Best Microsoft Word Alternatives in 2026
The top Microsoft Word alternatives are Google Docs, Zoho Writer and WPS Writer: 15 word processing software our editors would look at instead of Microsoft Word, in our ranking order.
Microsoft Word: A complete word processor with strong collaboration, review, accessibility, and Microsoft ecosystem support. Where it falls short: the free plan is limited to word for the web and basic editing features.
Switching from Microsoft Word? For most word processing software buyers the best Microsoft Word alternative is Google Docs, built for teams prioritizing browser collaboration. On a budget, Dropbox Paper starts at $0.99/mo, against $7/user/mo for Microsoft Word. Thinkfree Office offers the most maximum document size (300 MB).
Why People Look for a Microsoft Word Alternative
- 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
- Paid from $7/user/mo — Dropbox Paper is $0.99/user/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallGoogle Docs9.2
Teams prioritizing browser collaboration
Visit Google Docs - Lowest priceDropbox Paper7.9
Paid plans from $0.99/mo
Visit Dropbox Paper - Best free optionGoogle Docs9.2
Has a free plan
Visit Google Docs - Most maximum document sizeThinkfree Office7.6
300 MB
Visit Thinkfree Office
All 15 Microsoft Word Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forTeams prioritizing browser collaboration
A strong browser-first word processor for teams that edit documents together.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Google Docs -
Best forFeature-rich free and cross-platform editing
A broad free word processor for teams needing cross-platform editing and workflow features.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho Writer -
Best forAffordable Microsoft-compatible editing
Affordable Word-compatible editing with offline work, collaboration, AI, and PDF tools.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit WPS Writer -
Best forOrganizations needing self-hosted office software
A broad, self-hosted office suite with free Community access and a costly Enterprise tier.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit ONLYOFFICE -
Best forApple users wanting polished document creation
A capable free document editor for Apple users who value layout and collaboration.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Apple Pages -
Best forFree offline desktop word processing
A capable offline Writer with broad document features, but no real-time collaboration.
- Track changes
- Offline editing
- Desktop apps
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit LibreOffice -
Best forPrivacy-focused collaborative deployments
A privacy-focused office suite for teams that need on-premise collaboration.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
8.4/10★★★★☆Try Collabora Online -
Best forBroad office editing with AI assistance
A broad office suite with collaboration, offline editing, document review, and AI tools.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Polaris Office -
Best forWeb-first teams using Yandex services
- Better than Microsoft Word:
- Paid from: $3.99/user/mo vs $7/user/mo
A practical web-first editor for teams already working in Yandex services.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Yandex -
Best forEnterprise cloud collaboration in Tencent ecosystems
A Tencent-centered workspace for collaborative documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
- Real-time collaboration
- Desktop apps
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Tencent Docs -
Best forFree desktop office compatibility
A capable free desktop suite for DOCX work, offline editing, and language support.
- Track changes
- Offline editing
- Desktop apps
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit SoftMaker -
Best forLightweight collaborative notes and documents
- Better than Microsoft Word:
- Paid from: $0.99/user/mo vs $7/user/mo
A focused web editor for shared documents, tasks, comments, and embedded media.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Dropbox Paper -
Best forCross-platform office editing on a budget
A budget-friendly office suite with broad device support, offline apps, and core collaboration tools.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
- Offline editing
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit MobiOffice -
Best forSelf-hosted academic collaborative writing
A focused open-source editor for scholarly teams that need self-hosted collaboration.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Fidus Writer -
Best forPrivate-cloud office platform builders
A flexible private-cloud office suite, priced for organizations rather than ordinary writers.
- Real-time collaboration
- Track changes
7.6/10★★★★☆Try Thinkfree Office
Microsoft Word Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Word?
Google Docs: #2 in our Word Processing Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A strong browser-first word processor for teams that edit documents together.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Word?
Yes. Google Docs, Zoho Writer, WPS Writer, ONLYOFFICE Docs and Apple Pages have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Microsoft Word?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Dropbox Paper starts lowest, at $0.99/mo.
Why do people look for Microsoft Word alternatives?
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.
Which Microsoft Word alternative has the most maximum document size?
Thinkfree Office, with 300 MB.
How do I switch from Microsoft Word?
Export your data from Microsoft Word (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Microsoft Word.
How to Switch from Microsoft Word
- Export your data from Microsoft Word (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Microsoft Word.
Microsoft Word vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Desktop apps | Offline editing | Real-time collaboration | Track changes | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Word | Yes | $7/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 1 | Google Docs | Yes | $7/user/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 2 | Zoho Writer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 3 | WPS Writer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 | |
| 4 | ONLYOFFICE Docs | Yes | $1,500/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.8 |
| 5 | Apple Pages | Yes | $29.99/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 6 | LibreOffice Writer | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | Collabora Online | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 8 | Polaris Office | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 9 | Yandex Documents | Yes | $3.99/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 10 | Tencent Docs | Yes | 250 CNY/user/yr | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | ||
| 11 | SoftMaker FreeOffice | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 12 | Dropbox Paper | Yes | $0.99/mo | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 13 | MobiOffice | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 14 | Fidus Writer | Yes | Free | 7.7 | ||||
| 15 | Thinkfree Office | No | $900/yr | No | No | Yes | Yes | 7.6 |
Head-to-Head
- Microsoft Word vs Google Docs
- Microsoft Word vs Zoho Writer
- Microsoft Word vs WPS Writer
- Microsoft Word vs ONLYOFFICE Docs
- Microsoft Word vs Apple Pages
- Microsoft Word vs LibreOffice Writer
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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