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6 Free Alternatives to Microsoft Word on PC[2024 Updated]

August 24, 2023 2.7K views

Are you looking for a word alternative for your PC? With Microsoft Word being a paid software, many users seek free alternatives offering the same great features.

Thankfully, several options available in 2023 provide comparable features and don't cost you a penny. We'll look at six of the best free word alternatives for pc.

6 Free Alternatives to Microsoft Word on PC

Do you need a way to type up your homework or stories, but Microsoft Word costs money? Here are 6 free alternatives to Word for downloading to pc windows 10.

1 .  WPS Office - Writer

WPS Office - Writer (AI Version)

If you're looking for an accessible alternative to Word for PC, WPS Office - Writer is worth trying. It has lots of features and is an excellent option for those who want to save money but still have access to powerful word-processing tools.

Key Features(Writer)

Edit Text: WPS Writer allows you to edit and modify the content of your documents easily.

Add Bookmark: You can add bookmarks to specific document sections for quick navigation.

Print: WPS Writer lets you print your documents directly from the application.

Converter: WPS Writer offers a file conversion feature, allowing you to convert your documents to different formats.

Pros and Cons of WPS Office - Writer

Pros

  • Online Editor

  • Collaborative support

  • User-friendly interface

Cons

  • Limited advanced Features

  • Minor compatibility issue

Trustpilot

stars

4.8
WPS Office- Free All-in-One Office Suite
  • Use Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE, No Ads.

  • Edit PDF files with the powerful PDF toolkit.

  • Microsoft-like interface. Easy to learn. 100% Compatibility.

  • Boost your productivity with WPS's abundant free Word, Excel, PPT, and CV templates.

5,820,008 User

avator

Algirdas Jasaitis

2 .  Google Docs

Google Docs (online)

Google Docs is a powerful free alternative to Microsoft Word on PC. Its online editing capabilities, collaborative support, and automatic saving feature are convenient and reliable options for word processing.

Main Features of Word

WYSIWYG Editing: Microsoft Word provides a "What You See Is What You Get" editing interface.

Formatting Options: Word offers many formatting options, allowing users to customize their documents with different fonts, styles, headings, and more.

Spell Check and Grammar Check: The software includes a built-in spell check and grammar check to help users ensure their documents are error-free.

Pros and Cons of Google Docs:

Pros

  • Online Editor

  • Collaborative Suppor

  • Always Save

Cons

  • Internet Requirement

3 .  LibreOffice - Writer

LibreOffice - Writer(Open Source)

Microsoft Word is undoubtedly one of the most popular word-processing software out there. It's extensive features and user-friendly interface make it the go-to choice for many individuals and businesses. However, other options offer similar functionality, and free alternatives provide identical functionality.

Main Features of LibreOffice Writer

Editing Text: LibreOffice Writer allows you to edit and manipulate text within your documents easily.

Formatting Contents: You can apply various formatting options to your text, such as font styles, sizes, colors, alignment, and more.

Resizing Images and Tables: It allows you to resize images and tables within your document to fit your desired dimensions.

Finding and Replacing Text: Writer offers a find and replace function that allows you to quickly locate specific words or phrases and replace them with new ones.

Spell Checking: It includes a built-in spell checker highlighting misspelled words and suggesting corrections for improved accuracy.

Pros and Cons of LibreOffice Writer

Pros

  • Free of cost

  • Open-source softwar

Cons

  • Limitations in advanced editing features

4 .  OpenOffice - Writer

Open Office - Writer(Open Source)

OpenOffice Writer is a fantastic alternative to Microsoft Word for PC users. It offers a range of useful features and provides a cost-effective solution for creating and editing documents.

Main Features of OpenOffice Writer

Document Creation: OpenOffice Writer allows you to create and edit documents, such as letters, reports, resumes, etc.

Spell Check and AutoCorrect: It includes a built-in spell checker highlighting misspelled words and suggesting corrections. AutoCorrect automatically fixes common typing errors.

Styles and Formatting: Writer supports styles and formatting tools that allow you to apply consistent formatting throughout your document.

Mail Merge: You can create personalized documents, like form letters or mailing labels, by merging data from spreadsheets or databases into Writer.

Pros and Cons of OpenOffice Writer

Pros

  • Free and Open Source

  • Platform Compatibility

Cons

  • Limitations in Editing Features

5 .  Pages - word processor

Pages - Word Processor(Mac&iOS)

One of the leading free alternatives to Microsoft Word on PC is Pages, a word processor developed by Apple. Its clean and intuitive interface gives Pages a seamless writing experience for beginners and professionals alike.

Main Features of Pages

Easily Record: Pages allow you to record audio directly on a page effortlessly.

Edit Audio: You can edit the recorded audio files within Pages to make necessary adjustments.

Play Audio: Pages provides a built-in audio player to directly play the recorded or imported audio files on a page.

Pros and Cons of Pages

Pros

  • User-Friendly Interface

  • Advanced Formatting Tools

Cons

  • Feature Differences across Platforms

6 .  Zoho - Writer

Zoho - write

Whether you're a student, a professional writer, or someone who needs to create documents on your PC, Microsoft Word has always been the go-to software.

But did you know that other free alternatives can also serve your needs? One such alternative is Zoho Writer, a powerful word-processing tool offering many features.

Key Features of Zoho Writer

API: Zoho Writer offers an API that allows developers to integrate and interact with the platform programmatically.

Access Controls/Permissions: You can set specific access controls and permissions to regulate who can view, edit, or share your documents.

Activity Tracking: Zoho Writer keeps track of document activity, providing insights into changes made, collaborators involved, and version history.

Pros and Cons of Zoho Writer

Pros: Collaboration and Communication Tools

Cons: Customization Limitations

Why Do We Choose MS Word Alternative?

Do you know what a Microsoft Word alternative for PC is? It's a free option that you can use instead of buying the expensive MS Word.

Here are some reasons why we might choose an alternative:

  • MS Word is not free, but the alternative is. So if we don't want to spend money, we can use the free one instead.

  • Some alternatives can be used on different operating systems, not just Windows, like MS Word.

  • Some alternatives are Open Source, meaning people can work together to improve them.

  • Some alternatives have unique features that we might like better than MS Word. Maybe they have "word swag" or other cool stuff.

So, there are excellent reasons to try an alternative to MS Word for your PC. It's a great way to save money and explore new options!

Which Software is The Best Free Alternative to Microsoft Word?

If you don't want to pay for Microsoft Word, you can use free software that is just as good! Here are some great options:

1. Free and High Compatibility-WPS Office

If you want something that looks and feels a lot like Microsoft Word, WPS Office is a terrific choice! It has all the features you need to write stories, make school reports, or even draw pictures.

  • It's like having a magical writing tool at your fingertips!

  • You can use it to make spreadsheets and presentations too.

  • It also has a cloud service to access your documents anywhere.

  • It's a great option to collaborate with others online.

2. Online Editor-Google Docs

If you love to share and collaborate on your work with friends or family, Google Docs is fantastic! It's like having your writing in the clouds. You can easily work on your stories with others, no matter where they are.

  • It's free tool

  • You can use it online and collaborate with others in real-time.

  • You can easily share your document with others.

  • You can access your document from any device with internet access.

  • It's a great option if you need to work on a document with others in different places than you.

3. Open source

If you need super versatile software that comes with extra goodies like spreadsheets and presentations, Libre Office or Open Office is the way to go! It's like having a whole treasure chest of creativity tools!

  • Both are open-source, which means anyone can use, modify, and distribute the software for free.

  • Both are similar to Microsoft Word, with all the same basic features.

  • They also include tools for spreadsheets, presentations, and databases.

  • They are great options if you want completely free software and not tied to any company or cloud service.

FAQs

Q1: Is Microsoft Word free for PC?

No! You can't use the Microsoft Word app on a PC (or Mac) for free. Unfortunately, it is paid software.

Final Thoughts About Word Alternative

There are many options if you are looking for an accessible alternative to Microsoft Word on your PC.

Some of the best options include LibreOffice Writer, WPS Office Writer, Google Docs, Apache OpenOffice Writer, and AbiWord.

Each software program offers similar features to Microsoft Word and can be used to create documents, reports, and other types of written work. And the best part is that they are all free!

The software that best suits your needs, whether you are a student, a writer, or someone who needs to write a letter, is free.

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.