Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Word Processing Software

Microsoft Word vs ONLYOFFICE Docs

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Microsoft Word #1 in Word Processing Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Microsoft Word
ONLYOFFICE Docs #5 in Word Processing Software 8.8/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit ONLYOFFICE

Microsoft Word leads on 0 checks, ONLYOFFICE Docs on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMicrosoft Word · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly ONLYOFFICE Docs

Microsoft Word scores higher on our rubric for word processing software: 9.4 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.

Microsoft Word is the better fit for professional users needing a complete word processor. ONLYOFFICE Docs is the better fit for organizations needing self-hosted office software.

  • Microsoft Word fits best

    Professional users needing a complete word processor

  • ONLYOFFICE Docs fits best

    Organizations needing self-hosted office software

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Microsoft Word 9.4/10 Visit ↗ ONLYOFFICE Docs 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.8
Ranking #1 in Word Processing Software #5 in Word Processing Software
Best for Professional users needing a complete word processor Organizations needing self-hosted office software
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $7/user/mo $1,500/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Integrations 3 integrations 40+ integrations
Features Microsoft Word 4/4 · ONLYOFFICE Docs 4/4
Desktop apps ✓ ✓
Offline editing ✓ ✓
Real-time collaboration ✓ ✓
Track changes ✓ ✓
Specs
Desktop platforms Windows, macOS Windows, Linux, macOS
Maximum document size 512 MB Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Real-time co-authoring, track changes, and version history support review workflows
  • Desktop, web, and mobile access across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
  • Templates, dictation, accessibility checking, and Copilot-assisted writing tools
  • Free, open-source Community edition with self-hosting
  • Supports documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and PDFs
  • Includes co-editing, review, version restoration, and document comparison
Cons
  • The free plan is limited to Word for the web and basic editing features
  • Desktop Word requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription
  • The 512 MB maximum applies to Word files opened by Word
  • Enterprise starts at $1,500 per license
  • Community edition is recommended for up to 20 users
  • Developer edition requires pricing engagement
Our verdict

Microsoft Word is a word-processing application for creating, editing, formatting, reviewing, and sharing documents. It suits professional users who need a complete document workspace across web, desktop, and mobile platforms. Core…

Read the review →

ONLYOFFICE Docs is an open-source office editing suite for individuals, teams, organizations, and developers. It provides online editors for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, fillable forms, and PDFs, with support for real-time…

Read the review →
  1. Microsoft WordWord Processing Software 9.4Free plan
  2. ONLYOFFICE DocsWord Processing Software 8.8Free plan · 30-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Microsoft Word — where it wins

    • Real-time co-authoring, track changes, and version history support review workflows
    • Desktop, web, and mobile access across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
    • Templates, dictation, accessibility checking, and Copilot-assisted writing tools

    Where it doesn't

    • The free plan is limited to Word for the web and basic editing features
    • Desktop Word requires a paid Microsoft 365 subscription
    • The 512 MB maximum applies to Word files opened by Word

  • ONLYOFFICE Docs — where it wins

    • Free, open-source Community edition with self-hosting
    • Supports documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and PDFs
    • Includes co-editing, review, version restoration, and document comparison

    Where it doesn't

    • Enterprise starts at $1,500 per license
    • Community edition is recommended for up to 20 users
    • Developer edition requires pricing engagement
  • Microsoft Word9.4/10 · Free plan

    A complete word processor with strong collaboration, review, accessibility, and Microsoft ecosystem support.

    Visit Microsoft WordFull verdict →
  • ONLYOFFICE Docs8.8/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

    A broad, self-hosted office suite with free Community access and a costly Enterprise tier.

    Visit ONLYOFFICEFull verdict →

More comparisons

All word processing software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update