Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office (2025): Docs, Sheets, Slides

TL;DR: Need a traditional desktop suite? LibreOffice is the best free drop‑in for Word/Excel/PowerPoint. Prefer cloud collaboration? Google Docs/Sheets/Slides is the smoothest for teams. Want an Office‑like UI with strong OOXML (docx/xlsx) compatibility? ONLYOFFICE does well.

What to look for

• File fidelity: How closely .docx/.xlsx/.pptx look after round‑tripping
• Excel features: Pivot tables, basic power‑user formulas, charts
• Collaboration: Real‑time editing, comments, version history
• Templates and formatting: Styles, slide masters, consistent export to PDF
• Offline support: Desktop apps or progressive web apps

The contenders

LibreOffice (Best free desktop, strongest offline)

Pros

• Mature, full‑featured writer/spreadsheet/presentation apps
• Works fully offline on Windows/macOS/Linux
• Strong PDF export control and styles

Cons

• UI feels different from Microsoft Office; learning curve for some
• Complex .docx/.xlsx features may not round‑trip perfectly

Best for: Individuals and organizations that need robust offline editing and control over layout, with no subscription.

Google Docs / Sheets / Slides (Best for collaboration)

Pros

• Real‑time co‑editing, comments, and versioning built in
• Easy sharing via links, great for classrooms and distributed teams
• Auto‑save and cross‑device access

Cons

• Offline is available but not as seamless as a native desktop app
• Advanced spreadsheet features and formatting can differ from Excel

Best for: Teams that prioritize collaboration and simplicity over pixel‑perfect Office compatibility.

ONLYOFFICE (Office‑style UI with good OOXML support)

Pros

• Familiar ribbon UI and strong .docx/.xlsx compatibility
• Desktop editions plus web editors; can self‑host for teams

Cons

• Fewer templates than Google/Canva ecosystems
• Some advanced features live behind paid plans in team/server contexts

Best for: Users who want an Office‑like experience without the subscription, with solid file fidelity.

Apple Pages / Numbers / Keynote (macOS/iOS)

Pros

• Polished UI and excellent typography
• Great for simple documents, lightweight data tables, and beautiful decks

Cons

• Apple‑platform focused; Numbers differs from Excel in advanced areas
• Collaboration best within Apple ecosystem

Best for: Mac/iPad users who value design and ease for everyday docs and presentations.

Zoho Workplace (Cloud suite with broad apps)

Pros

• Web‑based suite with mail, docs, sheets, slides, and more
• Real‑time collaboration and integrations in Zoho ecosystem

Cons

• Feature depth varies by app; plan details change over time
• Offline workflows are limited compared to desktop options

Best for: Small teams that want an all‑in‑one web suite beyond documents.

Migration tips

• Templates and styles: Recreate your Word styles and slide masters to keep layouts consistent.
• Fonts: Install the same fonts on all machines or switch to widely available alternatives to avoid reflow.
• Tracked changes: Test one critical document with comments/revisions in your new suite before a full switch.
• Excel sheets: Validate pivot tables and critical formulas on a copy; watch for function differences.
• PDFs: Export sample PDFs and compare typography/spacing—tweak styles if needed.

FAQ

Do these support VBA/macros?

LibreOffice supports macros (different languages; not full VBA parity). Google Sheets offers Apps Script (JavaScript‑based). ONLYOFFICE has its own scripting model. If mission‑critical VBA is involved, keep a copy of Office for those workflows.

Is offline editing supported?

Yes for desktop suites (LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE Desktop, Apple iWork). Google Docs offers offline mode in Chrome with setup; test it before traveling.

Final verdict

• Choose based on collaboration needs and file fidelity.