No one can deny that Microsoft Office is the most advanced and full-featured office suite. What is the best suite for you? Which office suite is best for you? You will be pressured to find an occupation that does not require word or number processing of any kind. And you may be wondering, is Microsoft Office really the best solution? Here are your options. Read more about the planet, but that doesn't mean it's right for you. Why shell out cash when you can use a free alternative that still offers everything you need?
For the past few years, LibreOffice has been the biggest competitor to Microsoft's office suite. Is the New LibreOffice a better Microsoft Office alternative? Is the new LibreOffice a better Microsoft Office alternative? LibreOffice, a longtime Microsoft Office contender, just got a makeover and major updates. After being suppressed by bug bugs over the years, has LibreOffice finally found the winning formula? Read more . Not only is it free and open source, but its feature set is expanding rapidly, so much so that LibreOffice is just as good as Microsoft Office in many ways. Is LibreOffice worthy of Office Crown? Is LibreOffice worthy of the office crown? LibreOffice is the king of free office suites. It's unlikely to replace Microsoft Office in a business environment, but it's a great alternative for casual users. This is what's new in LibreOffice 5.1. Read more.
We now have a third contender in the ring. It's called FreeOffice 2016 and it's surprisingly good. But is it good enough to make the switch? Here's what you need to know.
FreeOffice is the free, lightweight version of Softmaker Office, which is a proprietary suite that costs $70 for the standard version and $90 for the professional version. Still, FreeOffice offers enough to be interesting.
You have probably noticed a pattern:“more accurate when displayed”. That's one of FreeOffice's main selling points, the ability to deal with Microsoft's proprietary formats without running into formatting errors and data loss. It's as close to the real thing as you can get for free.
At the moment, FreeOffice 2016 is only available for Windows and Linux. It's unclear if Softmaker plans to include OS X at any point.
Despite being free, you will be required to enter an email address before downloading. After installation, you will be prompted to enter a product code that is sent to that same email address. Please keep this in mind if you are concerned about email privacy.
Download now: Windows (Free), Linux (Free)
Before diving into FreeOffice's feature set, let's first explore how it looks and feel use. After all, even the best apps aren't worth using if they're ugly, clunky, and lacking in finesse (many free options have this problem).
The thing that impresses me most about this office suite is its speed – it's faster than any other office suite I've used. Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer take several seconds to start and load, but FreeOffice is ready in less than a second. No exaggeration.
And it's not just launch speed. Office applications tend to slow down when it comes to large documents, but FreeOffice holds up well, even with complex spreadsheets that include dozens of pages and thousands of calculations.
The other thing I love about FreeOffice is the familiar interface. Most office suites look the same, but there's something about FreeOffice that feels cleaner and more streamlined. Toolbars are compact, menus are well organized, and nothing gets in your way.
In short, it is a pleasure to use, as long as you are well. without a ribbon interface. If you prefer the ribbon look and feel, your only options are Microsoft Office and WPS Office. Personally, I am very satisfied with FreeOffice.
Fonts, layouts, and graphics display almost flawlessly. This is a big problem I've had with other cross-platform apps, including LibreOffice, but FreeOffice seems to have dodged the problem entirely. I can't tell you how happy that makes me..
I only have one gripe when it comes to appearances:the icons used throughout the suite, particularly in toolbars and menus, are reminiscent of the 2000s era. Upgrading to a modern flat motif would be a simple change to upgrade software character..
Now for the part that matters most. Is it really worth using FreeOffice? Are there any important features missing that I would need? Does it deliver on its promise of being the best free office suite? I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised..
Once again, file integrity is excellent. I tried to open as many Microsoft Office files as I could using FreeOffice and they all worked without any formatting or layout quirks. Other office suites are not as accurate.
When people send you DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files, rest assured you'll be able to see them as they were meant to be seen (that is, as they would appear in Microsoft Office 2016).
But there is a big drawback in FreeOffice:you can't actually save in DOCX, XLSX or PPTX formats. So if you're working on a team and everyone insists on using the newer formats from Microsoft, that could be problematic.
It has all the necessary standard features.. Paragraph formatting, drawing tools, layout templates, data tables and charts, spelling and grammar checkers, formulas in spreadsheets, animations in presentations, and all that good stuff.
But it also has a number of advanced features that many other office suites simply don't have. Let's look at each application separately.
TextMaker Notable Features:
Without a doubt, this is one of the best free word processors currently available. What is the best word processor for Linux? What is the best word processor for Linux? Unless you use emulation or virtualization software, there is no way to run Word on Linux. Which leaves us with a difficult question:what is the best word processor to use on Linux? Read more . My only regret is that I didn't discover it sooner.
Notable features of PlanMaker:
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Notable characteristics of the presentations:
And yes, you can import templates meant for Microsoft PowerPoint Where to Find Free PowerPoint Themes and Templates Where to Find Free PowerPoint Themes and Templates A default template can be drab and lifeless. Fortunately, with a plethora of free resources available, there's no need to settle down. We've compiled some of the best PowerPoint themes and templates. Read More
But only for Android devices. Sorry, iOS users.
Mobile apps are becoming standard fare for office suites these days. Microsoft Office has them, Google has them, and even WPS and Polaris have them. And the surprising thing is that these mobile office suites are quite productive. Top 8 Android Office Suites to Get Work Done Top 8 Android Office Suites to Get Work Done It's possible to get real work done on Android, but I'm spoiled for choice now when it comes to office suites. Let's examine the best of them. Read more.
FreeOffice comes with its own set of applications and they are really good. The aesthetics could require a bit of work; again, they feel a bit dated, but the interface is designed well enough that it doesn't feel frustrating or cluttered, even on a smaller screen.
You can work on your files using a desktop or laptop and seamlessly switch to your smartphone or tablet without losing anything, especially if you use cloud storage services like Dropbox or OneDrive to keep everything in sync.
Mobile applications are full features. You can edit, format, track changes, add comments, insert formulas, alter presentations, play slideshows, display any font, and more. Nothing is missing here.
In fact, the best thing about this mobile suite is the ability to save in DOCX, XSLX and PPTX formats. We don't know why this feature isn't on the desktop versions, but at least you can do it using the mobile alternatives without paying anything.
Download now: TextMaker (Free), PlanMaker (Free), Presentations (Free)
For the most part, FreeOffice 2016 is a more than viable replacement for Microsoft Office, at least if all you need is word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Mobile apps are convenient if you're always on the go and need to edit on the go.
The only drawback is the inability to save to DOCX, XLSX or PPTX. Otherwise, it's a fantastic office suite that could easily become a top-tier alternative.
If you really need to save those files, then you can do so with the FreeOffice mobile apps, upgrade to Softmaker Office, switch to LibreOffice or Google Docs, or simply find a free copy of Microsoft Office Save on Microsoft Office! Get Cheap or Free Office Products Save on Microsoft Office! Get Cheap or Free Office Products Reluctant to spend a few hundred dollars on a glorified word processor? You can get Microsoft Office for cheap and free alternatives. You have many options and we offer you a summary. Read more.
Other features you'll find in the paid Softmaker Office, but not in FreeOffice 2016, are spell checks in multiple languages and synonyms using trade dictionaries, an extended sidebar, macros, cross-references, figure legends, envelope and label printing, email correspondence. mail How to Print Mail Merge Labels in Microsoft Word and Excel How to Print Mail Merge Labels in Microsoft Word and Excel Still using copy and paste to create personalized labels, ID badges, or other mass communications? Mail Merge, a simple Microsoft Office automation tool, will have you printing your labels in seconds. Read More
Personally, FreeOffice 2016 has become my suite of choice. That sums it up, doesn't it?
What do you think of FreeOffice? Does it offer enough to entice you to switch? Or are DOCX/XLSX/PPTX formats such a big deal breaker? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
