Microsoft Office has historically cornered the market with its suite of business software programs like Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Publisher, OneNote, Outlook, and more. However, it is a costly software package to purchase, making it a less appealing choice as more programs surface with similar capabilities, better function with the Cloud, and little to no cost. Let’s take a look at a few of the best alternatives to MS Office.
LibreOffice
This is a set of six open source programs that closely mimic the Microsoft Office suite. The programs include a word processor, spreadsheet software, slideshow program, vector graphics program, mathematical formulas program, and a database software.
While you can download the office suite for free, it is intended for personal use only so you cannot exceed 10 concurrent documents. LibreOffice for business can be purchased through one of three “ecosystem partners”: Collabora ($18 per year per user), Adfinis SyGroup (must request a quote), or CIB (also based on quote system). The other drawbacks are that it does not have any mobile applications for tablets or cellphones, and it does not provide Cloud storage like many other programs do.
WPS Office
This set of programs are Microsoft Office’s virtual twin, making it an easy transition. There is 1GB of Cloud storage available for your use and it can be accessed from up to 3 devices (1 PC, 2 mobile). It even has a tool for converting PDF documents to Word documents!
Much like LibreOffice, WPS Office offers a completely free version of this software; however, the free version is plagued by ads and limits the PDF conversion to 5 documents. To use the version intended for businesses, WPS Office Premium, there is a cost per license of $9.99 per 3 months or $29.99 per year. The Premium version has no ads, unlimited PDF conversion and signatures, and access from up to 9 devices (3 PC, 6 mobile).
Google Workspace
The Google suite of productivity apps are free to use, highly accessible, and user-friendly. There are numerous task-specific and collaborative programs included: Docs, Gmail, Hangouts, Calendar, Drive, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, and more. All of the aforementioned programs can be accessed from any number of devices via mobile apps (which are snappy and easy to use) or in any web browser (Chrome recommended). Your Google account even includes 15GB of cloud storage for free!
Professional users looking for more from Google will want to choose Google Workspace - a subscription-based office suite with the Google tools that you know and love, ranging in price from $6 per user per month for the Basic package, to $12 per user per month for the Business package, to $25 per user per month for the Enterprise package; all with no annual commitment.
Depending upon the package that you choose, Google Workspace allows you to use your own business email address with your domain name, includes additional storage space (some plans even offer unlimited cloud storage space ... an incredible value), Google Cloud Search and eDiscovery services, audit reports of user activity, data loss prevention, security enforcement, and much more.
We feel that Google Workspace is by far the best alternative to MS Office and you can read our in-depth comparison between the two products right here.
Which of These Alternatives to MS Office is Best For You?
As Google programs gain popularity due to their accessibility and seamless integration, it also becomes a clear choice that comes out ahead of the rest when it comes to an alternative to Microsoft's office suite for businesses.
Contact us to learn more about Google Workspace or to request an estimate for your business. As a Google Cloud Premier Partner, Suitebriar can handle every aspect of transitioning to Google Workspace or Google Cloud Platform for your business.
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