Free Alternatives To Microsoft Word

Explore free alternatives to Microsoft Word for writing, editing documents, formatting text, collaborating online, and creating professional files, including free plans and open-source options.

Microsoft Word is a widely used word processing tool for creating, editing, formatting, and sharing documents. It supports everything from simple notes and letters to professional reports, resumes, and collaborative business documents. Word is available on desktop, mobile, and the web, and it also includes cloud collaboration plus AI-assisted writing support in selected Microsoft 365 experiences.

Official site

11 alternatives

Google Docs
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- free online document editor with collaboration and support for Microsoft Office files.
Best for: best for free online writing and real-time collaboration, especially when multiple people need to edit the same document and work with Word files in the browser.
Google Docs is a cloud-based document editor for writing, editing, sharing, and collaborating in real time. It works across devices, supports offline editing, and handles Microsoft Office files, making it a strong free browser-based alternative to Word.
LibreOffice Writer
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- completely free, open-source desktop word processor with DOC and DOCX compatibility.
Best for: best for completely free offline word processing with strong Microsoft Word file compatibility on desktop.
LibreOffice Writer is a free, open-source desktop word processor designed for everything from quick letters to full books. It supports Microsoft Office formats and is a strong choice for users who want a private, offline Word alternative.
Zoho Writer
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- free online word processor; Zoho says it is free for individual users and organizations.
Best for: best for free online document writing with full core features, especially if you want a browser-based editor without paying.
Zoho Writer is a cloud-based word processor for writing, editing, collaboration, and publishing. It also offers offline mode and desktop and mobile apps, making it a flexible online alternative for users who want more than a basic browser editor.
ONLYOFFICE
Free plan with limited featuresOfficial site
Highlights
- free desktop editors for home use, plus a free DocSpace account with no credit card required.
Best for: best for free desktop document editing and also useful if you want a free open-source/self-hosted route.
ONLYOFFICE is a document editing suite with free desktop apps for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It supports text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, and collaboration, making it a practical free option for users who want a full office-style editor.
WPS Office Writer
Free plan with limited featuresOfficial site
Highlights
- free plan available, and its pricing page says no credit card is required for the free standard version.
Best for: best for free Word-style editing with broad file support, especially if you want a familiar office-style interface and no credit card to start.
WPS Writer is a free word editor for creating, editing, saving, and sharing documents across desktop and mobile devices. It emphasizes Microsoft Office compatibility and a familiar interface, making it useful for users who want a Word-like experience at no cost.
FreeOffice TextMaker
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- completely free for personal and business use, with Word file compatibility.
Best for: best for completely free desktop document editing with DOC and DOCX support.
FreeOffice TextMaker is a free desktop word processor that opens and saves Microsoft Word DOC and DOCX files and can export directly to PDF. It is built for users who want a traditional offline Word alternative with strong file compatibility.
Apache OpenOffice Writer
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- free open-source word processor, though its official site appears much less actively updated than some alternatives.
Best for: best for free open-source desktop word processing, though it appears less actively updated than some newer options.
Apache OpenOffice Writer is a free open-source word processor for creating documents and exporting them in formats like PDF and HTML. It remains a usable classic office option, though its official site shows much older release activity than newer competitors.
Apple Pages
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- free forever for Apple users; good Word alternative on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and web via iCloud.
Best for: best for free polished document creation on Apple devices, with real-time collaboration and iCloud access from a browser too.
Apple Pages is a powerful word processor included with many Apple devices and also available through iCloud on the web. It is built for creating polished documents, supports real-time collaboration, and can export files to formats like Word and PDF.
Etherpad
Free open-source/self-hosted optionOfficial site
Highlights
- free open-source/self-hosted option; best for simple real-time collaborative writing.
Best for: best for free real-time collaborative writing when you want a simple shared document editor or a self-hosted collaboration tool.
Etherpad is an open-source online editor focused on real-time collaborative writing. It is highly customizable, supports plugins and many languages, and works well for teams or self-hosters who need a simple shared writing space rather than full Word-style formatting.
CryptPad
Free plan with limited featuresOfficial site
Highlights
- free plan with limited features, plus open-source/self-hosted options; privacy-focused online docs.
Best for: best for privacy-focused online document editing and collaboration, especially if you want end-to-end encryption and an open-source option.
CryptPad is an open-source collaborative office suite built around end-to-end encryption and privacy. Its document editor supports real-time collaboration and positions itself as a privacy-first alternative to Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
Dropbox Paper
Completely free foreverOfficial site
Highlights
- free to use with a Dropbox account.
Best for: best for free collaborative drafting, brainstorming, and lightweight team docs rather than traditional Word-style formatting.
Dropbox Paper is a collaborative online document workspace for drafting, planning, organizing text, media, and files in one place. It is best suited to lightweight team documents, brainstorming, and shared project notes rather than traditional page-heavy word processing.