Many free Microsoft Word alternatives are available now, so you have plenty of choices.
I’m sure you don’t prepare business plans with charts and graphs. You don’t use online collaboration tools or schedule meetings for a group of directors.
I doubt you would ever need to create business presentations with 100 slides.
You write your words for blog posts, content articles, guest posts, and short stories, and maybe publish poems. So why do you pay for MS Office to do these simple writing tasks?
You don’t need to pay for a word processor
Whichever option or version of Word you choose, you pay.
The Office Suite is a bundled application of many programs that writers will never need.
Even with the basic personal Office 365 subscription and Microsoft OneDrive, you pay for Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint just to get MS Word.
It might be a good deal for a small business, but you only want to write, create, and edit text.
Why pay for all the stuff you will never use to write in Word documents?
You can use Word online as part of Office Online, but you still need to pay.
If you only need to write, many free alternatives will do the job perfectly for you.
Like most of us, I used Word for years, but I can’t remember the last time I used it.
Sure, I have lots of old files in Word document format.
But I can open and edit almost any file format with a completely free Word alternative.
Writing a book
Word processors are not ideal for writing a book. Long manuscripts can cause problems with any word processor, including Word.
But you can do it if you set up a book template and save chapter files.
However, sometimes, it is a better idea to use software designed to handle the big job of writing a novel or a book.
Read our article, which lists the best free and paid book writing software choices for you if you plan on writing a book.
Free alternatives to Microsoft Word – You have lots of choices
What can I use instead of Microsoft Word? Nowadays, you have so many options for free writing programs like Word.
You can download free word processor software, or you can use web-based and cloud-based applications.
All you need is a blank document.
Then, write your words. Add a little formatting and save your work.
Almost any free version of a word processor can do this.
Changing word processors is also a great way to view your writing in a different way.
Do you want to move away from using Word?
Try some of these free alternatives to replace Microsoft Word to see if one is right for you and your writing needs.
To get you started, here are ten excellent free word processors for you to choose from.
1. Google Docs
Google Docs is a free office tool suite. The big contrast to MS Office, of course, is that Google Docs is free.
If you know how to use MS Word, you will adapt to Docs in no time.
The user interface, menus, and formatting options are almost the same.
Docs has a word counter, so it’s easy to keep track of your writing goals.
Many writers, including content article writers, use Google Docs because it is easy to share documents and collaborate.
It is also fully compatible with importing and exporting docx documents.
Writing projects are stored and saved to Google Drive. You get 5 gigabytes for free, which is usually enough storage space for most writers.
Another advantage is that you can also set up Docs to work offline if you prefer.
Best for collaboration and cloud access; ideal for writers who want to work anywhere and share easily.
2. Apple Pages
If you are a Mac user and all you need is a free word processor, it’s easy. Apple Pages can do everything you need.
The page layout view is extremely easy to work with. All the fonts, text formatting, and editing tools are easy to find. (Now with Apple Intelligence writing tools.)
It has a decent spell checker, word and page count, and track changes with a comments option.
Pages also has a great real-time auto-save function. It saves your work automatically to your computer or your iCloud drive when you are online.
There is a duplicate file function, too. It allows you a lot of control over your edits and revisions.
Almost all of the standard features in Word are available in Pages documents.
One area where Pages shines over Word is that you have much more control over any images you use.
Another is that you can format an ebook for publishing and export it to an EPUB file.
Best for Mac and iOS users; perfect for writers who want a sleek, Apple‑integrated writing environment.
3. Libre Office
I used Apache OpenOffice for many years. It is an open-source project and is still a great option.
However, there is another very similar free office suite. Libre Office is a favorite for a lot of writers.
The two office suites share many similarities, as they came from the same basic development.
Working with Writer, the word processor, is easy. It has clear traditional menus, icons, and toolbars. It doesn’t have the sometimes confusing ribbon found in Word.
This might be a useful feature for you. It lets you get on with writing instead of endlessly searching ribbons for the right buttons.
If all you need is a functional word processor, Writer in OpenOffice or Libre Office might be a sound choice.
Best for offline, full-featured word processing; ideal for writers who need a free Microsoft Word alternative with robust formatting tools.
4. WPS Office
If you are familiar with Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you will be able to work with WPS Office straight away.
WPS is similar to other free word processors. It has all the standard features you expect and works with most standard word-processing file extensions.
One of its best features is the facility to drag and drop paragraphs, which is a very practical idea.
Another great feature of WPS is that it has tabbed documents—no need to keep hunting for open windows.
WPS also comes with a complimentary cloud storage service that gives you 1G free space for PC and iOS.
Best for a Word-like interface on multiple platforms; ideal for writers who want a familiar layout and cross-device compatibility.
5. Zoho Writer
Zoho Writer is a great free alternative to Word. It is packed with a lot of features.
You can sync between your PC or Mac, iPhone, Android, or iPad.
Almost everything you do in Word, you can do with this word processor. There are even collaboration tools.
It also has Zia, a writing assistant, to help with contextual grammar, readability, and style suggestions.
You can import your existing Word documents and get to work. There is also a plugin to link your Zoho documents to Word.
It’s not a bad deal at all for a free online writing tool.
Best for online writing with cloud storage; ideal for writers who want real-time collaboration and modern editing tools.
6. Focus Writer
FocusWriter is another minimalist, distraction-free text editor.
It uses a full-screen hide-away interface, but you can access the menus by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen.
This option allows the program to have a familiar look and feel. It also removes all the clutter so that you can immerse yourself in your work.
It’s available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.
Best for distraction-free writing; ideal for writers who want a clean, minimalist workspace to stay in the flow.
7. Apache OpenOffice Writer
Apache OpenOffice Writer is a fully free, open-source word processor that offers a robust alternative to Microsoft Word.
It supports a wide range of file formats, including DOC, DOCX, ODT, and PDF, making it easy to share and collaborate with others.
With a full set of formatting tools, styles, and templates, Writer is ideal for long documents, reports, and manuscripts.
Its offline functionality ensures you can work anytime, without an internet connection, while its stable, reliable interface makes it suitable for writers of all experience levels who want a powerful, no-cost desktop writing solution.
Best for free, offline desktop writing; ideal for writers who want a reliable, full-featured word processor without any cost.
8. Softmaker Free Office
Free Office gets a mention because it can do one thing some other word processors can’t do.
It can export directly to .epub. It’s a very handy feature for self-publishers.
FreeOffice is a complete Office suite with a word processor, a spreadsheet application, and a presentation program.
All of these are compatible with their counterparts in Microsoft Office.
TextMaker is the free word processor in this office suite.
It comes with advanced formatting options, the ability to create databases for bibliographies and footnotes, and track changes.
It is available as a free download for both Mac and PC.
Best for Microsoft Office compatibility; ideal for writers who need smooth Word-format support and familiar tool layouts.
9. OnlyOffice
OnlyOffice (Free Desktop Editor) is a fully free, professional-grade desktop word processor designed for writers who need compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.
The desktop version supports DOC, DOCX, and other standard file types, allowing seamless editing and sharing of documents without a subscription.
It offers a clean, intuitive interface with essential formatting tools, templates, and collaborative features, making it suitable for both short writing projects and longer manuscripts.
Running offline on Windows, Mac, and Linux, OnlyOffice provides a reliable, no-cost alternative for writers who want a modern, feature-rich desktop editor while avoiding cloud-only limitations.
Best for writers who want a fully free, professional desktop editor compatible with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
10. Microsoft Word For Free
Microsoft Word for the web is a free, browser-based version of Word that lets you create, edit, and share documents online without installing any software.
It supports core Word formats, including DOCX, and works smoothly with files stored in OneDrive, making it easy to access your writing from any device with an internet connection.
Its familiar interface closely mirrors the desktop version of Word, so most writers can start using it immediately without a learning curve. Essential tools such as spell check, formatting options, and real-time collaboration are included.
Because it runs in a browser, it’s a practical option for writers who want the reliability of Microsoft Word without the cost of a subscription or the need for installation.
Best for writers who want a free, familiar writing environment with strong compatibility and cloud-based access across devices.
Summary
No, you don’t need to pay a cent for a reliable and fully functional word processor.
So many free alternatives are equal to or better than Microsoft Word.
Many of the programs listed above are complete office suites. So you get a bonus with all the extras that come with them.
You definitely have plenty to choose from. So make your choices and save yourself a lot of money.
Related reading: Choose Your Writing Apps For iPad To Write Anywhere Anytime
Great post. I use Scrivener for my writing, but a lot of authors I know rely on MS Word, and as you say, it is problematic to work with, especially when trying to format it into book form. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Harmony. You’re right. Maybe I should put the warning to authors in red! Word processors are great for short-form writing. But not for a novel.
You forgot to include Scrivener in your list. Scrivener is one of the BEST word-processing programs for writers in existence, providing writers with the ability to easily get their files ready for submission to agents and publishers (those heading down traditional roads), or to generate the necessary eBook files and other formats needed for self-publishing.
There is a link in the post to software for writing books. Scrivener is on that list.