Best Office Suites 2023: Top 10 Paid & Free Office Software

Quick Summary:

Using office suites for your business makes collaboration smooth, documents look professional, communication efficient, and data well-organized. It’s cost-effective, supports remote work, and helps save time with handy features.

However, choosing the right one can be time-consuming. That’s where we step in and help you make the right choice. Scroll for detailed reviews of some of the best office suites on the market.

There are several different Microsoft Office suites with different features and purposes. In this article, we have a look at some of the best paid and free office suite software packages. 

You could say this article is a Microsoft Office alternatives piece, though we will also review Microsoft. We’ll look at the top 10 business productivity apps, many of which can be used for personal purposes as well.

Office Application Software Suite Comparison Chart (Top 10 Highest Rated Productivity Suites)

First take a look at this table with our leading examples of software suites. Among these Office packages will be familiar brands and lesser-known names. After this table, it’s time for the mega office suite comparison reviews.

What Are the Different Types of Office Software Found in a Suite of Applications?

Many office apps are found in a total suite like Microsoft 365. These include: 

• Word processor apps

• Spreadsheet apps

• Presentation and slideshow apps

• Note-taking apps

• File sharing and document management apps

• Meeting, conferencing and whiteboard apps

• Calendar and scheduler apps

• Team collaboration and communication apps

• File storage apps

We all know Microsoft Word as one of the best word processor programs, Excel as the best spreadsheet software, and Powerpoint as the best presentation software. But, what about the alternatives to these tools? What are they, and are they any good? Keep reading to find out!

What Are the Best Office Suites? Here’s Our Top 10 List:

In case it’s not yet clear, Microsoft is not the only player when it comes to office software. There are a lot of other good names which can be considered among the best office suites. Surely you know Google and Apple, but there are some new systems on our list.

1. Microsoft 365 (Best Office Suite Software Overall)

Why We Chose It:

In many ways, Microsoft wrote the book about the best office software before we could tell the brand from the product. Today, a product that combines top Office tools is called Microsoft 365, but you might remember it as MS Office 365, one of its former names.

Microsoft 365 still comprises Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and works alongside Outlook and Teams for collaboration tools. Also, it is compatible with OneNote and OneDrive for cloud storage. There is also a free version called Microsoft 365 Online and a high-end version called Microsoft Office Pro. Last but not least, Microsoft 365 includes Microsoft Dynamics, one of the best project management software. 

In other words, there is something for everyone. 

Pros:

Despite Microsoft’s cozy relationship with all things Windows, Microsoft 365 has compatibility with other operating systems like MacOS, iOS, Android, and Windows, of course. The mobile apps are also pretty good.

There are great Microsoft 365 packages for personal use, for educational purposes as well as for organizations from small businesses to enterprises.

Microsoft has also set the standard for document formats. You can use Microsoft file formats like .doc and .xls in many of the other office suites we will discuss.

Overall, office productivity will surely benefit if everyone is using Microsoft 365 or compatible apps.

Cons:

Some people claim that the word processor and spreadsheet apps aren’t as simple and streamlined as some of the competitors. In other words, what you get with added functionality you lose for simplicity and ease of use.

Pricing:

• There is a free version of Microsoft 365 Office online

• Microsoft 365 Personal costs $69.99 per year

• Microsoft 365 Family costs $99.99 per year

• MS Office Professional 2021 costs 4$39.99

Visit site
_{Go to Microsoft 365’s official website}
 

2. LibreOffice (Best Open Source Office Suite)

Why We Chose It:

Coming in at number two is LibreOffice, which couldn’t be any more different from the Microsoft Corporation. LibreOffice is free, and more importantly, it is one of the best open-source office suites out there.

While the name LibreOffice may not sound familiar, some of you may recall its former name, OpenOffice.org. LibreOffice is just a better, updated version of this great open-source suite of office tools.

Pros:

LibreOffice Writer is their word processor app, and it works pretty smoothly, with a decent number of file formatting options and fonts. The LibreOffice AutoCorrect dictionary helps to edit documents accurately.

Meanwhile, Calc is the name of their spreadsheet app, while Impress is for presentations. All of these tools are user-friendly and intuitive.

LibreOffice also has compatibility with many extensions, and you can also use great templates to boost office productivity.

Overall, if open source is your thing, then as far as Microsoft Office alternatives go, LibreOffice is surely worth checking out.

Cons:

There currently are no native apps for mobile devices for LibreOffice for iOS or Android.

Pricing:

• LibreOffice is free, but you can donate because it is open source

Visit site
_{Go to LibreOffice’s official website}
 

3. WPS Office (Best Free Office Software for Windows 10)

Why We Chose It:

Speaking of free options, WPS Office is one of the best LibreOffice alternatives, and not only is it great for Windows 10, but it is also one of the best free office programs for Windows 11 as well. WPS is made by the software company Kingsoft, which is a Chinese company from Beijing. 

WPS stands for writer, presentation, and spreadsheets, which is a neat way of summing up the big three apps that any Office suite should include.

Pros:

WPS Office is great for Windows 10 and Windows 11, but it is also compatible with other operating systems like Linux, iOS, Android, and Mac.

WPS also has Docs which is a cloud-based collaborative productivity app. It’s great for document management as it lets teams create, read, and edit docs in real-time. It also has a solid PDF editor.

WPS has over 100,000 templates for everything from office productivity to personal planning.

When it comes to different file formats, WPS Writer can take on files that come from Microsoft Office 365, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.

Cons:

WPS seems to work fine so long as you stick to basic writing, spreadsheets, and simple presentations. There have been reports of bugginess with more advanced or new features.

Pricing:

• WPS Office is a free download

Visit site
_{Go to WPS Office’s official website}
 

4. Google Workspace (Top Small Office Suite)

Why We Chose It:

Well, if it is not going to be Microsoft, but you still want a big name in the software world, then Google (or Alphabet today) might be the best place to go. Google Workspace is a good office suite for small offices. 

It used to be called G Suite and Google Apps and is famous for the apps Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Calendar, Slides, Meet, Chat, and Jamboard, the whiteboard tool.

Pros:

It really begins with Google Docs Editor, which is the core office suite of apps that get you Docs for a word processor, Sheets for spreadsheets, and Slides for slideshow presentations, among other things. Combined with the larger suite called Google Workspace, it is an all-in-one business SaaS solution.

When it comes to file storage, the most affordable Google Workspace package gets you at least 30 GB of storage. Google Drive makes file storage and organization very easy.

Google Workspace is fully cloud-based, which is great for real-time collaboration. It can handle other file formats and then export a compatible format. For example, it takes Microsoft's .doc and turns it into .docx, and the same happens with .xls becoming xlsx.

If you use Chrome, Google Workspace is a clear first choice.

Cons:

While some Google apps like Docs can work offline, the functionality is not great, meaning this is mostly best used as a web-based office suite.

Pricing:

• Starter plan is $6 per user per month

• Standard plan is $12 per user per month

• Plus plan is $18 per user per month

• For Enterprise prices, contact Google

Visit site
_{Go to Google Workspace’s official website}
 

5. Apple iWork (Best Office Suite for Mac)

Why We Chose It:

After Microsoft Office and Google Apps, it’s only natural we bring Apple into this conversation about the best office suites. Apple iWork is a free set of apps, and they are clearly among the best free Mac office suites.

The main apps here are Pages, a standard word processing program, Numbers which is for spreadsheets, and Keynote, which is the slideshow and presentation tool.

Pros:

If you are an Apple fan and use a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or other Apple devices, then Apple iWork will function smoothly on all your devices and browsers.

You can still use iWork with Mac or PC if you use the browser Safari 11.1.2 or the latest version, as well as with Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

Pages exports into Word, EPUB and PDF files, so you have some formatting flexibility.

Cons:

Despite Apple’s popularity with its hardware and some software, iWork is still not a dominant player in the office suite arena. Also, file compatibility with other systems is restrictive, which is right out of Apple’s playbook.

Pricing:

• Apple iWork is free

Visit site
_{Go to Apple iWork’s official website}
 

6. OnlyOffice (A Great Pro Office Suite)

Why We Chose It:

OnlyOffice is a very professional office suite and a top contender to take on Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365. It includes a document app, a spreadsheet app, a presentation editor, a form creator, and a PDF editor.

Pros:

You have lots of purchasing options with OnlyOffice. There are both on-premise versions as well as cloud-based versions to choose from.

The document editor is ideal for team collaboration on shared documents.

There is a wide range of file format options, like docx, xlsx, pptx, odt, ods, odp, doc, xls, ppt, pdf, txt, rtf, html, epub, and csv.

OnlyOffice also offers versions for home use, business use, enterprise level use, and for developers. You also have apps for mobile devices for iOS and Android.

Cons:

First thing, this might not be as user-friendly as some other brands on this list. Next, the pricing categories can be very confusing.

Pricing:

• Docs for Home server costs $149

• Docs for business start at $1,500

• Docs business cloud is $8 per user per month 

• Workspace Cloud startup has a free plan

• Workspace cloud business is $5 per user per month 

• Workspace on-premise Enterprise starts at $2,200 and is compatible only with Windows and Linux

Visit site
_{Go to Only Office’s official website}
 

7. Apache OpenOffice (Best Free Office Suite for Mac)

Why We Chose It:

There often seems to be some confusion about the evolution of OpenOffice and its relation to LibreOffice as well as the software company Apache. Apache OpenOffice is also open source and free and is a great free Mac office suite.

Apache is always rolling out an updated release with new features, so watch out if you don’t have the latest version.

Pros:

Apache OpenOffice works with different operating systems, including macOS, Linux, Windows, and more. It also runs in a ton of different languages.

The product names are similar to LibreOffice, with Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math. The difference might be very nuanced, however.

The main file format for Apache OpenOffice is ODF; some of you might be familiar with this extension. It can also be written in other document formats.

Cons:

There is one significant difference here to LibreOffice and this is a major drawback for Apache OpenOffice. It cannot save files using Microsoft Office Open XML formats. It can, however, import those files, and you can use them in another format.

Pricing:

• Apache OpenOffice is free

Visit site
_{Go to Apache OpenOffice’s official website}
 

8. Polaris Office (Good Office Package for Cloud-Based Work)

Why We Chose It:

Polaris is a rising star in the office suite category of business productivity SaaS. It has been brought to us by the Korean software company called Infraware.

There is really nothing that Polaris Office cannot do that you’d expect of Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. In fact, as a Microsoft Office alternative, Polaris may just one day give old MS a run for the money.

Pros:

Polaris Office has a web-based version that works with Windows, Mac, and mobile devices using Android and iOS. There are also desktop versions for PC and MacOS.

You can edit MS Office files, as well as PDF, ODT, and TXT file formats. The work you do in Word, Sheet, and Slide is easily converted to PDFs. There is also a useful compression tool.

Polaris has great editing features that work alongside your other favorite office productivity tools; however, you can feel safe that your data is secure with Polaris.

Polaris Office offers some free versions of its tools, which is always a benefit.

Cons:

Even though Polaris offers tools for cloud-based storage compatibility with apps like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, you should be aware that all files created and edited with Polaris must be synced and stored to other connected devices, which is not always bad, but some people might find this annoying. 

Pricing:

• Polaris Office Smart Cloud is $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year

• Polaris Office Pro cloud is $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year

• Polaris Office PC for Windows or Mac is $79.99

• Polaris Office mobile for iOS is $39.99

Visit site
_{Go to Polaris Office’s official website}
 

9. SoftMaker Office (Good Office Package for iOS)

Why We Chose It:

SoftMaker is a German software company, so you know they pay extra attention to quality and detail. SoftMaker makes several office suite packages, including SoftMaker FreeOffice, which is free of charge, SoftMaker NX for home use, and SoftMaker Office Professional 2021, among others.

Pros:

The first benefit is the free version, called FreeOffice, although this is not the focus of this list of entries for best office suite apps.

The SoftMaker products closely parallel the Microsoft Office 365 products.

For example, TextMaker is their Word, PlanMaker is their Excel, Presentations is their PowerPoint, and so on.

SoftMaker’s products have a nice and very professional feel, which is great for motivating your office to work harder and be more productive.

TextMaker, for example, uses DOCS, but also you can edit DOC and RTF files, as well as export to PDF, and even use EPUB. Also, it has a nice font library, a good spell-check feature, and a thesaurus for synonyms.

PlanMaker works a lot like Excel and uses XLS, as well as some sophisticated conditional formatting, syntax highlighting, and formula auditing.

Cons:

The free version aside, it might not be so easy to be convinced to switch over to SoftMaker if you are already very familiar with Microsoft Office or Google Apps, especially considering the price tag. What’s more, with so many packages, pricing can be confusing when shopping.

Pricing:

• SoftMaker FreeOffice is free

• NX Home costs $29.90 per year or $2.90 per month

• NX Universal costs $49.90 per year

• SoftMaker Office Standard 2021 costs $79.95

• SoftMaker Office Professional 2021 costs $99.95

Visit site
_{Go to SoftMaker Office’s official website}
 

10. Zoho Workplace (Top Office Suite for Startups)

Why We Chose It:

Zoho is a great brand for making apps for startups and small businesses. They cover marketing, sales, support, HR, IT, project management, and more. Zoho Workplace is their office suite and is the best for startups and small businesses, particularly if you are on a budget.

Pros:

If you already use some Zoho apps, then getting along with Workplace is going to be a real positive experience. First of all, you get 30 GB of file storage per user and 10 GB of WorkDrive storage.

Zoho Workplace combines everything from Zoho Office Suite, like Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheet, and Zoho Show, which covers word processing, spreadsheets, and slides.

You also get Zoho Cliq for internal messaging, Zoho Meeting, and Zoho Mail.

Cons:

Honestly, for startup purposes, there really is no obvious con to Zoho Workplace, though it may feel lightweight for more extensive operations.

Pricing:

• Zoho Workplace Standard is $3 per user per month, billed annually 

• Zoho Workplace Professional is $6 per user per month, billed annually

Visit site
_{Go to Zoho Workplace’s official website}
 

What is an Office Suite & What Do They Do?

Let us sum up what Office Suite apps can do.  An office suite is a collection of software applications designed to help with everyday tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email, and more.

Office suites are available in both desktop and cloud-based versions, and they make it easy for teams to collaborate on documents and increase productivity. They also provide additional features like syncing across multiple devices, version history, and easy access to templates. By providing a comprehensive solution for data management and document editing, office suites help teams stay organized and efficient. 

In conclusion, an office suite is the perfect software for any team or organization that needs to stay productive in today’s digital age.

Which office suite software package is best for me? Our conclusion

Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all answer. It depends on your needs and budget. For some, a free option might be best, while others may benefit more from the additional features offered by paid software packages. 

For small businesses, Google Suite is an excellent choice due to its collaboration tools and cost-effectiveness. Microsoft Office offers a more robust feature set, but you’ll have to pay a premium for it. SoftMaker Office also provides high-quality features without the same price tag as Microsoft Office. Finally, Zoho Workplace is an excellent choice for startups and small businesses that need an economical office suite solution.   

No matter which package you choose, make sure it meets your needs and budget, so you can ensure maximum productivity and efficiency. Good luck in finding the right office suite for your team!

FAQs

What is the Most Popular Productivity Suite in the World?

The most popular productivity suite in the world is Microsoft office. These days, Microsoft Office has been renamed to Microsoft 365. This includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint, among other apps. Today, there are many good alternatives to Microsoft Office 365, like Google Workplace and Apple iWork.

What Do Users Typically Like About Software Suites?

Users typically like using office software suites for quite a few reasons. They provide a variety of functionality like word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. They allow for collaboration among teams. They can work with multiple file formats, making sharing, importing, and exporting common docs easier.

What Are Office Suites Also Known as?

Office suites are also known as business productivity suites or office productivity application packages. The truth is, any name for office productivity software will clearly explain the purpose and advantages of using such tools, for example, to be more productive or to have better business practices.