Get our latest top picks
Subscribe to our Top Picks RSS Feed or enter your email address below to get the feed delivered to you by email:
|
Follow Gizmo |
 |
 |
 |
Register/Login
Top Rated
Gizmo's Freeware is Recruiting
We are looking for people with skills or interest in the following:
- Mobile Platform Reviews
- Rootkit Scanner and Remover
- Streaming Media Recorder
- Email Client
- Archive Manager Interested? Click here
Best Free Office Suite
|
In a Hurry?
|
|
|
Go straight to the |
Introduction
|
|
An office suite is a collection of programs, mainly consisting of a word processor, spreadsheet & presentation application bundled together. With the pricey tag put onto the all popular Microsoft Office it leaves no surprise that the average home user or small business would be looking for an alternative. Below we have reviewed and rated all the popular freeware office suites and split them into categories making it easier to find the best solution. The suites are split into three sections: (i) Proprietary, privately owned software being offered up for free. (ii) Open Office, an open source suite and various mods based on the same programming code making them similar to use. (iii) Cloud / Online, web based suites than can be used on the move, some even contain a smartphone app for easy updating. |
|
Proprietary Software
|
|
(i) Kingsoft Writer, a word processor that can import from Microsoft Word (.doc & .docx) with the ability to have separate documents in a tabbed interface. (ii) Kingsoft Spreadsheet, a spreadsheet application that can import from Microsoft Excel and having the same cells range (65,536 rows * 256 columns) as the Microsoft Office 2003 equivalent. (iii) Kingsoft Presentation, a presentation suite that can import all Microsoft Powerpoint documents. For a freeware equivalent to Microsoft Office and for those who liked the simpler old style 2003 interface then Kingsoft Office Suite Free is the application. There isn't a single feature I found that isn't IDENTICAL to the Microsoft Office 2003 equivalent. The similarities even go far into the styles of WordArt. Kingsoft did offer a unique tabbed experience allowing multiple documents or spreadsheets within the same window making switching between them quick and simple. There are however two annoying selections upon installation: the startup of a browser linking to Kingsoft's website, and the other is a popup asking to switch to another UI (basically the new ribbon effect which isn't free). A quirky feature is the quick UI color feature allowing the UI to be alternated to an additional eight different skins helping color code your office suite with your OS skin. Screenshots:   
Each application can be a pick n' mix of different options and an attempt seems to be made to give the end user the ability to do everything within the suite itself. Anything not directly accessible within the application links to an alternative website (for example Google Translate). The GUI 's (graphical user interfaces) are really hard to follow and require quite a large learning curve to get used to.
There are too many different applications to list individually but the main ones are:
(i) WordGraph, a word processor which can import doc, rtf, htm, xml but no support for docx. With the exception of the GUI, WordGraph has a lot of nice features that could in certain circumstances become very handy.
(ii) Accel, a spreadsheet application which can import xls, csv, txt but no support for xlsx. We had extreme difficulty importing even xls files from other programs but has no problem importing the xls files previously exported from Accel.
(iii) General Utilities, a selection of helpful programs including an Address Book, Envelope Printer, Calendar, Notebook, System Overview with links integrated into other programs.
Overall, the selection is great, the tools are great but the interface has a really strong learning curve to get used to. This is a good selection for anyone looking for everything in one place. There has definitely been a lot of effort put into developing applications that are useful but has been tackled it an obscure way.
Due to the small file sizes, each application opens, run & saves super fast even for older slow end systems.
Screenshots:
  
(i) TextMaker, a fully functional word processor compatible with MS Word & OO Writer. (ii) PlanMaker, a complete spreadsheet solution with MS Excel & OO Calc compatibility. (iii) Presentation, a software presentation program with MS Powerpoint & OO Impress compatibility. This 58.7 MB download is available by visiting an official spin-off site and I found no links to the free version available from the official vendor website. Registration is required and a serial code is directly emailed upon registration. The installation process is simple and has the same interface as MS Office, no nagging bloatware or trick shareware installations to worry about. The advantages of the small installation file size mean low memory consumption and faster loading times. It comes complete with all the usual formulas & formatting features and won’t win any awards for originality. PlanMaker lacks any scripting or macro support making it unsuitable for the more advanced user. There are a couple of annoying features your hit upon opening an application. The first is the tips window which pops up automatically on the right but can be disabled by selecting View>Sidebar>Hide. Within PlanMaker, the spell checker (and background checking feature) isn’t activated by default and is buried deep in the options to get it started. When loaded into the system, the SMASH quick launch starts at start up and floods your taskbar with four shortcut buttons which could have been better as a stacking window rather than individuals. For free, Softmaker FreeOffice offers a simple, easy to use, basic featured solution that will run comfortably on slower computers and won’t use a great deal of space and resources. It can import all the latest file formats and supports direct PDF exporting. Screenshots:
Other notable suites
|
Calligra Office which is currently released on version 2.5.4. Official announcement states that the Windows version of Calligra is 'highly experimental' and 'not all applications & features are included'. A stable release is due sometime in 2013. Due to the unstable release, a full review cannot be completed.
|
Open Office & Variants
|
|
We found it difficult to get Base & Calc to fully work using the latest version (v7) of Java JRE and had to resort to a previous (v6 32bit only) in order to get it loaded without errors.
From all the office products available, Open Office (and it's variants) are the only ones offering a free database management application.
There are four main applications included with Open Office:
(i) Writer, a word processor that can import nearly all text file formats available, plus the ability for a direct PDF export. The interface is similar to Microsoft Office 2003 and with no 'ribbon' available.
(ii) Calc, a spreadsheet that can import nearly all forms of spreadsheet formats. Within Calc there is support for scripting & macro's in the form of Basic, Javascript, Beanshell & even Python.
(iii) Impress, a presentation application that can import ppt, pps, pptm, pptx presentation files. The layout is simple and stable enough.
(iv) Base, a database management application that can create tables, forms, queries, reports, etc. It comes complete with Wizards to help transfer tables for forms etc.
All in Open Office is well rounded with a great support group and lots of help files and documentation. There is so much add-ons and file import & export formats that Open Office would be useful for both the novice users looking for a quick Wordpad alternative to Advanced users who can customize the source code for their own requirements.
  
LibreOffice began life in January 2011. During the acquisition of OpenOffice by Oracle from Sun Microsystems, some members of the project were concerned that Oracle would cease or restrict development of OpenOffice.org and started 'The Document Foundation'. Oracle eventually ceased commercial development of OpenOffice.org paving the way for LibreOffice to gain a major fan base, the child of this collaboration based on the OpenOffice.org source code.
As with Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice still requires 32-bit Java (JRE) for full operation but is currently working out the Java dependancy. Decisively heavier 205MB comparitive with 123MB from Apache, the GUI is fresher and modern and the support base is constantly growing. LibreOffice releases more updates and has better compatibility for importing from other office suites. Although we don't see where the additional 80MB's are used there must be some background stability issues addressed for that heafty increase.
The main differences from Apache OpenOffice include:
Universal
- Find / Find & Replace are Seperate Options
- Clear Direct Formatting instead of Default Formatting
- No media player
- No record macro option
- Undo instead of Can't Undo
- Redo instead of Can't Restore
Calc
- Delete Page Break instead of Delete Manual Break
- Page Break instead of Manual Break
- Insert > Names has additional 'Manage'
Writer
- Additional 'Title Page' option
Impress
- No Wizard upon opening (by default)
- Snap Lines instead of Guides
Screenshots:
Discontinued:
Unlike other suites based on OpenOffice, ILS only has three main applications included (with the exception of an integrated web browser based on Firefox):
(i) Lotus Symphony Document, a word processor which can open all Open Document Formats & Microsoft Office along with the variants and corresponding templates (odf, doc, docx, rtf, txt)
(ii) Lotus Symphony Spreadsheet, a spreadsheet application which can import all the standard document formats (sxc, xls, xlsx) with a handy disclaimer that general compatible Microsoft Office documents main not display some formatting correctly (with an option to discard in future).
(iii) Lotus Symphony Presentation, a presentation application which can import from MS Powerpoint (odp, ppt, pptx).
Generally speaking IBM Lotus Symphony is a nice clean office suite; the master window housing the individual applications does actually work well especially having a thumbnail (and search) facility for all open documents making it really easy to work with multiple files without taskbar clutter. The only issue is the annoying (portrait) side panel which is really cumbersome to use especially if working with smaller screen resolutions.
Effective from 2012, IBM have supplied the original source code to Apache for integration into the next OpenOffice 4 installment which should be released as an IBM Edition.
Screenshots:
    |
Apache Open Office
|
Cloud / Online Suites
|
|
With recent development of smart phones, tablets & netbooks the need for online file sharing has never been greater. The 'cloud' is an online storage and sharing medium designed to share out an array of files over multiple devices. The selection of freeware cloud applications reviewed below allow a web-based interface to create, upload, save & share all variants of word processors, spreadsheets & presentation documents. As the files are online, a document can be created at home on a pc, updated on the train on a smart phone and finished at work just in time for that all important presentation.
Google Drive was formed earlier in 2012, Google integrated their Docs suite into their online cloud storage called Google Drive. A generous 5GB of storage space is available (although shared throughout Googles services - except Gmail) for saving the three main applications.
(i) Document, a straightforward word processor with all the most commonly used features crammed into one single menu-bar. The interface is similar to the older pre-ribbon style menu making it familiar for nearly everyone who uses it.
(ii) Spreadsheets, a spreadsheet application that can import all major formats including xls, xlsx, ods, csv, txt, tsv & tab. It does an excellent job of maintaining the original file formatting & cell formulas.
(iii) Presentation, a presentation creation application which allows uploading of popular file formats and allows importing of specific slides to help with organizing & creating.
The great feature with Google Drive is the ability to upload multiple files and multiple types quickly which automatically gets added it their native formats allowing sharing or importation to Google directly.
Additionally, Google Drive has the function to translate the whole document to over 50 other languages allowing a copy to be saving and maintaining the integrity of the original document.
Screenshots:
   
ThinkFree Online is another cloud suite. The first thing I found when trying to register for ThinkFree was the difficulty of finding the login & registration screens. Upon registration, the initial interface is quite warm and inviting, creating a document was harmless but due to the interface being Java based, there are a few security prompts.
When getting into the nuts & bolts, the interface was fantastic, to the untrained eye could easily be mistaken for an actual desktop application than a cloud but unfortunately due to it's Java dependency seemed to run slow and continually load each .jar part when hovering over or clicking anything. This eventually sub-sites on previously accessed options but happens every login, it can sometimes take a few seconds from click to load.
The three main applications found are:
(i) Write, a word processing application similar to the MO 2003 interface. As with all the others, can natively import all the doc, docx, txt, dot, htm & xml formats expected with an online office application.
(ii) Calc, a spreadsheet application again similar to the MO 2003 interface. Calc can import xls, xlsx, xlt, csv, xml, txt & htm. Import formatting and formulas are retained nicely upon import.
(iii) Show, a presentation application with the ability to import ppt, pptx, pps & ppsx.
Everything considered, ThinkFree Online is an excellent representation of what is possible with a cloud suite. If it weren't for the constant loading and stability issues this would win the best award in it's class.
Screenshots:
    
Zoho registration is simple and easy, all that's required is a username, email address and a password. After registration has been completed you have the option of choosing your custom portal name when has an associated URL which can be shared giving direct access to your files for the people who you want.
For free you have 1GB of storage available across 50 workspaces. Within this included space you can host files which are don't have native import from Zoho (example wps) for others to download in collaboration.
There are three main packages that Zoho offer for free include:
(i) Writer, a word processor that can import from doc, docx, odt, rtf, html, htm & txt. The interface is simple and follows a thinner 'ribbon' style interface traditionally found in later versions of MS. Quick loading times and a rich source of features make Zoho an excellent choice for online work sharing.
(ii) Sheet, a spreadsheet application that can import from xls, xlsx, sxc, ods, csv & tsv. Following the same thin 'ribbon' bar you have access to lots of features including the macro recording ability and VBA editor.
(iii) Show, a presentation application that can import ppt, pps, odp, sxi, pptx & ppsx. This application has lots of drawing tools included to make presentation creation easy to complete.
Some neat features included are the pop-up shortcut format bar which lets you do quick adjustments without fumbling through menu's. The PDF export function is excellent allowing for a direct PDF download and lastly within Sheet when an auto formula updates the cells effected highlight allowing the knock on effect to be seen.
Screenshots:
    |
|
Related Products and Links
|
|
You might want to check out these articles too: |
Required additional work for portable version to work http://freeoffice.com/en/support/tips/installation
Required JRE (Java Runtime Environment) v6 32bit Only
NB Fix pack 3 should also be downloaded to correct critical security issues.
Internet connection required.
Internet connection required.
|
Editor
|
|
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor m22rdy. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here. Why not join us on the forum with the Official Editors Free Office Suite thread http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/home-office-and-productivity/10702-editors-official-free-office-suite-discussion.html |
|
Tags
|
|
office software, office suites, desktop office, cloud office suites, word, excel, powerpoint, open office, libre office, Oxygen Office |
Back to the top of the article.
- Article type:
- Login or register to post comments
Printer-friendly version
Comments
I am not a cloud man.
In your other two categories, which of the better ones can do this -
Open a docx or xlsx file, and then save it as doc or xls
Thanks,
Rob
Here is an update.
I installed Kingsoft, and it can open xlsx and save as xls.
The bad news is I don't like the looks of Kingsoft, and I did not like the way it displayed my sample xlsx file.
[Commercial reference removed]
Just like to update Lotus Symphony download link, being a Lotus 123 fan here it is. Yes ole schoole...
http://www-03.ibm.com/software/lotus/symphony/home.nsf/products
LibreOffice has been updated to v4.0.3 Final (2013-05-09), 182 MB main installer (7.9 MB built-in help); release notes at https://www.libreoffice.org/download/release-notes/ .
Unfortunately a lot of documents (especially spreadsheets) were developed in MS Office complete with macros.
As far as I can tell the only free suite menioned that has decent macro support for Excel spreadsheets is LibreOffice.
Thanks for the reviews, but it should be noted that the KingSoft EULA is very strict in disallowing any use other than strictly personal, not even nonprofit. So i did not install it.
As for SSuite Office - Excalibur Release, this has many tools, but as an office type replacement it cannot match OpenOffice/LibreOffice, both of which i believe should be on top.
From what i found SSuite WordFormat2 is very limited, and neither it or WordGraph can even make columns or insert page numbers, make page borders and only the later can insert tables (but little formatting), and save as html, but it cannot serve as WYSIWYG web page editor.
Nor does it offer to mark spelling errors as you type, or toolbar and keyboard customization, or hardly any options at all, while all of these and much much more can be done under one free.o strings attached OOo or LO writer program.
I have over 15 documents open right now under OOo and it serves me well.
Just wondering PBJ, since you have tried both LibreOffice and OpenOffice, which one do you find better?
I find OpenOffice better perhaps due to something about default formatting, and the LO removal of page borders. Perhaps you can get the latter back now, but i use OOo to make web pages, and in fact i will say it is by far the best WYSIWYG program for that, and it found LO was rendering them a little differently, but it may have had to do with the template i saved.
As the old saying goes, "if it ain't broke don't fix it," however, LO seems to be the one to go with though, as it it may be improved more in the near future. And they both seem to have a quirk on paragraph spacing in tables on web pages.
I have both installed, and copied some things over (autocorrect, dictionary, toolbars, backup) and chose the same path for both to save autocorrect words to. I have lots of them.
Thanks for the reply :).
Yea, LibreOffice seems to be in continuous development, and they are improving it rapidly. So, that's good. I was curious as to how they fared out.
Please note that your License Type of Unrestricted freeware for Kingsoft Office Suite is false.
Please read their EULA:
the "Product" is a personal edition software, it shall be used only in personal computers, and shall not be used in the computers of legal persons or other organizations (including but not limited to government agencies, companies, enterprises, other organizations, etc.; regardless of the organization is an economic organization or not; regardless of the organization's usage is for profitable purpose or not).
Therefore, if you run a company from home, and are looking for a free office suite, it can't be used. Unfortunately, it can only be used in your personal capacity.
Subsequently, I don't think it deserves your Top Pick award.
LibreOffice 4.0.0 has been released.
Among many other changes, the main installer has been trimmed to 183 MB. An overview of the new version by ghacks.net (published before it became final) may be found at http://www.ghacks.net/2013/02/07/libreoffice-4-0-changes/?_m=3n.0038.787....
Thanks AJ, updated.
I'll get an updated copy downloaded and get an 4.0.0 review online asap.
You're most welcome!
I just noticed the SSuite Office and downloaded it - will review. My suite now (thanks to Gizmo's) is Softmaker Office. Softmaker (free) may not include every possible option but, now that I've retired, I don't need every option.
My sense of what Softmaker offers is that the program(s) have everything I need for the time being. The main point for me is that everything loads quickly and has the smallest memory footprint of all applications listed. I have an older system and am limited as far as funds. While I hope to expand memory soon, I don't have much to spend on it now. Softmaker products use 1/3 or so memory of all other products I've evaluated and that is not only a plus for me but, at this point, a necessity. If you need that extra memory and don't need absolutely every option, I suggest Softmaker.
I'll look at SSuite Office and post back. As far as "cloud" goes, I suppose I'm just too old and set on certain things. I love the idea of online storage but I want my documents written on and stored on my hard drive. I have no doubt that this is now going in another direction. I may do likewise soon but, for now, I love everything that m22rdy has reviewed and, for my system, lean toward Softmaker.
Nice reviews, thanks for the effort and volunteering your time. Downloaded Kingsoft Office after reading your review, didn't even know they existed and I'm very impressed. I use to run OpenOffice and it was very slow to load, Kingsoft loads immediately. Thanks!
About time! Kingsoft Office have much better compability with MS Office.
And good job for thoroughly reviewing so many office suite. Keep up the good work!
Thanks! It took a while to thoroughly try each suite but I think we got there eventually :)
Definitely have to agree. Downloaded Kingsoft Office last week and I'm very impressed
The correct link to download Softmaker FreeOffice is:
http://freeoffice.com/en/download
Although it is not listed as having a portable version, one is easily made. Download and install the regular version, then follow these directions to install on a portable flash drive:
http://freeoffice.com/en/support/tips/installation
Confirmed,
Thanks Jerry, portable version already stated, but I have added the additional information you've discovered and broken/updated download like.
The single biggest advantage to SoftMaker's Office Suite: it provides for the icons in the various toolbars to be increased to a large size.
For those of us with visual impairments that is a huge factor, and no other office suite allows for that type of modification to the user interface.
May I just add that LibreOffice and IBM Lotus Symphony are not stand-alone office suites, as they both require the pre-installion of Java(200MB) to operate properly.
Just wanted to make that clear.
Thank you for this great list of free office suites. :)
@RosyG
The Java Runtime Environments are about 30MB, not 200MB.
Even so, for those of us with slow, expensive wireless internet connections, the large size of Open Office's and Libre's downloads coupled with frequent upgrades is a real pain.
I'd like to see all large programs do something like Windows Update, where they just replace the few files that have been changed with every new minor revision, rather than make you download the whole damn thing.
Anything based on the Open Office suite requires Java, IBM Lotus Symphony was discontinued back in January 2012 and will be integrated into the next Open Office 4 edition (potentially an IBM edition).
The 'product type' on GF falls into two main categories; standalone refers to an installation (in one form or another) on a users computer as opposed to 'web application or web service' regardless of whether it's wrapped in a Java bubble.
The Open Office section is currently under development and will be amended this week to include all the relative Open Office notable variants.
Please feel free to join us on the forum for any further comments or suggestions:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/home-office-and-productiv...
Thank you both for the update and clarification, I didn't know.
Some programs also require varying version of .NET Framework but they are still classified as stand-alone.
The actual dependency on Java by LibreOffice is actually quite small in terms of standard features and is being reduced further with each new release.
http://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/faq/general-faq/does-libreoffice-req...
LibreOffice has been updated to v3.6.4 (2012.12.05); full discussion at The Document Foundation Blog -- http://blog.documentfoundation.org/2012/12/05/the-document-foundation-an....
Thanks AJNorth,
Updated, including the additional size increase.
Calligra Suite
Offers preliminary support for MS Windows now.
Calligra looks really promising with its options and menus set at the side. Its a better use of a wide screen. Symphony is similar but doesn't seem to be being actively developed; and in any case its use of tabs doesn't really extend the vertical aspect for documents.
All the rest are a bit boringly similar, some very ugly, all attempting to emulate the Micro$oft 2003 look. Many of us don't want to go with MS ribbons but it would be nice to have something more up-to-date.
David