LibreOffice vs OpenOffice: The Free Office Suites Compared for New Zealand

LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice are the two best-known free, open-source office suites, and for many New Zealand small businesses, community groups, students and freelancers they are a genuine alternative to a paid subscription. Both let you write documents, build spreadsheets and create presentations without a licence fee, and both save to open file formats. They also share a common ancestor, which is why they look so similar — and why choosing between them confuses so many people. This guide explains where the two suites came from, how they differ today, how well they open Microsoft Office files, and which one fits different kinds of Kiwi users.

Where LibreOffice and OpenOffice come from

Both suites descend from a single project called OpenOffice.org, which was sponsored by Sun Microsystems and then inherited by Oracle when Oracle bought Sun in 2010. OpenOffice.org helped popularise the OpenDocument Format (ODF) — the open standard behind the .odt (text), .ods (spreadsheet) and .odp (presentation) file types — so that documents could be shared without paying for a specific program.

The split happened over how the project was governed. On 28 September 2010 a large group of developers and volunteers left the Oracle-run project and founded an independent non-profit, The Document Foundation, to steward a new build called LibreOffice (“libre” is Spanish and French for “free”). In June 2011 Oracle stepped away and donated the OpenOffice.org code to the Apache Software Foundation, where it became Apache OpenOffice. Since then the two projects have been maintained by different organisations and have moved at very different speeds, even though their menus and layouts still look alike.

LibreOffice vs OpenOffice: the differences that matter

The single biggest practical difference is development pace. LibreOffice ships two major feature releases most years plus frequent minor updates, so it gains new features and fixes quickly. Apache OpenOffice releases far less often — version 4.1.16 arrived in November 2025 and the last major feature jump was years earlier — so it changes slowly and stays visually familiar. The table below compares the points most people ask about.

For most people who regularly exchange files with clients or colleagues using Microsoft Office, the ability to save directly to .docx and .xlsx makes LibreOffice the more convenient choice. If you want to weigh other options too, see our roundup of OpenOffice alternatives, or read our Apache OpenOffice review for a closer look at that suite on its own.

What is inside each suite?

Both suites bundle the same core applications, installed together on your computer rather than downloaded one at a time. If you have used any office program before, the tools will feel familiar.

• Writer — the word processor for letters, contracts, reports and long documents with styles and a table of contents. You can read more on our OpenOffice Writer page.
• Calc — the spreadsheet for budgets, GST tracking, charts and pivot tables, with hundreds of built-in functions.
• Impress — the presentation tool for slide decks with transitions and vector graphics.
• Draw — a vector drawing tool for flowcharts, simple diagrams and flyers.
• Base — a database front end for building forms, queries and simple relational databases; it can connect to external database engines and other SQL database software.
• Math — an editor for typesetting mathematical formulae inside documents.

Macros and VBA compatibility, explained plainly

Both suites include their own built-in programming language — LibreOffice Basic and OpenOffice Basic — that lets you automate repetitive tasks such as reformatting rows or generating summaries. This language is similar to Microsoft’s Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), the macro language in Excel and Word, but it is not identical. LibreOffice can also import and run some VBA macros directly, which helps when you inherit an automated Excel spreadsheet. It is fair to say VBA support is partial, not complete: complex enterprise macros often need adjusting before they run correctly. Treat any inherited macro as something to test rather than assume it will work unchanged.

How well do they open Microsoft Office files?

File compatibility is the number-one worry for anyone switching, and the honest answer is: very good, but not perfect. LibreOffice has invested heavily in two-way conversion for Microsoft’s .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formats, so it can both open and save them. Apache OpenOffice can open those files but cannot save back to them — it exports to the older .doc and .xls formats instead, which most Microsoft software still reads.

Whichever suite you use, the safest way to send a finished document to a client is to export it to PDF, a one-click option in every application that locks the layout so it looks the same on any device. For editable exchange, saving in the recipient’s format (or the open ODS spreadsheet format if they can read it) keeps things predictable.

Common compatibility pitfalls

Most formatting problems come from a small number of causes, and each has a simple fix.

• Missing fonts. If a document uses a font your computer does not have, text can shift or re-wrap. Switching to a widely installed font such as Arial or a metrically compatible alternative usually restores the layout.
• Complex macros. As above, elaborate VBA macros may not run without edits.
• Heavily designed layouts. Documents packed with text boxes, nested tables and precise image anchors are the most likely to move slightly on import; check them before sending.
• Tracked changes and comments. These usually survive the round trip, but confirm they are visible after opening.

Getting started in New Zealand

Both suites are quick to install and have modest hardware requirements, which is part of their appeal for schools, clubs and older machines. Download only from the official project sites to avoid bundled adware from third-party mirrors. You can download LibreOffice or download Apache OpenOffice through our guides, which point to the genuine sources.

Once installed, it is worth tailoring the software to local conventions: set your currency to New Zealand dollars, build spreadsheet templates that break out the standard 15% GST rate, add a field for your New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) on invoices, and set dates to the day/month/year order used across Aotearoa. Saving these as reusable templates keeps every quote and report consistent.

Privacy, security and the law in New Zealand

Because both suites install and run entirely on your own computer, your files stay on your device unless you deliberately upload them. That local-only processing is a real privacy advantage over browser-based tools that store documents on overseas servers, and it helps organisations meet their obligations under the Privacy Act 2020, which governs how personal information is collected, stored and protected. Nothing is streamed to a cloud service in the background.

Working offline is also practical in New Zealand’s regions. An agricultural adviser in the Waikato, a conservation worker on the West Coast or a contractor in a coverage blackspot can keep editing large reports and spreadsheets with no internet connection at all, then export to PDF or sync later.

Keeping your suite secure

Office documents are a common vehicle for malware, usually through malicious macros hidden in an attachment, so keeping software patched matters. This is where the two projects differ most on security. LibreOffice’s frequent releases close newly found vulnerabilities quickly; Apache OpenOffice’s slower cadence means fixes can take longer to arrive, so its users need to be especially careful with unknown files. Sensible habits apply to both:

• Turn on update notifications and install patches promptly.
• Set macro security to block or prompt before running macros from untrusted documents.
• Keep your operating system and antivirus current.
• Do not open attachments from senders you cannot verify.

On the legal side, documents, invoices and electronic signatures created in these suites are valid for business use in New Zealand under the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 (which absorbed the earlier Electronic Transactions Act 2002), just as they would be in any other software.

Which one should you choose?

Pick LibreOffice if you regularly exchange .docx or .xlsx files, want the newest features and fixes, or value the built-in dark mode and faster security patching. It is the better all-round default for most active users, and it is the more current product by a wide margin.

Consider Apache OpenOffice if you want a stable, familiar interface that rarely changes, you are running older or low-spec hardware, and your work is mostly simple documents and spreadsheets that do not need to be saved back into Microsoft formats. It remains a legitimate, safe, no-cost option — just a slower-moving one.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few recurring errors cause most of the frustration people report when they switch suites.

• Downloading from the wrong site. Unofficial mirrors sometimes bundle unwanted software; always use the official projects.
• Assuming Apache OpenOffice can save .docx. It cannot — it exports to older .doc/.xls. If a client needs .docx, use LibreOffice.
• Emailing editable files when a PDF is safer. For final versions, export to PDF to lock the layout.
• Ignoring updates. Skipping security patches is the single biggest avoidable risk, particularly on the slower-updating suite.
• Expecting every VBA macro to run. Test inherited macros rather than trusting them blindly.
• Not saving custom templates. Rebuilding a GST invoice from scratch each time wastes hours you could save once.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main difference between LibreOffice and OpenOffice?

Development pace and Microsoft file support. LibreOffice updates often, gains features quickly and can both open and save .docx and .xlsx files. Apache OpenOffice updates rarely, keeps a stable interface, and can open those formats but only save to the older .doc and .xls versions.

Are LibreOffice and OpenOffice really free to use in a business?

Yes. LibreOffice is released under the Mozilla Public License v2.0 and Apache OpenOffice under the Apache License 2.0. Any individual, school, charity or company in New Zealand can install and use the full suite for commercial work with no licence fee.

Can I open a Microsoft Word or Excel file in these suites?

Yes. Both can open .docx and .xlsx files. LibreOffice can also save back to them, so it is usually the better choice if you exchange editable files with Microsoft Office users. Very complex layouts may shift slightly, so check important documents before sending.

Do I need an internet connection to use them?

No. Both suites install fully onto your computer and run completely offline. You can create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations with no network connection, which is useful in parts of New Zealand with limited coverage.

Which suite is better for an older or low-spec computer?

Apache OpenOffice has a lighter footprint and a stable, unchanging interface, so it suits older donated machines and simple tasks. LibreOffice also runs well on modest hardware and is the better pick if you need current features and Microsoft file compatibility.