You have quite a few options to choose from when you feel like Microsoft Word doesn’t cut it for you! Regardless of your reason for shifting, the alternatives deliver on some strong fronts. For instance, while options like LibreOffice Writer offer an offline solution, Google Docs works great for those who need an online-first solution.
However, you come across a major issue with all these tools: compatibility with docx files.
Now, if you are creating Word documents for your own purposes, this issue may not concern you. However, if you have to edit others’ docx files or send a file to someone else, this compatibility issue becomes a practical nightmare. It’s not like I haven’t tried lesser-known Microsoft Word alternatives, either.
I stopped using Google Docs on mobile after finding this free Microsoft Office alternative
Google Docs and WPS have had years to fix mobile editing. They didn’t.
I tried LibreOffice first, and the docx problem showed up within a week
Just enough breakage to make me nervous every time I hit send
LibreOffice is undoubtedly one of the best alternatives to Microsoft Office. This open-source project has been a lifesaver for many who couldn’t afford to keep paying the hefty Microsoft subscription. LibreOffice Writer was thus my first pick when I wanted something other than Microsoft Word. Things were fine at first, but not so much later.
I should admit that LibreOffice was very easy to use, thanks to the similar user interface. The problem began when I started opening docx files created with Microsoft Word, or when I had to send a file created with LibreOffice in the docx format. There were multiple instances of style mismatch and issues with font selection.
As I said, these issues become a hindrance only when you share a document with others. For instance, when you want to send a project proposal to a client, you can’t let the document break just because you are using a Microsoft Word alternative, right? Well, I didn’t have to because I found a better Microsoft Office alternative: OnlyOffice.
OnlyOffice handles the same files without the formatting casualties
I ran the same five-document test and it wasn’t close
OnlyOffice is one of the lesser-known alternatives to Microsoft Office and packs apps to replace Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. It also packs a number of other utilities, such as a PDF maker. However, what makes OnlyOffice unique among Microsoft Word alternatives is its efficiency with docx files.
It doesn’t matter whether you want to open a docx file from someone or send one to someone; OnlyOffice handles the file without formatting issues. It means you don’t have to doubt whether you are seeing the content the way the sender intended. I tried opening several Word documents in the OnlyOffice app, and it retained the original formatting. On the contrary, many other Word alternatives cause terrible damage to formatting.
OnlyOffice handles Microsoft Office files so well because it does not convert Word files to a custom format. Instead, it can natively handle the Office Open XML (OOXML) format without any issues, and docx is also the default saving format for OnlyOffice.
I wanted to test this option every way possible, and I did so using five documents. That is, I created a number of docx documents using OnlyOffice and tested whether the formatting worked correctly in Microsoft Word. Similarly, I checked whether OnlyOffice retained the formatting I had set up via Microsoft Word. It also helps that OnlyOffice uses .docx as the default document format. However, you can explore other formats from the Save As pane.
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What the day-to-day experience of switching actually looked like
The interface took adjustment, the file compatibility took almost none
Though I still pay for Microsoft 365, I have almost stopped using Microsoft Word — it is no longer my go-to word processor. Now that I don’t have to worry about compatibility issues, OnlyOffice has become a quick and easy way to create and share documents, but a few features make it a truly dependable Microsoft Word alternative. While it’s not perfect, the following aspects do help.
- OnlyOffice offers a UI similar to Microsoft Office’s ribbon-based design. So, when you want to create or edit a Word document, you won’t be confused as much.
- You can use the desktop editors for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for free, but you can also explore other options, such as self-hosting or cloud-based subscriptions.
- You also get standard features like macro support, plugins, password protection, and some really great mobile apps for documents, spreadsheets, and PPTs.
I have also noticed that OnlyOffice uses fewer system resources than Microsoft apps like Word or Excel. It is also great that you don’t have to open separate apps for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Instead, you get to manage everything from the single OnlyOffice interface.
Overall, the experience of using OnlyOffice as a viable alternative to Microsoft Word has been great so far. The similarity between UI designs is more crucial than you would imagine. I often feel that OnlyOffice does a better job of replicating the core design than other Microsoft Office alternatives. As I mentioned, OnlyOffice is also a great way to bring desktop-grade document editing to mobile devices.
The compatibility story is good — a few other things are still catching up
While there is no doubt that OnlyOffice is a viable alternative to Microsoft Word, it is not perfect. It does an impressive job of handling docx files without making you doubt every time you have to share something with others. There are some areas, such as performance, where OnlyOffice has to improve.
Nevertheless, we should not forget that this is a completely free tool for desktop and mobile apps, and considering how much you would be paying Microsoft every year, these should not be dealbreakers as long as you get a decent, reliable alternative.