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OpenOffice and LibreOffice are free, open-source office suites with similar origins and familiar applications: Writer for documents, Calc for spreadsheets, Impress for presentations, Draw, Math, and database tools. They are not the same product, however.
For most people choosing an office suite now, LibreOffice is the better default. It has the more active release schedule, broader support for current operating systems and hardware, and better compatibility with Microsoft Office formats. Apache OpenOffice remains a legitimate project, but its development is much less active and its format and platform limitations matter in everyday use.
At a glance
| Area | LibreOffice | Apache OpenOffice |
|---|---|---|
| Current release position | 26.2.5, the current “Latest Branch” release dated July 24, 2026 | 4.1.16, a maintenance release dated November 10, 2025 |
| Development pace | Active feature and bug-fix releases | Much slower; one minor update compared with LibreOffice’s 21 minor updates during 2024–2025 |
| Microsoft formats | Can export to .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx | No corresponding OOXML export support in the LibreOffice comparison table |
| Windows support | Official 64-bit and ARM64 builds | No Windows 64-bit version listed in the comparison |
| Apple Silicon | Native macOS Apple Silicon build | No Apple Silicon version listed |
| Native file format | OpenDocument Format, including ODF 1.3 and earlier options | OpenDocument-based formats |
| Best fit | Most home users, students, businesses, and Microsoft Office users | Users with a specific legacy workflow or existing OpenOffice deployment |
The two suites share ancestry, but LibreOffice is a successor project based on the OpenOffice.org codebase. Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice are now separate projects with separate installers, release schedules, documentation, bug trackers, and extension ecosystems. See the LibreOffice project comparison.
Development and updates
The practical difference is not that OpenOffice has received no updates. The often-repeated claim that it “has not been updated since 2014” is inaccurate. Apache OpenOffice 4.1.16 was released on November 10, 2025, according to its official download page.
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The more useful distinction is between maintenance activity and active product development. OpenOffice’s current 4.1 line dates back to the major feature era of 2014 and has mainly received later maintenance releases. LibreOffice continues to publish feature and bug-fix releases.
LibreOffice 26.2.5 is the latest-branch release as of July 24, 2026. The project recommends that branch for technology enthusiasts. LibreOffice 25.8 is the previous, mature branch, which the project describes as stable and suitable for enterprises and all users. The official release page does not label 25.8 an “LTS” release, so that term should not be treated as an official designation.
This release difference affects more than the version number. A more active project is generally better positioned to address compatibility problems, operating-system changes, security issues, and newer document features. LibreOffice’s own comparison says it provides regular releases and security updates, while also saying Apache OpenOffice has a history of leaving security issues unfixed. That is a claim from the LibreOffice project, not an independent security audit, but it is still relevant when selecting software for regularly exchanged or sensitive documents.
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint compatibility
Both applications can work with common office documents, but LibreOffice is the stronger choice when your files regularly move between office suites.
LibreOffice officially supports exporting to Microsoft Office Open XML formats:
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- Writer: .docx
- Calc: .xlsx
- Impress: .pptx
Apache OpenOffice’s entry in LibreOffice’s comparison table reports no OOXML export support for those formats. That makes OpenOffice a poor choice if a teacher, employer, client, or government office expects a modern Microsoft-format file.
LibreOffice compatibility is not identical to Microsoft Office compatibility. Opening or saving a complex Microsoft document can change page breaks, fonts, spacing, tables, formulas, animations, or other layout details. Export support means the suite can create the format; it does not promise byte-for-byte or feature-for-feature equivalence with Microsoft Office.
For a simple letter or basic spreadsheet, the difference may be invisible. For a presentation with custom fonts, a spreadsheet using advanced Excel features, or a document with carefully controlled pagination, open the exported file in the software your recipient will use and check it before sending.
OpenDocument format: better for ownership, not a guarantee of identical results
LibreOffice’s native formats are OpenDocument formats, including text, spreadsheet, and presentation files. Current LibreOffice versions can open ODF 1.0/1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 documents. They can save as ODF 1.3, ODF 1.3 Extended, ODF 1.2, ODF 1.2 Extended, ODF 1.2 Extended in compatibility mode, and older ODF 1.0/1.1 formats.
ODF is useful when you want an open, documented format rather than a file tied to one commercial application. However, ODF does not guarantee that OpenOffice and LibreOffice will display or preserve every feature identically. Newer software can use features that older ODF versions cannot store. See LibreOffice Help on file formats.
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LibreOffice’s ODF 1.2 Extended (compatibility mode) is specifically intended for interoperability with older OpenOffice.org and other legacy ODF applications. It uses deprecated ODF 1.2 features and behavior that is compatible with older OpenOffice.org versions. That option can help with an old workflow, but it is not automatically the best format for new documents.
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There is also a specific Draw and Impress issue: comments inserted in documents using newer comment-capable formats can be lost when older software opens and saves them. Do not use a legacy format or older application for a round trip if presentation or drawing comments are important.
Operating-system and hardware support
LibreOffice has the clearer advantage on current hardware:
- Windows: official 64-bit and ARM64 builds.
- macOS: Intel and Apple Silicon builds.
- Linux: x86-64 packages, with current The Document Foundation builds listing an x86-64-v2-level CPU requirement.
Apache OpenOffice’s comparison entry reports no Windows 64-bit version and no Apple Silicon version. It may still run in some environments, but those limitations make it less attractive for a modern Windows PC or an M-series Mac.
Current LibreOffice system requirements include Windows 10 or 11, or Windows Server 2012 through 2022. Installation requires administrator rights. On macOS, the current requirement is macOS 11 or newer. For Linux, the listed requirements include kernel 4.18 or newer and glibc 2.27 or newer, in addition to the CPU requirement for The Document Foundation builds.
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Older computers and operating systems may need archived LibreOffice versions. Those versions may no longer receive current support, so installing an old release on an unsupported system is a compromise rather than an equivalent experience.
Applications and everyday features
The basic application lineup is broadly comparable: Writer and Calc cover documents and spreadsheets, while Impress handles presentations. If you are moving from one suite to the other, the menus and tools will feel familiar, although files, extensions, templates, and user settings are not shared as though this were one application.
LibreOffice also has a practical advantage for users who need current interoperability features. The LibreOffice project’s comparison says LibreOffice supports signing OOXML and PDF files, while Apache OpenOffice does not. Organizations that rely on digitally signed documents should verify their exact signing workflow before standardizing, but this is another reason to prefer LibreOffice for a new deployment.
Java is not required for most LibreOffice functions. It is specifically required for important Base functionality, so someone using the database component should check the Java requirement rather than assuming the whole suite needs it.
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Which one should you use?
Choose LibreOffice if:
- You exchange files with Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint users.
- You use Windows 64-bit, Windows on ARM, or an Apple Silicon Mac.
- You want an actively developed office suite with frequent maintenance releases.
- You need current OOXML export, PDF signing, or newer document features.
- You are installing an office suite for a school, business, or household from scratch.
Choose Apache OpenOffice if:
- Your organization already has a tested OpenOffice-specific workflow.
- You depend on an older extension, template, or legacy ODF behavior that works reliably there.
- Your computer runs an older operating system and a particular OpenOffice build is known to work.
- You have tested the files and applications you need and do not require current Microsoft-format export.
For most new installations, there is little reason to accept OpenOffice’s slower development and narrower platform support just because the programs look familiar. LibreOffice is the safer general recommendation. The exception is a controlled legacy environment where changing applications could break a known workflow; test that workflow rather than switching—or staying—based only on product reputation.
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Set LibreOffice up for fewer compatibility problems
- Use OpenDocument for your master copy. Keep the working file in LibreOffice’s native ODF format when you control the workflow.
- Export a separate Microsoft-format copy. Use .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx only when the recipient requires it.
- Check the exported file. Reopen it in the target application, especially when it contains page-sensitive layouts, formulas, comments, or presentation effects.
- Select the default format deliberately. In the traditional menu interface, go to Tools > Options > Load/Save > General. Under Document type, choose the required format in Always save as. On macOS, start with LibreOffice > Preferences. In the tabbed interface, use Tools tab > Options > Load/Save > General.
- Enable recovery and backups. At Tools > Options > Load/Save > General, enable Save AutoRecovery information every and set the interval in minutes. AutoRecovery data is saved while LibreOffice is idle after a document has changed. The separate Automatically save the document instead option saves the modified document itself rather than only a temporary recovery version.
- Create a rolling backup. Enable Always create backup copy in the same Load/Save section to create a .BAK file on each save. The previous backup is replaced each time, so this is not a substitute for versioned backups. Change its location under Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Paths, using the backup-file path.
For projects containing linked images or other files, Tools > Options > Load/Save > General also contains the options Save URLs relative to file system and Save URLs relative to internet. Relative links can make a portable project easier to move, but they can break after files are reorganized. LibreOffice’s example of a relative path is ../images/img.jpg; an absolute file URL looks like file:///C:/work/images/img.jpg. Relative addressing works only when the source document and referenced document are on the same drive.
Compatibility details people often miss
- Printer settings can affect pagination. If Load printer settings with the document is enabled, a document can load settings for a different printer. If it is disabled, LibreOffice uses the system printer unless you select another printer in the Print dialog.
- Older formats can discard newer features. Saving to ODF 1.0/1.1 or another older format can lose information that the format cannot represent.
- Options are not always safely reset. LibreOffice Help warns that some option changes cannot be reset with a reset action. Manually restore the value, or cancel and reopen the Options dialog before applying a change you are unsure about.
- Check the installed version. In LibreOffice, use Help > About LibreOffice. In Apache OpenOffice, use Help > About OpenOffice.
FAQ
Is OpenOffice still being updated?
Yes, but at a much slower pace than LibreOffice. Apache OpenOffice 4.1.16 was released on November 10, 2025. Saying it has not been updated since 2014 is inaccurate; the major feature line dates to that period, while later releases have mainly been maintenance releases.
Is LibreOffice better than OpenOffice?
For most users, yes. LibreOffice has the more active release schedule, official builds for current 64-bit and ARM64 hardware, and support for exporting DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files. OpenOffice can still be appropriate for a tested legacy setup.
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It can open many OpenDocument files, but not necessarily every feature. Newer LibreOffice documents may use ODF features that older software cannot preserve. Draw and Impress comments are one documented compatibility risk.
Should I save documents as ODT or DOCX?
Use ODT when LibreOffice or another OpenDocument-compatible application controls the workflow and preserving LibreOffice features matters. Use DOCX when the recipient specifically needs Microsoft Word compatibility, then check the exported file in the target application.
Does LibreOffice require Java?
Most LibreOffice features do not require Java. Java is specifically required for important functionality in Base, LibreOffice’s database component.
Which suite is better for an Apple Silicon Mac?
LibreOffice. It provides an official Apple Silicon build, while Apache OpenOffice’s comparison entry reports no Apple Silicon version.
The Bottom Line
Use LibreOffice unless you have a specific, tested reason to use Apache OpenOffice. LibreOffice is more actively maintained, works on a wider range of current hardware, and is the practical choice for DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX exchange. Keep important working files in ODF, export copies for Microsoft Office users, and verify complex files after conversion.
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