Free Word Processor program

[AdrianS]

Don't use a word processing program that often so a bit reluctant to shell out for Microsoft Office.
Have been using WPS for the last year or 2 but it has become extremely slow - I am sure because they keep wanting me to upgrade to a paid up version.
Anyone have any suggestions for better Office programs compatible with Microsoft Office?

 

[Fluffmeister]

Openoffice

www.openoffice.org

 

[Aidan1150]

Fluffmeister nailed it.

OpenOffice also includes an Excel type programme too

 

[Bear]

LibreOffice: much better compatibility with Microsoft's current formats (.docx and .xlsx) Get it from https://www.libreoffice.org/

 

[AdrianS]

Heard and tried Open Office in the past - not heard of LibreOffice. Will have a look at that one!

 

[Andi_archer]

If you have an permanent online connection Microsoft and Google online office is free to use.
What are you using it for as it could steer the way to the best option?

 

[UturnTony]

Libra Office is excellent and free.

 

[Blackal]

What version of windows are you using?

Might be able to sort you out with an older version of Office that is still very much usable

 

[Roberto]

What version of windows are you using?

Might be able to sort you out with an older version of Office that is still very much usable

That's a nice gesture. I have excel and word 2003 and they still work fine with Windows 10. Compatibility with more modern file formats can be easily sorted.
Actually, I quite prefer the older versions to the newer ones..

 

[AdrianS]

I am running windows 10.
I was just after a basic word processing program and also want to open word docs sent to me. I write the odd letter, do the odd spreadsheet ( very rare ) and that's about it!
An old version of Office would be great as long as I can open new word files!

 

[Blackal]

PM'd you - pretty sure 2003 opens current 'docx' formats and 'xlsx' with a MS compatibility pack

 

[Roberto]

PM'd you - pretty sure 2003 opens current 'docx' formats and 'xlsx' with a MS compatibility pack

It does indeed - I have kept a copy of the file to do that and can send it if needed (IIRC it wasn't super straight forward to find, some of the links on the Microsoft pages I think were broken/out of date given the age of the software I guess..)

 

[Monsieur]

Wife loves her MS office 365, me less so after seeing the price increase from next month!
I’ve got a MacBook Air and looking for a free word processor that works with a MacBook.
Not after excel or anything fancy like that.
And…can a free word processor work with the few word documents I’ve got saved?
Thank you

 

[wessie]

Wife loves her MS office 365, me less so after seeing the price increase from next month!
I’ve got a MacBook Air and looking for a free word processor that works with a MacBook.
Not after excel or anything fancy like that.
And…can a free word processor work with the few word documents I’ve got saved?
Thank you

I've been using the Windows version of https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/install-howto/macos/ since the 12 month sub to MS365 included with my Asus laptop expired. Very happy with it. Works with all of my documents created in MS365. I've switched to using Google's free G Drive and the free version of Dropbox to compensate for the reduced Onedrive space for back-up storage.

 

[er-minio]

I’ve got a MacBook Air and looking for a free word processor that works with a MacBook

Depending on how/when you get the Mac you should have free access to Apple’s Pages, that is a word processor.

I’m not a huge fan, but hey, free.

Or, as suggested by Wessie above: gdrive & gdocs are perfect.

 

[Monsieur]

I’ll take a look at both tomorrow, thanks

 

[EPG_19]

Google docs

 

[sparkplug]

I'm allergic to anything Google (although I have to admit they got the maps thing right).

Pages on Mac is free and will open your Word docs (and will save in formats that Word can open too so you can share docs with others).

It's basic and I personally don't find the interface especially pleasing - but it works well and does everything I need it to do.

Libre Office is more feature rich than Open Office and I've used it before on various machines and been quite happy with it. Open source and has a good community and has been around for over a decade. In fact I believe it started out as a fork of Open Office, but I could be wrong.

You might also want to look at Onlyoffice, Softmaker Freeoffice, Collabora office, CryptPad....

There are a ton of free options out there.

For my modest needs Pages on Mac and Libre Office on Windows does the job fine.

 

[stever1]

Wife loves her MS office 365, me less so after seeing the price increase from next month!
I’ve got a MacBook Air and looking for a free word processor that works with a MacBook.
Not after excel or anything fancy like that.
And…can a free word processor work with the few word documents I’ve got saved?
Thank you

You have one. Pages is a word processing app. It comes on MacBooks from new.

 

[Mzokk]

Another vote for Libre Office. That said, the cut down versions off Word, Excel and Powerpoint that come with Outlook and a hotmail account will do pretty much what most people need if you want to retain a MS office look and feel.