Our verdict: LibreOffice is the strongest free desktop alternative to Microsoft Office. It handles documents, spreadsheets and presentations offline, and opens DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files. Complex layouts and Excel macros do not always transfer perfectly.
About LibreOffice
LibreOffice is developed by The Document Foundation, a non-profit organization, and a large volunteer and corporate community. It works fully offline and needs no account.
Its native format is OpenDocument (ODT, ODS, ODP), an open standard. It can also save in Microsoft formats, which is the choice to make when you share files with Office users.
What it does well
- Writer. Word processor with styles, tables of contents, mail merge and track changes.
- Calc. Spreadsheets with pivot tables, charts and a large function library.
- Impress. Presentations with slide masters, transitions and presenter view.
- Draw and Math. Diagrams, simple layouts and formula editing.
- PDF export. Exports any document to PDF, including PDF/A for archiving.
Who it is for
Good fit
Students, home users and organizations that need a full office suite without subscriptions.
Look elsewhere
Teams relying on Excel VBA macros or real-time co-editing in the desktop app.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Complete office suite
- Opens Microsoft Office files
- Works offline, no account
- Free for business use
Cons
- Complex Office layouts may shift
- Excel VBA macros are only partly supported
- No real-time co-editing in the desktop app
How to install LibreOffice
The download button gets the main Windows x86_64 installer. A separate help pack on the download page is optional. If you mainly work with Microsoft files, set Tools → Options → Load/Save → General to save in Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats by default.
Questions about LibreOffice
Can LibreOffice open Word documents?
Yes. It opens and saves DOC and DOCX. Simple documents look the same; complex layouts may need small fixes.
Is LibreOffice free for companies?
Yes. There are no license fees for any use.
What is the difference between LibreOffice and OpenOffice?
LibreOffice started as a fork of OpenOffice.org in 2010 and is much more actively developed today.
