LibreOffice
Beginner RecommendedThe best Google Docs alternative is LibreOffice. The free office suite that replaces Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Free, complete, no subscription.
Information verified on July 22, 2026
Description
LibreOffice is the reference free office suite. Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet), Impress (presentations), Draw (drawing), Base (databases): everything included, no subscription. Compatibility with Microsoft Office formats is good, with some layout differences on complex documents. Available on Windows, macOS and Linux. Maintained by The Document Foundation, a global community.
My take
I had picked Microsoft Office without much thought. Digging in for the book, I realized LibreOffice ticked every box: it's the choice I would make today. Chapter 7.
Key features
- Writer (word processor)
- Calc (spreadsheet)
- Impress (presentations)
- Native ODF format
- Compatible .docx/.xlsx
- Free
Strengths
- + Completely free
- + Compatible with Microsoft formats
- + Available on all OS
- + Very mature and stable
Weaknesses
- − Limited real-time collaboration
- − Less modern interface than Google Docs
- − Some layout incompatibilities with Office
Recommended for
- Daily office use
- Microsoft Office replacement
- Offline work
LibreOffice vs Google Docs: the comparison
| Criterion | LibreOffice | Google Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source. | Free (Google account required) |
| Targeted ads on your data | No | Yes (Google ad profile) |
| Source code | Open (auditable) | Proprietary |
| Migration difficulty | Easy (1/5) | — |
Comparison
LibreOffice is the most complete and mature suite. OnlyOffice stays truer to Microsoft Office formats. CryptPad encrypts everything but is more limited in features.
This topic is chapter 7 of my book
It answers these questions, among others:
- how do you convert your documents without breaking their layout?
- editing, storage, collaboration: which tool for each need?
- and what do you do with shared documents still in use?
Forthcoming 22/10/2026 from Éditions Eyrolles
Frequently asked questions
How much does LibreOffice cost?
Free and open source.
How do you switch from Google Docs to LibreOffice?
Estimated difficulty: Easy (1/5). Simple installation. Opens Office files directly. Slight interface adaptation.
Who is LibreOffice for?
Any user seeking a free and local office suite.
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