OpenOffice Alternatives: Free and Paid Office Suites Compared

OpenOffice was once the default free office suite for millions of people, but the software landscape has moved on. Development of Apache OpenOffice has slowed to a near-standstill, while a wave of free and paid rivals now offer faster updates, better Microsoft Office compatibility and modern cloud collaboration. This guide compares the strongest OpenOffice alternatives available in 2026 — what each one costs, which devices it runs on and who it suits — so you can choose the right tool with confidence.

Why look for an OpenOffice alternative?

The main reason to move on from OpenOffice is stalled development. Apache OpenOffice’s last major feature release was in 2014. A maintenance update (version 4.1.16) did arrive in November 2025, but the project has struggled for years to attract enough contributors to ship timely security fixes — one critical vulnerability took far longer to patch than in competing suites.

The second reason is file compatibility. Apache OpenOffice can open Microsoft’s DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files but cannot save to them, which becomes a problem the moment you need to exchange documents with Microsoft Office or Google users. Almost every alternative below can both open and save these formats.

If you still want the original suite, you can download OpenOffice or read our Apache OpenOffice review first. For most people, though, one of the options below will be a better long-term choice.

How to choose the right office suite

Before comparing individual products, decide which of these factors matters most to you. The best OpenOffice alternative for a home user is rarely the best one for a New Zealand business.

• Cost and licence: free and open-source, free with paid extras, or a paid subscription or one-time purchase.
• Offline vs cloud: whether you need a desktop program that works without internet, browser-based collaboration, or both.
• Microsoft compatibility: how faithfully the suite opens and saves DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS or the web.
• Collaboration: real-time co-authoring, comments and version history.
• Privacy and data residency: where your documents are stored — a key concern for organisations handling sensitive data.

Free and open-source alternatives

These suites cost nothing, run offline and are the closest philosophical successors to OpenOffice.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is the strongest free replacement for OpenOffice and, for most users, the obvious first choice. It began as a fork of OpenOffice.org and has since pulled far ahead: the current release, LibreOffice 26.8 (August 2026), is part of a schedule that delivers two feature releases every year plus prompt security patches. The suite includes Writer (documents), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (diagrams), Base (databases) and Math (formulas), runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and both opens and saves Microsoft formats. It is free and open source. See LibreOffice for a closer look, or read how LibreOffice and OpenOffice compare.

ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors

ONLYOFFICE is a free, open-source suite (AGPL 3.0 licence) built around excellent Microsoft Office compatibility. Its desktop editors for Windows, macOS and Linux handle text documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs offline, and can connect to cloud storage such as Nextcloud, ownCloud, Dropbox and Google Drive for real-time collaboration. Because it was designed from the start around the DOCX/XLSX/PPTX formats, layouts tend to survive the round-trip to Microsoft Office cleanly.

SoftMaker FreeOffice

SoftMaker FreeOffice is a free suite — for both personal and commercial use — with a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program that open and save DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is known for being fast and lightweight. If you need more, the paid SoftMaker Office 2026 (a one-time purchase) and SoftMaker Office NX (a subscription) add features such as a deeper dark mode, dynamic arrays and AI tools.

Calligra Suite

Calligra is an open-source suite from the KDE community, best suited to Linux users. The recent Calligra 4.0 rebuild moved the suite to the Qt6 toolkit, and releases have continued through 2026 (version 26.08.1 landed in September 2026). It bundles Words, Sheets and Stage alongside the Karbon vector-graphics editor, giving it a creative and diagramming slant that the mainstream suites lack. Its Microsoft format compatibility is weaker than LibreOffice’s, so it suits Linux enthusiasts more than people who swap files with Office users daily.

Cloud-based office suites

If real-time collaboration matters more than offline power, a browser-based suite may serve you better than any desktop program.

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is built for collaboration: multiple people can edit the same document, spreadsheet or presentation at once, with automatic saving and version history. Docs, Sheets and Slides are free with any personal Google account, which includes 15 GB of storage. Businesses can subscribe to Workspace plans that start around US$8 per user per month (Business Starter) and rise to about US$28 (Business Plus), adding a custom email domain, more storage and admin controls. For heavier spreadsheet work, our guide to Google Sheets formulas is a useful companion.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 remains the industry standard, bundling the desktop and web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with 1 TB of OneDrive storage. Consumer plans are priced around US$99.99 a year for Personal (one person) and US$129.99 a year for Family (up to six people); New Zealand prices are set in NZD and differ, so check Microsoft’s local store. It is the safest choice if you must guarantee perfect compatibility with colleagues who use Office. For organisations, see our overview of Microsoft 365 for New Zealand businesses.

Zoho Office Suite

Zoho Office Suite (Writer, Sheet, Show and a PDF editor) is a cloud-first alternative that is free for individuals online, with free desktop apps as well. Its strength is integration with the wider Zoho ecosystem — CRM, project management and email — which makes it attractive to small businesses already using Zoho tools. Standalone desktop use outside a Zoho subscription is charged at around US$10 per device.

Cross-platform and mobile-friendly suites

These suites focus on giving you the same documents across desktop and phone, and are popular with people who work on the move.

WPS Office

WPS Office pairs a familiar, Office-like interface with strong Microsoft format support and a growing set of AI writing and summarising tools. Its four modules — Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation and PDF — run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. A free tier covers everyday needs, while paid plans (from roughly US$3.99 a month) unlock advanced PDF and AI features. Its small installation footprint makes it a good pick for older or lower-spec machines.

MobiOffice (formerly OfficeSuite)

MobiOffice is the current name for what was long sold as OfficeSuite from MobiSystems; the older OfficeSuite branding is no longer updated, so new users should install MobiOffice. It offers word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and a mail client across Windows, Android and iOS, with documents syncing between devices. A free version covers essential tasks, and paid plans start at around US$15 a year.

Polaris Office

Polaris Office is another cross-platform suite (Android, iOS, Windows and macOS) aimed at people who start a document on one device and finish it on another. A free plan exists but carries ads and limited cloud storage, while the Business plan costs roughly US$6.99–7.99 a month. It reads and writes common Microsoft and PDF formats and syncs files through its own cloud.

Platform-specific and legacy options

Apple iWork

Apple’s iWork — Pages, Numbers and Keynote — is free on any Apple device and is a natural choice for Mac, iPhone and iPad users, with tight iCloud syncing and polished templates. Windows users are not locked out entirely: a free iCloud account gives access to the web versions in a browser, though with fewer tools. As of a January 2026 update, the core apps stay free while some newer premium features require a subscription. iWork can import and export Microsoft formats, but complex layouts may shift.

Corel WordPerfect

WordPerfect is a veteran word processor still valued in legal and government settings for its reveal-codes formatting control. Be aware that it is now effectively a legacy product: the latest release, WordPerfect Office 2021, shipped in May 2021, it is Windows-only and sold as a one-time purchase, and no newer version has followed. Choose it only if you specifically need WordPerfect’s document features or must open older .wpd files.

Common mistakes when switching from OpenOffice

Most migration problems come from a handful of avoidable errors. Watch for these before you commit.

• Assuming OpenOffice is still equivalent to the alternatives. Its stalled development and lack of DOCX saving are exactly why people move away — don’t treat it as interchangeable with LibreOffice.
• Confusing ‘opens’ with ‘saves’. A suite that can only open Microsoft files is no help if colleagues expect editable DOCX or XLSX documents back.
• Ignoring formatting drift. Complex layouts, fonts and macros can shift between suites. Always test an important document round-trip before relying on it.
• Choosing cloud-only when you need offline access. If you regularly work without reliable internet, prioritise a desktop suite such as LibreOffice or SoftMaker FreeOffice.
• Overlooking privacy and where data is stored. Cloud suites keep your documents on the provider’s servers, which matters for sensitive or regulated information. When working over public or shared networks, secure your connection too — Read alternate article.
• Forgetting templates and macros. Recreate or convert your OpenOffice templates and macros rather than assuming they will carry over untouched.

Which OpenOffice alternative is right for you?

There is no single winner — the right choice depends on how you work.

• You want a free, offline desktop suite: LibreOffice is the best all-round replacement, with ONLYOFFICE and SoftMaker FreeOffice as strong runners-up.
• You collaborate with a team in real time: Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, depending on whether you prefer the browser or the familiar Office apps.
• You need guaranteed Microsoft compatibility: Microsoft 365 removes all doubt; WPS Office is a cheaper near-match.
• You work mostly on a phone or tablet: WPS Office, MobiOffice or Polaris Office.
• You live in the Apple ecosystem: iWork is free and deeply integrated.
• You are a Linux enthusiast or need vector graphics: Calligra Suite.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is OpenOffice still being updated in 2026?

Only lightly. Apache OpenOffice’s last feature release was in 2014, and while a maintenance update (version 4.1.16) appeared in November 2025, the project ships new features and security fixes far more slowly than rivals such as LibreOffice.

What is the best free alternative to OpenOffice?

LibreOffice is the best free, open-source alternative for most people. It began as a fork of OpenOffice, receives two feature releases a year, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and can both open and save Microsoft Office formats.

Can OpenOffice save Microsoft Word (DOCX) files?

No. Apache OpenOffice can open DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files but cannot save to them. If you need to send editable Office files back to colleagues, use an alternative such as LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE or Microsoft 365.

Is there a free alternative that works entirely in a web browser?

Yes. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides are free with a personal Google account and run in any browser, with real-time collaboration. Microsoft also offers free web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Which OpenOffice alternative is best for New Zealand businesses?

It depends on your needs. Microsoft 365 offers the widest compatibility and admin controls, Google Workspace excels at collaboration, and LibreOffice is a cost-free desktop option. Businesses handling sensitive data should also weigh where each service stores documents.