Top 15 Office 365 Alternatives

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Microsoft Office 365 is a suite of office software and applications that many businesses have used since the beginning. However, more software for businesses seems to come out every year. While many businesses still use Office 365, others may be looking for other tools that can improve collaboration and productivity. Depending on the type of business software and equipment you use, you might prefer something that works better with Apple products or choose to find a cheaper alternative for a small but growing business.

Top Office 365 Alternatives

When searching for an Office 365 alternative, try to look for a software suite that gives you everything Office can but may be more flexible or reliable for your business. Here are the top 15 Office 365 alternatives for businesses of all sizes.

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a popular Office 365 alternative because it works well on any device. With Google Workspace, companies and employees can get everything they get with Office but with more collaborative tools. Many businesses are already using Google Workspace because of the many built-in apps that can improve business processes.

Both suites have applications for word processing, spreadsheets and calculations, presentations, emails, direct messaging, video conferencing, calendars, and web hosting. They both also offer multiple plans based on a business’s needs.

However, an obvious difference between the two options is that Microsoft uses Outlook and Google uses Gmail. Gmail is a web-based program that doesn’t have a desktop application. You can connect your Gmail accounts to other third-party apps, including Outlook.

Additionally, Google’s productivity tools are strictly web-based, but they have a cleaner interface and are easy to use. Ultimately, Office 365 and Google Workspace are similar productivity suites, but they differ in where their apps are available. For example, office 365 products are available on desktop and web, while Google Workspace tools are only available on the web.

Zoho Workplace

Zoho Workplace is a basic suite designed for collaborative teams. It’s one of the newest software available and offers nine different apps to streamline workflow. Zoho Workplace is an affordable option if you’re looking for something new for your business, and they offer a 15-day free trial.

iWork

iWork is an Office 365 alternative best for Apple users who want a similar experience. You’ll get access to the same types of productivity tools you would with Office or Google Workspace, allowing you to create presentations and organize team documents. iWork is free to download on Apple devices, including cell phones, desktops, and tablets.

WPS Office

WPS Office is a true Office 365 alternative, offering the same types of programs. The interface is even based on Office, so if you prefer the layout of Office 365, you’ll have no problem navigating WPS Office. In addition, WPS Office comes with the same apps, including a word processor, presentation application, and even spreadsheets.

OfficeWork Office Online

OfficeWork is an online suite that can edit documents, presentations, and spreadsheets like they could on a desktop. However, with OfficeWork, you don’t have to worry about being able to open up a document to edit it. Instead, you can start editing any documents, spreadsheets, or presentations even if you’re not synced up with a business suite like Office 365.

NextCloud

NextCloud is an on-premise cloud platform that’s open-source and secure. It has integrations with office suites to allow you to connect to all of your important documents, spreadsheets, presentations, videos, and files. NextCloud is free to use.

ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE is a document server with an easy-to-use interface allowing you access to collaboration tools, documents, spreadsheets, project management, email, and more. It also allows you to share your documents and is compatible with Docx, xlsx, and pptx. In addition, since you store your documents on your own server, you retain control over them.

Softmaker Office

Softmaker office is not based in the cloud. Instead, it’s a more traditional suite that offers MS document compatibility. Softmaker Office is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, allowing you to edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations and create PDFs.

The Document Foundation

The Document Foundation developed Apache OpenOffice and its successor, LibreOffice, a free, open-source office suite. LibreOffice offers a full suite of tools, including a word processor, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and flowcharts, databases, and formula editing. It’s also compatible with various document formats, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Polaris Office

Polaris Office is a professional office suite with all the standard features, including a word processor, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF formatting. In addition, Polaris Office also offers enhanced security, visual data representations, and presenter tools.

Kopano

Kopano is a combination suite with communication tools like email and video conferencing and file sharing. Kopano is open-source and self-hosted with strong security and is ideal for organizations of all kinds that require quality video conferencing. Kopano doesn’t have a document editor of its own; instead, it uses LibreOffice Online for editing and collaborative tools.

Twake

Take is a productivity and collaboration platform offering a suite of tools similar to Slack, Trello, and Google Drive all in one. With professional messaging, storage space, and collaborative editors, you won’t need to look outside of Twake for a full suite of team tools.

Zimbra Collaboration

Zimbra Collaboration is another open-source tool for email, calendars, and task management. Zimbra also has robust productivity tools and is compatible with many email clients.

Quip

Quip is a word processor that can help you create formatted documents on any device, including iPads, cell phones, and desktops. Quip combines messages and documents into threads to make collaboration easier for teams. With Quip, you can take notes and organize lists, share folders, or work with team members simultaneously with real-time collaborative editing.

OffiDocs

OffiDocs allows you to work online with different desktop apps through your browser. This suite allows you to access many different collaboration apps and tools online without computing requirements and for free. OffiDocs is a multi-device platform, so you can run any desktop app from anywhere. OffiDocs contains apps for the office and messaging and is integrated with Google Drive.

Final Thoughts

When looking for Office 365 alternatives for your business, it’s always best to make a list of the features you need. While Office 365 has tons of different applications, your teams might not need all of them. Additionally, always check to ensure you can integrate your tools with other tools to increase your return on investment and productivity simultaneously.

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