Microsoft Word is one of the most popular and widely used word processing software in the world. For decades, it has been the go-to choice for creating, editing, and sharing documents for personal and professional use. But is Microsoft Word actually free to use?
The short answer is – yes and no. Microsoft offers both free and paid versions of Word:
Free Options
Microsoft Word Online
Microsoft offers a free online version of Word that runs in any web browser. Word Online provides basic editing and formatting features for creating and sharing documents. The main limitations are:
- Fewer features compared to the desktop app
- Documents need to be stored in OneDrive cloud storage
- Multi-user collaboration only with a Microsoft 365 subscription
Overall, Word Online works well for basic editing needs and offers seamless compatibility for sharing Word documents.
Microsoft 365 Trial
Microsoft also offers one month free trials for Microsoft 365, which includes full access to the latest desktop version of Microsoft Word. After the trial expires, you would need to purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Microsoft 365 Education
Students and teachers can get Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, for free through their schools and universities. The eligibility criteria varies between institutions.
Paid Options
For full, unrestricted access to Microsoft Word, you need to purchase either:
- One-time license for Word 2021 – $139.99
- Annual subscription to Microsoft 365 Personal – $69.99 per user/year
The subscription options provide additional benefits like 1TB OneDrive storage, ongoing updates, and full support.
Top Free Alternatives to Microsoft Word
If you don’t want to pay for Microsoft Word or Office 365, there are several free alternatives available with word processing features:
1. Google Docs
Google Docs is the most popular free alternative to Word available online. The pros of Google Docs include:
- Free to use for anyone with a Google account
- Real-time collaboration and sharing
- Available across devices – web, iOS, Android
- Tight integration with Gmail and Google Drive
The cons are fewer advanced features compared to Word and being web/cloud dependent. But for most basic document creation and editing needs, Google Docs works great.
2. LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Writer is a free, open source alternative to Word available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers similar features and interface to Word.
The pros of LibreOffice Writer are it’s free to use even in a commercial setting, there’s no forced cloud storage, and provides good compatibility for opening/saving Word documents.
The downsides are the old school interface, smaller community, and enterprise support only through paid plans.
3. WPS Office Free
WPS Office Free is a free office suite for Windows that includes a word processor alternative to Word. It’s lightweight, fast, has a familiar ribbon UI, and offers good compatibility with Word documents.
Being free for only personal/student use is a major limitation of WPS Office Free. For commercial use, you would need to upgrade to the $29/year WPS Office Professional.
Other Alternatives
There are many other free or low-cost alternatives to Microsoft Word available across platforms, such as:
- SoftMaker FreeOffice – free alternative for Windows and Linux
- Jarte – free tabbed word processor for Windows
- Apple Pages – free word processor for Mac and iOS devices
- Apache OpenOffice – open source, free across platforms
The best Word alternative depends on your specific needs and preferences around features, compatibility, platforms, and pricing.
Key Differences Between Word and Alternatives
While the free alternatives to Word provide capable word processing features, there are some key differences in capabilities:
Features
- Word offers more advanced features for document formatting, layouts, editing, reviewing, and publishing.
- The free alternatives provide basic to moderate features useful for most everyday needs.
Compatibility
- Word provides the best compatibility for opening and saving *.doc and *.docx files.
- Alternatives may struggle with complex Word documents using advanced features.
Collaboration
- Word enables seamless real-time co-authoring with tracked changes and comments.
- Google Docs offers the best collaboration capabilities among the free alternatives.
Platform Support
- Word is available across Windows, macOS, the web, iOS and Android.
- Many free alternatives are limited to certain platforms.
Learning Curve
- Alternatives like LibreOffice and WPS Office have a familiar interface for Word users.
- Google Docs may need some orientation for users accustomed to desktop word processors.
Overall, Microsoft Word remains the most powerful and versatile word processing application available. But the free alternatives continue to evolve and close the gap with Word.
For many everyday document creation and sharing needs, the free options like Google Docs and LibreOffice Writer provide sufficient capabilities at zero cost. But advanced users and enterprises relying on complex publishing require the full-featured Microsoft Word.
So while Word still rules the roost, the free alternatives make a compelling case as your next word processor if cost is important and your needs are basic.
