobile devices ( iOS and Android ).

FreeOffice from SoftMaker

Several neat features.

Opens and saves to common file formats.

Great for making eBooks.

Automatic spell check is included.

Free for home and business use.

Relatively large download size.

Must download the whole suite of programs even if you'll just install the word processor.

Hasn't updated in a while.

SoftMaker FreeOffice is a suite of office programs, and one of the included tools is a free word processor called TextMaker.

Immediately after opening this word processor for the first time, you're given the option to choose a classic menu style or use a ribbon menu you might already be familiar with. The choice is yours, and there's even a touch mode option you can turn on.

Menu options are organized logically, and beyond the normal word processor features are ones for eBook-making, like PDF and EPUB exporting, chapter creation, and footnotes.

This free word processor can also preview documents before opening them, track changes, insert comments, add objects such as Excel charts and PowerPoint slides, and use shapes, among many other things.

TextMaker can open a huge variety of document file types, including ones from Microsoft Word, OpenDocument files types, plain text, WRI, WPD , SXW, PWD, and others. When you're ready to save, this word processor exports to popular formats like DOCX , DOTX, HTML , and TXT , as well as file formats specific to this program (e.g., TMDX and TMD).

TextMaker has to be downloaded as part of FreeOffice, but during installation, you can choose to install the whole suite or just the free word processor program. It runs on Windows 10, 8, 7, or Windows Server 2008. Mac 10.10 and higher is supported, too, as well as Linux and Android.

OpenOffice Writer

Works with lots of file formats.

Extensions and templates are supported.

Checks for spelling errors automatically.

Includes advanced and basic formatting options.

There's a portable option available.

You have to download the whole program suite even to use just Writer.

Might take a while to download on slow internet connections.

The interface and menus are dull and cluttered.

OpenOffice Writer has all the necessary features to make it on any list of good word processors. Plus, there's a portable option so you can use the program on the go with a flash drive .

Automatic spell check is included, as well as support for a huge variety of popular file types, the ability to add notes to the side of any document, and easy-to-use wizards for creating letters, faxes, and agendas.

A side menu pane lets you quickly switch between editing page properties, styles, and formatting to adding images from the gallery. You can even undock these settings so that you can have more room for writing but still have simple access to important tools.

Similar to WPS Office that tops this list, you must download the whole OpenOffice suite to your computer even if you're just installing Writer. With the portable option, you have to actually extract the entire office suite even if you just want to use the Writer tool.

Includes unique advanced features.

Has a spell check.

You can download it apart from its whole suite.

Downloads and installs quickly.

Spell check doesn't work automatically.

The interface can be distracting.

WordGraph includes most of the standard features you'd find in any word processor, but it also has some unique tools.

In addition to adding things like graphics, charts, tables, and illustrations to a document, WordGraph can also produce PDFs , create a table of contents and index, and access files stored on cloud storage services like Dropbox.

While a spell check utility is included, it doesn't work in live mode, which means you must manually run it to check for spelling mistakes.

Unlike some of these other word processors, you can download WordGraph on its own without having to also download the SSuite Office software that it belongs to.

WordGraph works on Windows computers but can be used on a Mac or Linux machine with extra software .

Easy to use with a clean and uncluttered UI.

Lets you find spelling errors in your writing.

Popular formatting options are supported.

Can open and save to popular file formats.

Hasn't been updated since 2015.

Spell check isn't automatic.

Limited open/save file format options.

AbleWord opens documents quickly, has a really simple design, and supports editing and saving to popular file types. It's very easy to use and looks really nice.

There isn't much that makes AbleWord stand out among similar software except that it's not bogged down with unnecessary buttons or confusing features and settings, and you can use it to import PDF text into the document.

Spell check is built-in but you have to run it manually because it doesn't find errors automatically.

This program hasn't been updated since 2015, so it probably won't be updated again any time soon, or ever, but it's still fully usable today as a free word processor.

You can use AbleWord if you have Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP.

Spell check is automatic.

Supports automatic saving.

Lets you collaborate with others in real time.

Works with lots of file types.

Supports plugins.

Print preview isn't as easy to use as it is in similar programs.

Doesn't have a modern interface.

No longer gets updated.

AbiWord is a free word processor with automatic spell check and common formatting options. The menus and settings are organized well and aren't cluttered or confusing to use.

You can share documents with others and have the changes reflected automatically, making live, real-time collaboration possible.

Common file types work with AbiWord, like ODT , DOCM , DOCX, and RTF .

During setup, you can enable or disable all sorts of extra features, like an equation editor, grammar checker, web dictionary, Google Search and Wikipedia integrator, translators, and file format support for DocBook, OPML , ClarisWorks, and others.

One downside to this program is that the print preview feature isn't like most programs in that you have to open the preview as an image in a photo viewer, which isn't supplied with AbiWord.

AbiWord works on Windows, but only through the download link below because it's no longer available for Windows users from their official website. It also works on Linux but only through Flathub .

Customize the layout a number of ways.

Can be set up to auto-save every so often.

Opens documents in tabs.

Supports common document formats.

Small setup file.

Must run spell check manually.

Could be hard to use.

No update since 2018.

Jarte is another free word processor that has a tabbed interface to keep all open documents easily accessible on one screen.

Common file types are supported, you can set Jarte to automatically save a document from every minute to every 20 minutes, and you can install several spell check dictionaries during setup.

Jarte can be configured to automatically open the last file you were using upon launching the program, which is a nice option that most of the other software from this list doesn't allow.

Unfortunately, the spell check feature isn't automatic, and the program itself is sometimes confusing to grasp.

You can download Jarte for Windows 10 down through Windows XP.

WriteMonkey

Completely portable (no installation necessary).

Features a very minimal interface.

No spell check.

Large download file.

WriteMonkey is a portable word processor that's centered around providing an interface with the least number of distractions as possible so that you can focus on writing and nothing else.

Every menu option in WriteMonkey is only shown if you right-click the document. From there, you can do everything from open a new document or project to toggle focus mode, copy all the text, open dev tools, and more.

WriteMonkey is a free word processor for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Supports automatic spell check.

Tabbed browsing helps organize open documents.

Lets you use shortcut keys.

Very outdated; no longer gets updated.

Supports a limited number of file formats.

Another free word processor, this one advertised for creative writers, is RoughDraft. It works with RTF, TXT, and DOC (from Word 2010–97) files, provides automatic spell check, allows shortcut keys for nearly every command, and lets you switch between various writing modes—Normal, Screenplay, Stage/Radio Play, and Prose.

It's simple to open and edit files from your computer because of the file browser that's open on the side of the program window. New documents appear in their own tab so that you can keep up to 100 files open in RoughDraft at the same time.

One of the downsides to this word processor is that the last version came out in 2005 and the developer is no longer working on it, so it won't get new features in the future. Also, while the DOC file format is supported, the file has to have been created in Word 2010 or older.

FocusWriter

Provides multiple ways to create a distraction-free interface.

Colors and layouts can be customized.

Goals can be created to stay on task.

There's a portable option.

Can't open documents with rich text formatting.

FocusWriter is similar to WriteMonkey in that it's portable and has a minimal interface. The program automatically hides the menus and any buttons from being viewed, and you can run it in full-screen mode so that you don't see any other program windows.

Basic formatting is allowed in FocusWriter, like bold, strikethrough, and aligning text. You can also edit the foreground and background text, page margins, color, and line spacing to produce custom themes.

You can open and save documents to popular formats like DOCX, ODT, RTF, and TXT. However, documents with rich text formatting might import into FocusWriter in plain text and become completely unusable.

FocusWriter includes an alarm and lets you set goals regarding your typing, like to type a particular number of words or to type for a certain number of minutes per day.

Another advantage this program has over some of the other free word processors in this list is that it gets updated far more often, so you can be sure that new features and/or security updates are released as frequently as they need to be.

FocusWriter runs on Windows, macOS , and Linux.

Supports tabbed browsing.

Makes project tracking easy.

Works with the two most popular MS Word file formats.

It's missing several features common in a Word processor.

Word counter doesn't update automatically as you type.

Judoom has a similar look and feel to Microsoft Word, and you can even use some of the same file types, like DOC and DOCX.

It's easy to keep track of projects because you can add up to two at a time and easily browse through local files and folders from a side menu. Any new documents that are opened are kept in their own tabs to keep everything closely together but organized at the same time.

While it's easy to use and has a clean look to it, Judoom doesn't include common features that you'll normally find in a word processor, like spell check, headers/footers, and page numbers.

You can download Judoom on Windows only.

Protect documents with a password.

Spell check is included.

Lets you edit unique document file formats.

Installs in seconds.

Doesn't open DOCX files.

Saves to just a few basic file formats.

Very outdated.

AEdit has a bit of an outdated interface since the development team abandoned the software and haven't released an update since 2001, but it still works just fine for a word processor.

AEdit lets you password protect documents and provides a spell check function, though it doesn't check for errors automatically.

The free AEdit word processor works with files in Microsoft's popular DOC format but not their newer DOCX format. You can also open 123, BAT , ECO, HTML, RTF, TXT, and XLS files.

However, when you save a document with AEdit, your options are limited to ECO, RTF, TXT, and BAT.

AEdit is for Windows computers.

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10 Totally Free Word Processor Alternatives To Microsoft Word

There are lots of free Microsoft Word alternatives.

I’m sure you don’t prepare business plans with charts and graphs. You don’t use online collaboration tools or schedule meetings for a group of directors.

I doubt you would ever need to create business presentations with 100 slides.

You write your words for blog posts, content articles, guest posts, and short stories, and maybe publish poems . So why do you pay for MS Office to do these simple writing tasks?

You don’t need to pay for a word processor

Whichever option or version of Word you choose, you pay.

The Office Suite is a bundled application of many programs that writers will never need.

Even with the basic personal Office 365 subscription and Microsoft Onedrive, you pay for Excel, Outlook, and Powerpoint just to get MS Word.

It might be a good deal for a small business, but you only want to write, create, and edit text.

Why pay for all the stuff you will never use to write in Word documents?

You can use Word online as part of Office Online, but you still need to pay.

If you only need to write, many free Microsoft Word alternatives will do the job perfectly for you.

I was a Word user for years, like all of us. But I can’t remember the last time I used it.

Sure, I have lots of old files in Word document format.

But I can open and edit almost any file format with a completely free Word alternative.

Writing a book

Word processors are not ideal for writing a book. Long manuscripts can cause problems with any word processor, including Word.

But you can do it if you set up a book template and save chapter files.

However, using software designed to handle the big job of writing a novel or a book is sometimes a better idea.

Read our article that lists the best free and paid book writing software choices for you if you plan on writing a book.

Free alternatives to Microsoft Word – You have lots of choices

What can I use instead of Microsoft Word? Nowadays, you have so many options for free writing programs like Word.

You can download free word processor software, or you can use web-based and cloud-based applications.

All you need is a blank document.

Then write your words. Add a little formatting and save your work.

Almost any free version word processor can do this.

Changing word processors is also a great way to view your writing in a different way.

Do you want to move away from using Word?

Try some of these free Microsoft Word alternatives to see if one is right for you and your writing needs.

To get you started, here are ten free word processors to choose from.

1. Google Docs

Google Docs is a free office tool suite. The big contrast to MS Office, of course, is that Google Docs is free.

If you know how to use MS Word, you will adapt to Docs in no time at all.

The user interface, menus, and formatting options are almost the same.

Docs has a word counter, so it’s easy to keep track of your writing goals.

Many writers, including content article writers , use Google Docs due to the ease of sharing documents and collaborating.

It is also fully compatible with importing and exporting docx documents.

Writing projects are stored and saved to Google Drive. You get 5 gigabytes for free, which is usually enough storage space for most writers.

Another advantage is that you can also set up Docs to work offline  if you prefer.

2. Apple Pages

You are a Mac user, and all you need is a free word processor; it’s easy. Apple Pages can do everything you need to do.

The page layout view is extremely easy to work with. All the fonts, text formatting, and editing tools are easy to find.

It has a decent spell checker, word and page count , and track changes with a comments option.

Pages also has a great real-time auto-save function. It saves your work automatically to your computer or your iCloud drive when you are online.

There is a duplicate file function too. It allows you a lot of control over your edits and revisions.

Almost all of the common features in Word are available in Pages documents.

One area where Pages shines over Word is that you have much more control over any images you use.

Another is that you can format an ebook for publishing and export it to an epub file.

3. Libre Office

I used Apache OpenOffice for many years. It is an open-source project and is still a great option.

However, there is another very similar free office suite. Libre Office is a favorite for a lot of writers.

The two office suites came from the same basic development, so they share a lot of things in common.

Working with Writer, the word processor, is easy. It has clear traditional menus, icons, and toolbars. So it doesn’t have the sometimes confusing ribbon found in Word.

This might be a useful feature for you. It lets you get on with writing instead of endlessly searching ribbons for the right buttons.

If all you need is a functional word processor, Writer in OpenOffice or Libre Office might be sound choices for you.

4. WPS Office

If you are familiar with Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you will be able to work with WPS Office straight away.

WPS is in the same vein as other free word processors. It has all the standard features you expect, and it works with most standard word processing file extensions.

But one of its best features is that it gives you the facility to drag and drop paragraphs. It is a very practical idea.

Another great feature of WPS is that it has tabbed documents. No need to keep hunting for open windows.

WPS also comes with a complimentary cloud storage service that gives you 1G free space for PC and iOS.

5. Calmly Writer

Calmly Writer lets you one thing well. Write.

When you start typing, all of the distracting options disappear away from the interface. All you see are your words.

Calmly also includes a focus mode tool. When you activate it, it highlights only the paragraph you are working on at the time.

If you are a writing minimalist and hate distractions when you write, it could be a good choice for you.

Calmly Writer is a browser-based app, and there is a Chrome extension available.

6. Zoho Writer

Zoho Writer is a great free alternative to Word. It is packed with a lot of features.

You can sync between your PC or Mac, iPhone, Android, or iPad.

Almost everything you do in Word, you can do with this word processor. There are even collaboration tools.

It also has Zia, a writing assistant, to help with contextual grammar, readability, and style suggestions.

You can import your existing Word documents and get to work. There is also a plugin to link your Zoho documents to Word.

It’s not a bad deal at all for a free online writing tool.

7. Focus Writer

FocusWriter is another one of the minimalist distraction-free text editors.

It uses a full-screen hide-away interface, but you can access the menus by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen.

This option allows the program to have a familiar look and feel about it. But you can get all the clutter out of the way so that you can immerse yourself in your work.

It’s available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.

8. iA Writer

If you are looking for a clean, no-fuss writing web app, then iA Writer might be right for you.

Forget about all the fancy keyboard shortcuts and lists of menu options.

All you can do with this great little app is write.

The NYT says this about iA Writer. “ It creates a clean, simple, and distraction-free writing environment for when you really need to focus on your words. It’s delightful to use.”

For article and blog post writing, it is one of the top free word processors out there and will suit most writing styles.

It is available for Windows, Mac, and apps for Android and iOS.

9. Softmaker Free Office

Free Office gets a mention because it can do one thing some other word processors can’t do.

It can export directly to .epub. It’s a very handy feature for self-publishers.

FreeOffice is a complete Office suite with a word processor, a spreadsheet application, and a presentation program.

All of these are compatible with their counterparts in Microsoft Office.

TextMaker is the free word processor in this office suite.

It comes with advanced formatting options, the ability to create databases for bibliographies and footnotes, as well as track change.

It is available as a free download for both Mac and PC.

10. Scribus

Scribus is a free program for desktop publishing.

It gets a mention here because it is free, of course. But also because it is such a feature-rich cross-platform program.

As long as you are familiar with using text boxes, you can use this program to design flyers, brochures, and newsletters.

Scribus is a page layout and desktop publishing program.

It works with Linux, FreeBSD, PC-BSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OpenIndiana, Debian GNU/Hurd, Mac OS X, OS/2 Warp 4, eComStation, Haiku, and Windows.

So, well, that says you can use it on any operating system under the sun.

Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK colors, spot colors, ICC color management, and PDF creation.

Perhaps it is not a perfect choice for most writers and bloggers. But you might have a desktop publishing job you need to do one day.

No, you don’t need to pay a cent for a reliable and fully functional word processor.

There are a lot of free Microsoft Word alternatives.

Many of the programs listed above are complete office suites. So you get a bonus with all the extras that come with them.

You definitely have plenty to choose from. So make your choices and save yourself a lot of money.

Related reading: Choose Your Writing Apps For iPad To Write Anywhere Anytime

About The Author

Derek Haines

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4 thoughts on “10 totally free word processor alternatives to microsoft word”.

Great post. I use Scrivener for my writing, but a lot of authors I know rely on MS Word, and as you say, it is problematic to work with, especially when trying to format it into book form. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, Harmony. You’re right. Maybe I should put the warning to authors in red! Word processors are great for short-form writing. But not for a novel.

You forgot to include Scrivener in your list. Scrivener is one of the BEST word-processing programs for writers in existence, providing writers with the ability to easily get their files ready for submission to agents and publishers (those heading down traditional roads), or to generate the necessary eBook files and other formats needed for self-publishing.

There is a link in the post to software for writing books. Scrivener is on that list.

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LibreOffice is a free and powerful office suite, and a successor to OpenOffice.org (commonly known as OpenOffice).

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At the beginning of November, we began a new Month of LibreOffice, celebrating community contributions all across the project. We do these every six months – so how many people got sticker packs this time? Check it out… 363 Fantastic work, everyone! Hundreds of people, all across the globe, have helped out in our projects […]

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As part of my 4D chess / cunning plan to convince everyone I'm more foolish even than I seem - I got up super early, and took a train to London/St Pancras to discover I was a day early for my train; bother. Got some quiet code-reading in on the train home at least. Planning call, sync with Naomi & Pedro, finalized annual reviews, and dispatched numbers left & right. Worked late.

This post is part of a series to describe how Writer now gets a feature to handle tables that are both floating and span over multiple pages.

This work is primarily for Collabora Online , but is useful on the desktop as well. See the 9th post for the previous part.

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