The Problems with Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word has been the go-to word-processing software for a long time. But there are many problems with it, such as its lack of collaboration features which is limiting when projects require prompt and timely collaboration. Despite being a popular office suite, it does not support collaboration in real-time. It is challenging to collaborate with colleagues working remotely or offline.
MS Word also lacks features like plagiarism detectors that are present in other office suites. This makes it hard to use for professional or academic purposes. Another major problem is the expensive subscription rates that hinder many people from having a seamless word-processing experience.
With some of these reasons in mind, we have compiled a list of the best alternatives to Microsoft Word that you can use to create and edit documents. There are thousands of MS Word alternatives, but we have listed only the best-rated ones that will give you an outstanding experience.
Best Alternatives for Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is the most popular word-processing software in the world. It has been used by millions of people for decades to create documents, reports, presentations, and so on. The introduction of other word-processing apps has made people disregard MS Word as the primary word processor. Here are some of the best alternatives for Microsoft Word you can use.
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free service from Google that allows you to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online. You can also share the documents with others and collaborate on projects in real time. Google Docs provides an environment similar to Microsoft Office. It offers a word processor, spreadsheet editor, presentation creator, and drawing tool in one app.
Among all MS Office alternatives, Google Docs is best for collaboration because it offers real-time collaborative editing features. It allows people to work on the same document simultaneously from different locations. If you are looking for a free MS Word alternative, Google Docs is the best. It also offers free cloud storage, so you do not have to worry about losing your milestones.
Apache OpenOffice Writer
Apache OpenOffice Writer is a free and open-source office suite. It includes all the basic features of a word processor, including a spreadsheet editor, presentation program, and drawing program. The Apache OpenOffice Writer is best for those who want a free alternative to MS Word alternative. It has all the basic features of a word processor but lacks some advanced features available in Microsoft Office or Google Docs. However, it is still among the best alternative to MS Word available in the market.
Zoho Writer
Zoho Writer is a free and easy-to-use word processor, one of the best alternatives to MS Word. It has a clean interface and all the basic functions similar to Microsoft Word, such as formatting text, inserting images, tables, shapes, etc.
Zoho Writer also offers collaboration features: you can share your documents with others and work on them simultaneously. You can also set permissions for each collaborator so they can read or edit your document in certain ways. This feature makes it better than MS Word. Zoho Writer is an excellent alternative to Microsoft Word because it has all the basic features of MS Word without any complicated settings or design elements.
LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Writer is a free, open-source, cross-platform word processor that can be used for document creation. It provides the same functionality as MS Word but with an interface that looks more like a traditional desktop application.
The LibreOffice Writer is not as powerful as Microsoft Word. However, it still has some useful features, such as saving your documents in PDF format. The fact that it is free makes it better and more accessible than MS Word.
WPS Office Writer
WPS Office Writer is a great alternative to Microsoft Word. It is a free download and provides all the basic features you would expect from a word-processing program. It has many features similar to MS Word, such as spell check, grammar checker, and auto-complete. The only difference is that it does not have any document formatting features. However, it is still a great word-processing tool available for free.
Dropbox Paper
Dropbox Paper is an online document editor part of the Dropbox service. It provides a distraction-free writing experience with a beautiful interface and powerful collaboration tools. It is available as part of the Dropbox service, which means you can use it on your computer or any device with an internet connection.
The app was launched in 2015 and had been steadily improving since then. Its most recent updates include support for Markdown, inline comments, and export options like PDFs and DOCX files.
Etherpad
Etherpad is a collaborative document editor. It allows multiple people to edit the same document at the same time. It is an open-source program originally developed by Aaron Swartz in 2004 and later improved by others. In 2009, it was bought by Google, which discontinued its development in 2013. The program is written in JavaScript and runs on Node.js, a server-side JavaScript environment built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It still remains a great alternative to MS Word.
Final Thoughts on Various MS Word Alternatives
There are many alternatives to MS Word, and it is up to you to find what works best, depending on the nature of your project. While Microsoft Word is the most widely used word-processing software, it has many limitations, including a lack of collaboration and file-sharing options. Also, it is frustrating to use when you cannot subscribe to the premium service. These problems can be solved by switching to an alternative such as Google Docs, LibreOffice, or Zoho Writer.