10 Best Free Office Software for Mac in 2026

Every Mac includes Apple's iWork apps, but that is not always enough. If you share DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX files with Windows teammates, need offline editing on a flight, or want PDF tools in the same suite, you need a clearer free-office shortlist than a generic "top 10" dump.

This guide compares ten free (or free-tier) options for Mac and tells you which to pick by workflow: native desktop suites, Apple-only apps, browser collaboration, and official Microsoft web apps. It is written for students, freelancers, and small teams who want usable free software first, not a paid Microsoft 365 pitch dressed up as a roundup.

If you want a deeper Microsoft Office replacement angle beyond free tiers, see our roundup of Microsoft Office alternatives for Mac.

How to choose free office software for Mac

Start with the job you do most often, then filter by offline needs and file formats. Most Mac users fall into one of these paths:

• Offline desktop suite with Microsoft-like workflow: WPS Office or FreeOffice

• Open source and fully free: LibreOffice or ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors

• Stay inside Apple apps: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote (iWork)

• Real-time browser collaboration: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

• Official Microsoft Word/Excel/PowerPoint UI for free: Microsoft 365 for the web

"Free" is not one thing. Some products are fully free desktop suites. Others are free web apps. Others are freemium: core editing is free, while advanced PDF, AI, storage, or cloud features sit behind paid plans. On Apple Silicon Macs, also check that the vendor ships a current native or universal build so you are not stuck on Rosetta-only leftovers.

One practical rule: if classmates or clients send DOCX/XLSX/PPTX every week, prioritize WPS Office, LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE, FreeOffice, or Microsoft 365 for the web. If your work stays inside iCloud and Apple devices, iWork is often enough.

Quick comparison: free office suites for Mac

Software	Best for	Mac app	Offline	Free note
WPS Office	All-in-one docs, sheets, slides, PDF	Yes	Yes	Free core; Pro features optional
Apple iWork	Native Mac/iPhone/iPad workflow	Yes	Yes	Free on Apple devices
LibreOffice	Open-source offline suite	Yes	Yes	Fully free
Google Docs / Sheets / Slides	Real-time collaboration	Browser	Limited	Free personal use
Microsoft 365 for the web	Official Microsoft web apps	Browser	No	Free with Microsoft account
ONLYOFFICE	OOXML focus and team workflows	Yes	Yes	Free desktop editors
FreeOffice	Lightweight SoftMaker desktop suite	Yes	Yes	Free; SoftMaker Office is paid
Zoho Office Suite	Browser suite for individuals	Browser	Limited	Free individual tier
Polaris Office	Light cross-device editing	Yes	Plan-dependent	Limited free tier
MobiOffice	Familiar cross-platform editing	Yes	Yes	Free tier + paid upgrades

Free vs freemium: what "free office software" means on Mac

Before you install five suites, separate three models:

• Fully free desktop: LibreOffice (and typically FreeOffice / ONLYOFFICE desktop editors for core editing) with no subscription required for everyday documents.

• Free core + optional Pro: WPS Office and several freemium suites keep Writer/Spreadsheet/Presentation usable for free, then upsell PDF packs, AI, templates, or cloud extras.

• Free web apps: Google Docs and Microsoft 365 for the web cost $0 with an account, but they are browser-first and weaker for true offline desktop work.

If a vendor homepage leads with AI credits, storage caps, or "premium templates," treat the free plan as a trial of the paid product until you confirm what still works after sign-in.

1. WPS Office: best all-in-one free office suite for most Mac users

WPS Office for Mac puts Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF tools in one app. It opens common Microsoft formats (DOC/DOCX, XLS/XLSX, PPT/PPTX) and is a practical pick if you want a Microsoft-like ribbon without buying Microsoft 365.

On day-to-day Mac work, that combination matters more than a longer feature checklist. You can draft a report in Writer, tweak a budget in Spreadsheet, polish slides in Presentation, and handle many PDF tasks without bouncing between three vendors. Cross-device continuity (Mac plus phone) is also useful if you edit the same files between campus, commute, and home.

Best for: everyday Mac work that mixes documents, spreadsheets, slides, and PDFs, especially when files still arrive as DOCX/XLSX/PPTX.

What you get on the free side: core editing for Word-like documents, Excel-like sheets, and PowerPoint-like slides, plus PDF entry points that cover common open/view/light-edit jobs depending on plan.

Watch-outs: advanced PDF, cloud, template, and AI tools may require a paid plan. Confirm current free-plan limits before you rely on a premium-only feature for a deadline.

Price note: free desktop core features; optional Pro upgrade.

Mac tip: install from the official WPS Mac download page, then open a real client DOCX and PPTX once to confirm fonts and layout before you standardize on it.

2. Apple iWork: free Mac-native suite

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote are free on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. They feel native, look polished, and sync through iCloud. For school handouts, personal planning, and presentations that stay inside Apple devices, iWork is often the cleanest zero-cost path because nothing extra needs installing beyond the App Store apps.

Export to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint formats is available when you must hand files to Windows users. That export step is where most friction appears: complex tracked changes, heavy Excel models, or finely tuned PowerPoint animations can shift. Keep a second suite (WPS or LibreOffice) nearby if Windows round-trips are weekly, not rare.

Best for: Apple-only school and personal work, and anyone who values templates and Mac UI polish over Microsoft ribbon familiarity.

Watch-outs: complex DOCX/XLSX/PPTX round-trips with Windows Microsoft Office can shift. Test important shared files first.

Mac tip: use Continuity and iCloud Drive deliberately. Name versions clearly when you export Microsoft formats so collaborators do not edit an outdated Pages file while you edit a DOCX copy.

3. LibreOffice: best fully free open-source desktop suite

LibreOffice includes Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math. Current builds support Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. There are no ads and no subscription for the core suite, which makes it the default recommendation when "completely free forever" is the requirement (public sector, nonprofit, or personal machines that cannot take a freemium upsell).

It is also the strongest open-source answer for offline Mac work: you install once, keep files local, and avoid browser lock-in. Compatibility with Microsoft formats is good for many documents, but not magical. Pivot tables, macros, and intricate brand templates still deserve a spot-check before a board meeting.

Best for: offline work, open-source preference, and users who want a full suite without a free-tier ceiling.

Watch-outs: cloud co-editing is weaker than Google. Spot-check complex Microsoft files before you standardize on it.

Mac tip: download from the official LibreOffice site and prefer a current community build that lists Apple Silicon support. Older third-party mirrors can leave you on outdated packages.

4. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides: best for real-time collaboration

Google's free apps win when comments, shared links, and simultaneous editing matter more than a native Mac ribbon. For group projects, editorial calendars, and lightweight spreadsheets that live in Drive, Docs/Sheets/Slides remain hard to beat at $0.

They are weaker as a full offline desktop suite. Chrome offline mode and Drive sync help, but the experience is still browser-first. Heavy PowerPoint decks and advanced Excel workbooks can lose fidelity when you import or export. If your professor or client demands a DOCX with tracked changes, open the final file in WPS Writer or Microsoft 365 for the web before you submit.

Best for: students and teams living in Drive and Gmail.

Watch-outs: offline needs setup. Formatting can change when Word or PowerPoint files move in and out of Google formats.

Mac tip: pin the apps as browser shortcuts or install the Progressive Web App if you want Dock icons without pretending Google is a native Cocoa suite.

5. Microsoft 365 for the web: best free official Microsoft apps

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in the browser give Mac users Microsoft's own UI without installing desktop Office. Sign in with a free Microsoft account. This is the right free path when layout fidelity to Microsoft-created files matters more than offline desktop speed.

It is not a substitute for a full offline Microsoft 365 desktop license. Macros, many advanced Excel tools, and deep PowerPoint authoring still lean on paid desktop apps. For a free Mac workflow that mixes offline editing with occasional Microsoft-perfect online touch-ups, pair Microsoft 365 for the web with WPS Office or LibreOffice on the desktop.

Best for: maximum comfort opening Microsoft-created files online.

Watch-outs: not a full offline desktop suite. Advanced Excel, macros, and many desktop-only tools need Microsoft 365.

Mac tip: keep files in OneDrive when you rely on the web apps so version history and sharing links stay consistent across Safari and Chrome.

6. ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors: best for OOXML-focused teams

ONLYOFFICE's free desktop editors emphasize Office Open XML formats and can connect to collaboration portals when teams need shared editing. On Mac, that makes it a solid option for people who care about DOCX/XLSX/PPTX structure and may later plug into Nextcloud, ownCloud, or ONLYOFFICE DocSpace-style workflows.

Compared with LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE often feels closer to modern Microsoft UI conventions. Compared with WPS, it is more "editors plus optional server," less "consumer all-in-one with PDF/AI upsell." Choose it when format fidelity and self-hosted collaboration matter more than templates and PDF polish.

Best for: DOCX/XLSX/PPTX fidelity plus optional self-hosted workflows.

Watch-outs: setup can feel more technical than consumer suites. Cloud collaboration depends on how you deploy or connect it.

7. FreeOffice: best lightweight SoftMaker free suite

FreeOffice (TextMaker, PlanMaker, Presentations) is SoftMaker's free desktop suite. It aims for a familiar Microsoft-like experience in a compact install, which helps on older Macs or machines where you want less overhead than a kitchen-sink suite.

Treat FreeOffice as the free on-ramp to SoftMaker Office. Everyday writing and spreadsheet work can stay free; advanced features, richer support, and some professional tools sit in the paid family. If you need PDF depth and cross-device freemium extras in one brand, WPS still covers more ground. If you want fully free without SoftMaker's upgrade ladder, LibreOffice is cleaner philosophically.

Best for: offline desktop work without a subscription.

Watch-outs: advanced features sit in paid SoftMaker Office. Collaboration and PDF/AI depth trail all-in-one suites like WPS.

8. Zoho Office Suite: best free browser suite for individuals

Zoho Writer, Sheet, Show, and PDF tools work in the browser with a free individual tier and collaboration features. If you already live near Zoho Mail, CRM, or other Zoho apps, keeping documents in the same account reduces tool sprawl.

For Mac users who want a desktop-first Microsoft alternative, Zoho is a secondary pick: great when connectivity is reliable, weaker when you need deep offline editing. Storage and upload limits differ by plan, so verify the free individual allowances before you migrate a large archive out of Drive or iCloud.

Best for: cloud-first solo users and small teams already near Zoho apps.

Watch-outs: offline editing is weaker than desktop suites. Storage and upload limits differ by plan.

9. Polaris Office: limited free cross-device option

Polaris Office covers documents, sheets, and slides across Mac and other platforms. Treat it as a freemium pick, not a fully open free suite. Some users like it for light edits when they already use Polaris on mobile, but the free tier is usually tighter than LibreOffice, FreeOffice, or WPS free for unlimited everyday desktop work.

Best for: light editing when you already use Polaris elsewhere.

Watch-outs: free limits on editing, storage, or AI can be tighter than LibreOffice, FreeOffice, or WPS free. Check the current free plan before you commit.

10. MobiOffice: familiar cross-platform freemium suite

MobiOffice offers document, spreadsheet, and presentation apps with Microsoft-format support across Mac and mobile. The interface feels familiar if you are coming from classic Office layouts, which lowers the learning curve.

Like other freemium suites, advanced tools usually need a paid plan. Rank it behind LibreOffice, FreeOffice, iWork, and WPS free when your requirement is "no paywall for core desktop editing." Rank it higher only if you specifically want that cross-platform freemium brand and accept upgrade prompts.

Best for: users who want a familiar Office-like layout on multiple devices.

Watch-outs: advanced tools usually need a paid plan. For a no-pay desktop default, prefer LibreOffice, FreeOffice, iWork, or WPS free.

How we ranked these Mac office suites

We prioritized factors Mac users actually decide on:

• Current Mac availability (native app vs browser)

• DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX support for Windows handoffs

• Whether core editing is truly free or freemium-limited

• Offline desktop editing

• Collaboration (comments, sharing, co-editing)

• PDF tools in the same product

• Apple Silicon readiness and everyday ease of use

We ranked all-in-one free-or-freemium desktop value highest for most readers, then Apple-native polish, then fully free open source, then collaboration-first web apps. Freemium suites with tighter free ceilings sit lower even when the paid product is strong.

Free plans and pricing change. Confirm details on each vendor's site before you download. Last reviewed for this rebuild: September 2026.

FAQ

What is the best free office software for Mac? For most people who want one app for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs, start with WPS Office. Choose iWork for Apple-native work, LibreOffice for open source, and Google Docs when collaboration is the main job.

Does Mac have a free alternative to Microsoft Word? Yes. Options include WPS Writer, Apple Pages, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer, and FreeOffice TextMaker.

Can I use Microsoft Word for free on a Mac? Yes, through Microsoft 365 for the web with a Microsoft account. Full desktop Word usually needs Microsoft 365 or another qualifying license.

Is LibreOffice completely free on Mac? Yes. LibreOffice is free and open source for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

Is WPS Office free on Mac? Yes. Core desktop editing is free. Some advanced PDF, cloud, template, and AI features may require a paid plan.

Which free Mac office suite works offline? WPS Office, LibreOffice, FreeOffice, ONLYOFFICE, and Apple iWork support offline desktop work. Google Docs and Microsoft 365 for the web are browser-first.

Do these free suites work on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)? Current WPS Office for Mac, Apple iWork, LibreOffice, and the major browser suites support modern Apple Silicon Macs. Always download the latest official build rather than an old Intel-only package.

Should I use iWork or WPS if I share files with Windows users? Use WPS (or LibreOffice / Microsoft 365 for the web) when Windows DOCX/XLSX/PPTX handoffs are frequent. Use iWork when your circle is mostly Apple devices and exports are occasional.

Need PowerPoint specifically on Mac? See how to download PowerPoint for Mac for App Store, Microsoft account, Online, and free alternative paths.

Final verdict

Pick by constraint, not by the longest feature list.

• WPS Office: one free Mac suite for documents, sheets, slides, and PDFs

• iWork: best when you stay inside Apple apps

• LibreOffice: best fully free open-source desktop suite

• Google Docs: best browser collaboration

• Microsoft 365 for the web: best free official Microsoft UI

Ready to try an all-in-one free suite on Mac? Download WPS Office for Mac and open your next DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX in one place.