Apache OpenOffice: Features, Download & Safety

Apache OpenOffice is a free, open-source office suite. You get a word processor, a spreadsheet program, presentation software, a drawing tool, a database program and a formula editor, all in one download. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, costs nothing for home, school or business use, and saves files in the international OpenDocument Format.

That is the short answer. The longer answer matters more, because OpenOffice in 2026 is not the same proposition it was in 2008. The project is still maintained, but it moves slowly. Its biggest limitations – no saving to modern Word or Excel formats, no real-time collaboration and infrequent security updates – are things you should know about before you install it.

This guide covers what OpenOffice is, where it came from, what each program does, how it handles your files, how to download it safely, and how it stacks up against LibreOffice, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Throughout, you will find links to our more detailed guides on each topic.

What is OpenOffice?

OpenOffice is a complete desktop office suite that you install on your own computer. Unlike Microsoft 365, there is no subscription and no account to create. Unlike Google Docs, it does not need an internet connection to work. Once installed, every program runs locally and your documents stay on your device unless you choose to move them.

The suite is built around a single shared engine. That is why the programs look and behave alike: the menus, toolbars, styles and spell checker work the same way whether you are writing a letter in Writer or building a budget in Calc. You can also move content between them easily, for example pasting a Calc chart into a Writer report.

For a hands-on assessment of the whole suite, including its strengths and weak spots, read our Apache OpenOffice review.

OpenOffice, OpenOffice.org and Apache OpenOffice: the names explained

You will see three names used for what is essentially the same software, and the differences can be confusing.

• OpenOffice.org was the original name of the project, used from 2000 to 2011. The “.org” was part of the official name because another company already held the “OpenOffice” trademark in some countries.
• Apache OpenOffice is the current official name, used since the project moved to The Apache Software Foundation in 2011.
• OpenOffice is the everyday shorthand that most people use for either of the above.

When you see older guides, forum posts or file types refer to “OpenOffice.org”, they are talking about the predecessor of today’s Apache OpenOffice. If you are looking for the software’s official home, it is still openoffice.org.

One more point to avoid confusion: this website, OpenOffice.org.nz, is an independent information site for New Zealand readers. It is not the official OpenOffice project and has no connection to The Apache Software Foundation.

Who makes it and why is it free?

Apache OpenOffice is developed by volunteers under The Apache Software Foundation, a United States-based non-profit that looks after hundreds of open-source software projects. Nobody owns the code in the commercial sense. It is released under the Apache License 2.0, which allows anyone to use, copy, modify and distribute the software, including for commercial purposes, without paying a licence fee.

That is the whole business model: there isn’t one. The project is funded by donations and by the time volunteers contribute. This explains both its biggest strength (it is genuinely free, with no adverts, upsells or trial periods) and its biggest weakness (development depends on how many volunteers are active, and in recent years that number has been small).

A short history of OpenOffice

Knowing where OpenOffice came from helps explain why it works the way it does today, and why LibreOffice exists alongside it.

From StarOffice to OpenOffice.org

The software started life in Germany in the mid-1980s, when a company called Star Division released a word processor named StarWriter. Over the following decade it grew into StarOffice, a full office suite that competed with Microsoft Office in parts of Europe.

In 1999, Sun Microsystems bought Star Division. The following year, Sun released the StarOffice source code to the public and launched the OpenOffice.org project to develop it in the open. Version 1.0 arrived in 2002.

OpenOffice.org 2.0, released in 2005, made the OpenDocument Format its default file format. OpenDocument became an international ISO/IEC standard in 2006, which is a large part of why governments and schools around the world took an interest in the suite. Version 3.0 followed in 2008 and was, for many people, the high point of OpenOffice’s popularity as the best-known free alternative to Microsoft Office.

The Oracle years and the LibreOffice split

Oracle Corporation completed its takeover of Sun Microsystems in early 2010 and, with it, gained control of OpenOffice.org. Many of the project’s community members were uneasy about Oracle’s direction. In September 2010, a large group of them formed a new organisation, The Document Foundation, and launched LibreOffice: a “fork”, or independent copy, of the OpenOffice.org code.

In 2011, Oracle stepped away and donated the OpenOffice.org code and trademarks to The Apache Software Foundation. From that point on there were two separate projects built from the same roots: Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice.

Apache OpenOffice today

Under Apache, the suite was rebranded and released as Apache OpenOffice 3.4 in 2012, followed by version 4.0 in 2013 with a redesigned sidebar, and version 4.1 in 2014. Since then, the project has issued maintenance updates in the 4.1.x series rather than major new versions.

The most recent release at the time of writing is Apache OpenOffice 4.1.16, published on 10 November 2025. The project described it as a security release with bug fixes, updated dictionaries and availability through the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 and 11 in selected languages. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux in 41 languages.

In practice, that means OpenOffice is maintained but not actively developed in the way LibreOffice or Microsoft 365 are. Updates arrive months or years apart and focus on fixes rather than new features.

The six programs in the OpenOffice suite

A single OpenOffice download installs six programs. Each one covers a job that would otherwise need a separate paid app.

Writer: the word processor

Writer is OpenOffice’s equivalent of Microsoft Word. It handles everything from a one-page letter to a long report with a table of contents, footnotes, indexes and cross-references. Its strongest feature is styles: instead of formatting each heading by hand, you apply a paragraph style and change the look of the whole document in one step. The Navigator panel makes it easy to jump around long documents.

Writer can also create fillable forms, export straight to PDF and run mail merges using a spreadsheet or database as the data source. For a full walkthrough of its features, file formats and limitations, see our OpenOffice Writer guide.

Calc: spreadsheets

Calc is the spreadsheet program, broadly comparable to Microsoft Excel. It supports formulas and functions, sorting and filtering, conditional formatting, charts, pivot tables (called DataPilot in older versions) and multiple sheets per file. Each sheet holds just over a million rows, which is more than enough for household budgets, small business records and school projects.

Most everyday Excel formulas work the same way in Calc, although some newer Excel functions are not available. Our beginner’s guide to OpenOffice Calc explains how to get started. If you regularly work with exported data, our guide to opening a CSV file in Excel, Google Sheets and Calc shows how to avoid common problems such as lost leading zeros and mangled dates.

Impress: presentations

Impress is the presentation program, equivalent to Microsoft PowerPoint. You can build slides from layouts and master pages, add images, charts, transitions and animations, and present with the Presenter Screen, which shows your notes and the next slide on your own display while the audience sees only the current slide.

Its main weaknesses are a fairly small set of built-in templates and the inability to save in PowerPoint’s modern PPTX format. Our OpenOffice Impress guide covers features, formats and workarounds. If you also present in PowerPoint, see our guide to Presenter View in PowerPoint, and for design-led slides our guide to Canva presentations.

Draw: graphics and diagrams

Draw is a vector drawing program. It is useful for flowcharts, organisation charts, floor plans, simple posters and diagrams that need to stay sharp at any size. It includes connectors that stay attached to shapes when you move them, which makes it handy for process diagrams. Draw is not a photo editor, but it can place and crop images within a layout.

Base: databases

Base is a desktop database program, comparable to Microsoft Access. You can use it to create tables, forms, queries and reports, for example to track a club membership list, a book collection or stock for a small business. Base can work with its own built-in database or connect to external databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL.

Base is the most technical program in the suite, and its built-in database engine needs Java to be installed. If you just need a simple list with sorting and filtering, a Calc spreadsheet is usually the easier choice.

Math: the formula editor

Math creates mathematical and scientific formulas, from simple fractions to complex equations. You can type formulas using a simple markup language or build them from a menu of symbols. Most people use Math through Writer or Impress, inserting a formula directly into a document or slide, rather than as a stand-alone program. It is particularly useful for students and teachers.

File formats: ODF, Microsoft Office files and PDF

File compatibility is the single most important thing to understand about OpenOffice, because it is where most frustration comes from.

The OpenDocument Format

OpenOffice saves files in the OpenDocument Format (ODF) by default. ODF is an open, international standard maintained by OASIS and published as ISO/IEC 26300, so any program can support it without paying a licence fee. The main types are:

• .odt for text documents (Writer)
• .ods for spreadsheets (Calc)
• .odp for presentations (Impress)
• .odg for drawings (Draw)
• .odb for databases (Base)

Because ODF is an open standard, files saved in it can be opened by LibreOffice, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, and many other apps. Our guides explain each format in detail: ODT files, ODS files and ODP files.

Opening and saving Microsoft Office files

OpenOffice can open modern Microsoft Office files – DOCX, XLSX and PPTX – so you can read and edit documents that other people send you. However, it cannot save in those modern formats. When you need to send a file back in a Microsoft format, OpenOffice offers the older Microsoft Office 97–2003 formats instead: .doc, .xls and .ppt.

These older formats still open in current versions of Microsoft Office, but they support fewer features, and complex formatting can shift when a file moves between programs. If you exchange files with Word, Excel or PowerPoint users every day, this is a real limitation, and it is one of the main reasons people choose LibreOffice instead.

Our guide to what a DOCX file is explains how Word’s format works and how to open, edit and convert it.

Exporting to PDF

Every OpenOffice program has a built-in PDF export, found under File > Export as PDF. This is often the safest way to share a finished document, because a PDF looks the same on every device and nobody needs OpenOffice to open it. You can also choose options such as image quality, password protection and whether to include bookmarks.

For step-by-step help, see our guides to converting ODT to PDF and converting Word to PDF for free. If you need to go the other way, our guides cover how to open a PDF in Word, how to turn a PDF into an editable Google Doc and how to convert a PDF to Excel.

For everything else about formats and converting files, browse our File Formats & Conversion section.

How to download and install OpenOffice safely

OpenOffice is free, which unfortunately makes it a popular target for copycat download sites. Some of these bundle the installer with adware or unwanted extra programs, and some charge for software that is free. The safest approach is simple:

1. Download only from the official site. Go to openoffice.org and use its Download page. The official site sends you to the project’s download mirrors.
2. Choose your operating system, language and version. The download page normally detects these for you, but check them before you click.
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts. On Windows, a typical installation is fine for most people. On macOS, drag the app into your Applications folder.
4. Open any program from the suite to complete the first-run setup, where you enter your name for document properties.

On Windows 10 and 11, Apache OpenOffice is also available from the Microsoft Store in selected languages, which handles installation and updates for you.

Our full OpenOffice download and install guide walks through each step for Windows, Mac and Linux, including how to check you have the genuine installer. Whatever you download, it is worth following basic safe-download habits, such as avoiding “download” buttons in adverts and keeping your operating system up to date.

System requirements in brief

OpenOffice is a light program by modern standards and runs comfortably on older computers that struggle with newer software. That is one of its genuine advantages: it can give an ageing laptop a few more useful years. The project publishes minimum requirements for each operating system on its website, and our download guide summarises them.

There are no official OpenOffice apps for Android phones, iPhones or iPads. Apps in mobile app stores with “OpenOffice” in the name are made by third parties, so check who the developer is before installing one.

Do you need Java?

For most tasks, no. Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw and Math work without Java. Some features do rely on it, mainly Base’s built-in database and certain wizards. If you do not use those features, you can run OpenOffice without Java installed. You can check or change the setting under Tools > Options > OpenOffice > Java.

Is OpenOffice safe to use in 2026?

The software itself is legitimate. Apache OpenOffice is genuine open-source software from a well-established non-profit, and the copy on the official website is not malware.

The real question is how quickly security problems get fixed. Office suites are a common way for attackers to deliver malicious code, usually through a booby-trapped document sent by email. An office suite that receives frequent security updates closes those gaps faster. Apache OpenOffice updates are infrequent, and that matters.

Version 4.1.16, released in November 2025, was a security release, and the project advised all users of 4.1.15 or earlier to upgrade. In October 2026, a further security advisory (CVE-2026-59265) warned that opening a malicious document in Apache OpenOffice could lead to a system takeover. Check the official site for the latest patched version, and read our up-to-date guide, Is OpenOffice safe?, for the current status and practical steps.

Whichever office suite you use, a few habits make a big difference:

• Keep the software updated to the latest version.
• Be cautious about opening documents from unknown senders, especially unexpected attachments.
• Leave macros disabled unless you know exactly where a document came from.
• Turn off Java in OpenOffice if you do not need it.

If security updates are a priority for you, for example on a work computer or one that handles sensitive information, LibreOffice or Microsoft 365 receive updates far more often.

OpenOffice vs LibreOffice

Because LibreOffice grew from the same code, the two suites look similar, use the same file formats and share most of their basic features. The differences are in what has happened since 2010.

LibreOffice is far more actively developed. It releases a new major version twice a year, with regular bug-fix and security updates in between. Its version numbers now reflect the year and month of release: LibreOffice 26.8, for example, was released in August 2026. Over the years it has added features that Apache OpenOffice does not have, including:

• saving directly to DOCX, XLSX and PPTX, not just opening them
• better compatibility with complex Microsoft Office documents
• a choice of interfaces, including a tabbed, ribbon-style layout
• regular security fixes on a predictable schedule.

Apache OpenOffice, by contrast, changes little from year to year. Some long-time users like that stability and the familiar interface, and it works well for straightforward documents. But for most new users, LibreOffice is the more practical choice of the two free suites.

Our detailed comparison, LibreOffice vs OpenOffice, goes through the differences feature by feature. If you use a Mac, our guide to downloading and installing LibreOffice for Mac explains the process. You can find more guides in our OpenOffice & LibreOffice section.

OpenOffice vs Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

For most New Zealand households and businesses, the real choice is not just between two free suites. It is between installing free desktop software, paying for Microsoft 365, or working in the browser with Google Workspace. Each suits a different way of working.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is the paid subscription that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, plus OneDrive cloud storage. Its biggest advantages are compatibility – most workplaces and many schools use it – and real-time co-authoring, where several people can edit the same document at once. Its main drawback is the ongoing cost.

If you are weighing it up, our guides explain Microsoft 365 Business plans in New Zealand, how to download Microsoft Word in New Zealand, how Microsoft Word for Mac works, and whether you can use Word Online for free. Microsoft’s free web versions are a useful middle ground if you only edit Word files occasionally. For more, see our Microsoft 365 & Office section.

Google Workspace

Google Docs, Sheets and Slides run in a web browser and save automatically to Google Drive. They are free for personal use with a Google account, with paid Google Workspace plans for businesses. Their strength is collaboration: sharing a document is as easy as sending a link, and everyone sees changes as they happen.

The trade-offs are that you need an internet connection for full functionality, your files are stored on Google’s servers, and advanced formatting and spreadsheet features are more limited than in desktop software. Our guides compare Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 and explain Google Workspace pricing in New Zealand. For practical help, see our guides to Google Sheets formulas, making a calendar in Google Sheets and creating a Google Form, or browse our Google Workspace section.

Other alternatives

Beyond these, there are several other office suites worth knowing about, including ONLYOFFICE and WPS Office, each with its own mix of free and paid features. Our guide to OpenOffice alternatives compares free and paid options side by side, and our Office Alternatives & Comparisons section collects all our comparison guides in one place.

Who should use OpenOffice, and who should not

OpenOffice is a reasonable choice in some situations and a poor fit in others. Here is a plain summary.

OpenOffice can suit you if:

• you need a free office suite for occasional letters, simple spreadsheets and basic presentations
• you work mostly on your own and rarely exchange files with Microsoft Office users
• you have an older computer that struggles with heavier software
• you already know OpenOffice well and are happy with how it works
• you need to open old OpenOffice.org or StarOffice files.

You will probably be better served by something else if:

• you regularly send DOCX, XLSX or PPTX files to colleagues, clients or a school
• you need to edit documents with other people at the same time
• frequent security updates are important to you, for example on a work computer
• you need advanced or very recent Excel functions
• you want an office app on your phone or tablet.

For most people starting fresh in 2026, LibreOffice is the better free desktop suite, Microsoft 365 is the better fit for workplaces built around Microsoft, and Google Workspace is the easiest option for collaboration. OpenOffice remains a usable, legitimate tool, but you should choose it knowing its limits rather than because it is the best-known free name.

Getting started with OpenOffice: practical tips

If you decide to use OpenOffice, these habits will save you time and avoid most compatibility headaches.

Set your default file format deliberately

By default, OpenOffice saves in ODF. If most of the people you share files with use Microsoft Office, you can change the default under Tools > Options > Load/Save > General, choosing the Microsoft 97–2003 formats for each document type. Be aware that some formatting may be lost, so for anything important, send a PDF as well.

Use styles, not manual formatting

In Writer, apply the built-in Heading 1, Heading 2 and Body Text styles instead of making text bold and larger by hand. Styles make documents look consistent, let Writer build a table of contents automatically and survive conversion to other formats much better.

Check your work before you send it

When sending a document to someone who uses Microsoft Office, open it once in the format you are sending it in, or ask the recipient to confirm it looks right. Complex layouts, unusual fonts and tables are the most likely to shift.

Keep fonts compatible

If you use fonts that are only installed on your computer, the document may look different elsewhere. Common fonts such as Liberation Sans, Liberation Serif, Arial and Times New Roman travel more reliably between programs and computers.

Back up your files

OpenOffice saves files locally, so they are only as safe as your computer. Turn on automatic recovery under Tools > Options > Load/Save > General, and keep regular backups on an external drive or a cloud service of your choice.

Common tasks and where to find help

Most people come to an office suite with a specific job in mind. Here are some of the most common ones, with links to our step-by-step guides.

Working with documents and PDFs

• Turn a finished document into a PDF: convert ODT to PDF or convert Word to PDF.
• Edit text that is stuck in a PDF: open a PDF in Word or convert a PDF to a Google Doc.
• Pull a table out of a PDF and into a spreadsheet: convert a PDF to Excel.
• Open someone else’s Word file: what a DOCX file is and how to open it.

Working with spreadsheets and data

• Open exported data without losing leading zeros or dates: open a CSV file.
• Learn the basics of a free spreadsheet app: OpenOffice Calc for beginners.
• Use formulas in the browser: Google Sheets formulas.

Templates for New Zealand households and businesses

Templates save time and help you get the structure right from the start. Our free templates are built with New Zealand users in mind:

• Free budget template for planning household or personal spending.
• Timesheet template for tracking hours worked.
• Google Docs invoice template with GST for sole traders and small businesses.
• Gantt chart template for planning projects and deadlines.

You will find them all in our Templates section.

Planning projects

OpenOffice has no dedicated project-management program, but Calc can handle simple schedules and task lists. If you are deciding between a spreadsheet and specialist software, our guide to Microsoft Project vs OpenOffice explains what each tool can and cannot do, and our Gantt chart template is a free starting point.

Common mistakes to avoid

These are the problems we see most often from people new to OpenOffice.

• Downloading from the wrong website. Search results and adverts can lead to unofficial download sites. Always start at openoffice.org.
• Assuming it saves Word files. OpenOffice opens DOCX files but saves only the older .doc format. If someone needs an editable DOCX, OpenOffice cannot produce one.
• Never updating. Because updates are infrequent, it is easy to forget to check for them. Check the official site from time to time, and install security releases when they appear.
• Enabling macros in unknown documents. Macros can run code. Leave them disabled unless you trust the source of the file.
• Expecting phone apps or cloud sync. OpenOffice is desktop software only. If you need to edit on the go or share live documents, use a cloud-based suite alongside it.
• Choosing it only because it is well known. OpenOffice was once the default free suite, but that is no longer the case. Compare it with LibreOffice before you commit.

How we write and check our guides

OpenOffice.org.nz is an independent information site written for New Zealand readers. Our guides explain how office software works, compare the main suites neutrally and point out drawbacks as well as strengths. We check facts against the developers’ own documentation, release notes and security notices, and update our guides when versions, features or prices change. You can read more about our team and how we work on our About us page, and about our use of AI tools in our AI policy.

Disclaimer: OpenOffice.org.nz is an independent information site and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to The Apache Software Foundation, The Document Foundation, Microsoft or Google. Apache OpenOffice and OpenOffice.org are trademarks of The Apache Software Foundation. Version numbers, security information and features described on this page were checked in October 2026 and can change; always confirm the latest details on the developer’s official website before downloading or installing software.

Frequently asked questions

Is OpenOffice really free?

Yes. Apache OpenOffice is free to download and use for personal, educational and commercial purposes. There is no subscription, trial period or paid upgrade. It is released under the Apache License 2.0 and maintained by volunteers under a non-profit foundation.

Is OpenOffice still being updated?

Yes, but slowly. The project still releases maintenance and security updates in the 4.1.x series, most recently version 4.1.16 in November 2025. There has been no major new version since 4.1 in 2014, so new features are rare.

Can OpenOffice open and save Microsoft Word files?

OpenOffice can open Word files in both the modern DOCX format and the older DOC format. It can save only in the older DOC format, not in DOCX. If you need to send editable DOCX files regularly, LibreOffice or Microsoft Word is a better fit.

What is the difference between OpenOffice and LibreOffice?

Both come from the same original code, but LibreOffice split off in 2010 and is now much more actively developed. LibreOffice gets new versions twice a year, can save in Microsoft’s modern formats and receives more frequent security fixes. OpenOffice changes very little from year to year.

Does OpenOffice work on a Mac?

Yes. Apache OpenOffice has an official version for macOS, as well as for Windows and Linux. Check the requirements on the official download page before installing, especially on newer Macs, and consider LibreOffice if you want a suite that is updated more often.

Is there an OpenOffice app for phones and tablets?

No. Apache OpenOffice is desktop software for Windows, macOS and Linux only. Any mobile app using the OpenOffice name is made by a third party. For editing documents on a phone or tablet, a cloud-based suite is usually a better option.

Do I need an internet connection to use OpenOffice?

Only to download and install it. After that, every program in the suite works offline, and your files are saved on your own computer unless you choose to store them elsewhere.