Which Microsoft Word alternative is right you, depends almost entirely on what you want to use the program for. If it’s important for you to have a lot of options regarding text design, you need a different program compared to those who just concentrating solely on writing. Also, the alternatives to Microsoft Word all take up different amounts of memory – or you could also choose an online program that doesn’t require any space on your hard drive. An important prerequisite is that the program is compatible with your operating system.

Wifi or any other kind. It is a word processor, used for typing documents. There is no requirement for internet access to do the standard things that a word processor does. I also use the internet every day. Earlier today our internet was off and Word would not let me save the document that I had been working on because it said something along the lines of your internet is off you won't be able to save documents until you go online again, or something to that effect. I wrote this piece without using the internet. A new word processor allows writers to get work done without distraction. Which is fine until you need to check a fact.

• Wordpad is a word processing software that is a lot like Microsoft Word, which is what you need to type a letter. So just open the software and start typing your letter. If your OS is Win 10 just click Cortana and type WORDPAD into the search box and then click the link.
• Oct 05, 2018 Wordpad is a word processing software that is a lot like Microsoft Word, which is what you need to type a letter. So just open the software and start typing your letter. If your OS is Win 10 just click Cortana and type WORDPAD into the search box and then click the link.

The IONOS HiDrive Cloud Storage enables you to store, edit, and share your Office documents centrally and securely. Whether for private or professional purposes, you can work flexibly on any device with the HiDrive app and other interfaces. IONOS' state-of-the-art US data centers ensure your data is optimally protected.

Word alternatives in comparison

Apache OpenOffice Writer: similar to Word

Apache OpenOffice was operated under the name OpenOffice.org until 2012 and now is simply called 'OpenOffice'. The OpenOffice Writer is the most popular among the Microsoft Word alternatives, and together with LibreOffice, it’s most similar to the original. Just like Microsoft Office packet, OpenOffice (as well as being a word processing program) also provides an alternative to Excel, a database tool, a drawing program, a tool for mathematical formulas, and a presentation tool. OpenOffice doesn’t, however, provide an alternative for the Outlook e-mail program.

OpenOffice Writer has all the functions that you need in everyday office life. It is important that OpenOffice can open all Microsoft Word formats. When saving work, OpenOffice Writer only supports the older file formats (.doc, .xml). Most of the details are in the layout, however subtleties such as the placement of footnotes could shift content around. It is therefore recommendable to convert documents to pdf documents before you print them. OpenOffice Writer is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

LibreOffice Writer: alternative to OpenOffice

An alternative to the alternative: LibreOffice split off from OpenOffice in 2010 after disagreements with Oracle, who was the main sponsor at the time. The layout and functions of the program are largely the same, but there are some important differences. The LibreOffice Writer can edit and save the docx file format, whereas OpenOffice can only open it. If you often swap documents with other Microsoft Office users, it’s recommended you use LibreOffice.

LibreOffice also provides significantly more updates than OpenOffice, which can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. The advantage is that developers eliminate errors, close security gaps, and implement new features. However, they sometimes also create immature functions and not all users have the patience to keep installing new updates every two months.

AbiWord: simple program with many functions

The name AbiWord comes from the Spanish word 'abierto', meaning 'open'. This Microsoft Word alternative provides similar functions to the original and the layout is similar to earlier versions of Word (up until Word 2003). AbiWord takes up little space on the hard drive: only 20 megabytes. With AbiWord, you can create tables, embed graphics, and automatically fill in fields in e-mails with the Mail Merge tool.

With a long list of plugins, the features can be expanded by installing AbiWord. The import filters, for example, are used to read and save most file formats, including docx files. In practice, however, the layout has to be reworked in some formats. AbiWord also offers a platform with AbiCollab.net where you can work on documents with other people in real time. AbiWord doesn’t have a function for exporting documents as a pdf. The program works alongside Windows and Linux on the operating system QNX, FreeBSD, and Solaris.

WPS Office Writer: Alternative for frequent writers

The company, Kingsoft, has been distributing its Office package WPS Office since the 1980s. In addition to various paid versions, the manufacturer also offers the extensive Office Free Edition. The structure of the text processing program looks very similar to that of Microsoft, comes however with a few changes. For example, it is possible to open several documents within the program and switch between them with the help of tabs. Another special feature is the two display formats “Eye Protection Mode” and “Night Mode”, which makes the writing area very easy on the eye.

Files can be saved in different file formats. Therefore, not only the WPS format is available, but also other common file types, including DOCX. If you log in, you can also access a personal cloud and save the files online. Users also have the simple option of securing the file with a password and establishing encryption.

SoftMaker FreeOffice: Word processing from Germany

The German software manufacturer, SoftMaker, also offers a free version of FreeOffice in addition to its fee-based offer. All users need to do is enter a valid e-mail address. You have the choice between a classic menu structure and the modern ribbon view. No matter which one you choose, the window is very tidy.

When saving the documents, you can choose either between Microsoft Office file formats or the in-house SoftMaker formats. Additionally, you have the possibility to export documents as pdf or epub. The free office suite also includes a spreadsheet program and presentation software. FreeOffice receives regular updates and is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. You can also download a version for Android smartphones.

WriteMonkey: writing without distraction

WriteMonkey is the right choice for anyone who wants to write without being distracted by advanced layout features. The full-screen mode is most similar to the simple white (or depending on the settings, black, green, or another color) paper, where you can let your creativity run wild. Right-click to access the menu, which will then allow you to fade out certain parts of the text, or be able to jump between different paragraphs. You can set the timer for the amount of time you want to concentrate. The built-in word completion also saves a lot of time when typing.

WriteMonkey is the smallest of the desktop programs mentioned here. It doesn’t need to be installed, which means that WriteMonkey can be used on a USB stick and then put onto other computers. To open WriteMonkey, simply download the application file folder, copy it to a random folder on your hard drive, and then open the WriteMonkey.exe file. Texts can be saved by WriteMonkey as a txt file, or exported to Word, also as a docx file. WriteMonkey only works on Windows.

Google Docs: online word processing

Google Docs is an online writing program. If you have a Gmail account, click on 'Documents' in the tool bar to go to Google Docs. You can also open your documents using Google Drive. In Google Docs, you can create new documents and work with multiple users on the same document at the same time. You can see straightaway what changes other users have made to the document. This is especially useful when you want to write a text together with others, or when working with editors. As with Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice, Google Docs also provides features for creating tables (sheets) and presentations (slides).

The disadvantages of Google Docs are that it’s slower and has fewer features than Microsoft Word alternatives that are stored on the computer. The layout options of Google Docs are much more limited. Also, many users have reservations about trusting the internet with confidential information. In addition, the functionality of Google Docs depends on the quality and security of the internet connection. Fortunately, there is also a Google Docs app that you can download to your computer or smartphone and then work in offline-mode.

Of course, there are also Google Docs alternatives. Buzzword is the online editor from Adobe and requires a free account, just like Google Docs. Zoho offers the most features out of all the online word processing programs, such as an e-mail program and many layout options. Zoho also requires registration with an account and is therefore especially suitable for users who regularly edit texts online. For occasional group work, Etherpad which is accessible without an account. Etherpad has less text processing capabilities - but is the fastest tool when it comes to group work.

HiDrive Cloud Storage with IONOS

Your data is stored securely in data centers in the US and Europe. Access HiDrive from any device, any time, from the office or on the go.

If you're sick of the unreliability, the bloat, the insecurity, andthe perpetual upgrading associated with Microsoft products you'll behappy to know that there are some excellent alternatives out there.The list below is meant as an introduction to Microsoft alternativesand as such it is by no means comprehensive.

The KMFMS recommendedproducts are products that we here at KMFMShave personally used with great satisfaction. The recommended list doesnot necessarilyreflect the value of other alternatives, it is simply a list of productsthat we can personally vouch for. Just because a product isn't recommendedby KMFMS doesn't mean it isn't a great product - it may just mean that wehaven't had a chance to extensively use it yet. You may also beinterested in what other users have to recommend in the'alternatives' section ofour discussion forums.

Legal disclaimer: all product names below are trademarks of theirrespective owners.

Operating Systems

Did you realize that older computers which can't satisfactorily runthe latest version of Windows can be given a second lease on life byinstalling an operating system that better manages resources? Are youa home or businessuser who is tired of the instability of Windows or who could use theperformance increase that a well written OS would offer? You may be interestedto know that there is an OS out there calledLinux which offers much better performancethan Windows and without the overhead. Linux will breathe new life intohardware that you thought was obsolete and it will unleash the real powerin newer hardware. Even Microsoftcan't help but give Linux a glowing review as you can read in theirinternal memo that wasleaked in October 1998. Oh yeah - Linux is free too.

Another excellent option to consider if you are buying a new desktop or laptop isMac OS X. OS Xcombines the legendary ease of use and stylishness of Apple'sMacintosh operating system with the rock solid stability and power ofBSD. It easily outflanks Windows in ease of use, style, stability,security, and power. Mac OS X comes included with new Macs.

Are you an administrator who uses Windows as a server? If so, you should be awarethat the alternatives are more reliable, much more secure, andmuch less expensive.Linux makes an excellent server withits stability and excellent performance. It's also easy to install andeasy to administer if you get a distribution such asRed Hat's.If security is a concern (as it should be) you may also be interested inthe OpenBSD operating systemwhich is perhaps the most secure operating system in the world.It makes a great server and it completely blows away Windows (as well as mostother operating systems) when it comes to security.

Linux and BSD (including Mac OS X) are our favorites here at KMFMS because they have proven to be excellentsolutions for various projects. There are, however, several other non-Microsoft solutionsthat we haven't tried so those of you wishing to get a broad overview of what's out therecheck out the review ofoperating systems at tunes.org,the KMFMS forum on alternatives, orYahoo's listof operating systems (by the way - Yahoo, one of most heavily used sites on the internet,also runs on BSD).

Editor's note: the following information on the Mac OS was accuratewhen it was first published in August 1999. Some information,such as current version numbers, has since changed.

A KMFMS Reader writes: For those of who want a professional-level OS, but don't want to spend all your time learning it, MacOS X Server is good. (It's ideal for a small network.) OS X Server is only at version 1.0, but is quite comparable to Linux. With your help, it can grow into something that'll make Microsoft shake in their boots. It sits upon the Mach microkernel and BSD.

Web Browsers

The best choice in web browsers for nearly all people isFirefox(although, Safari is also agood choice for Mac users). If you are on Windows you should use itbecause it has nowhere near the number of security exploits asInternet Explorer, it is packed with a lot of powerful features whileretaining a very clean feel, it is quite stable, it won't bring downyour operating system if it does happen to crash because it hasn'tbeen forcefully shoved into the OS like Internet Explorer, andit properly supports Java (unlike IE). If you're not using Windows (goodfor you) then you're probably already using something else becauseMicrosoft can't strong-arm you into using IE. Although Microsoft doeshave a version of IE for the Mac, they have no loyalty and you woulddo well to not rely on it being there going forward since they havealready pulled the rug out from under users on other operating systems.Microsoft initially released a version of IE for Solaris so that theycould claim that IE was 'cross platform', but it didn't take them verylong after IE gained a majority market share to drop the Solarisversion entirely.

Microsoft Word Use Free Online

There are a ton of other browsers out there, some of which may be better than Firefoxfor certain situations. Several people considerOpera the ultimate lightweight browserand its speed and small size are very impressive if you're into that sort of thing.Also, Lynx andELinks are both text only browserswhich can be extremely useful for remote administration, but chancesare if you have a use for them you probably already knew what theywere. Finally, there's a whole slew ofbrowsers at Yahoothat fit into other niche markets.

Office Suites, Word Processors, and Spreadsheets

Why would anybody spend several hundred dollars on Microsoft Officewhen there are high quality, free equivalents available? Saveyourself some money by trying the free, high-quality, open sourceOpenOffice.org today.Not only will you save yourself a bundle now, but you'll save yourselfeven more on upgrades in the future as you will no longer be lockedinto Microsoft's viscous cycle of forcing MS Office upgrades by changingthe 'doc' and 'xls' file formats (OpenOffice.org does a good job of keeping up withthe newer MS Office file formats).

OpenOffice.org providesalternatives to many of the applications which make up the MicrosoftOffice suite including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, MicrosoftPowerPoint, Microsoft Access, and more.

If you work in a (physical) officethat uses office suite softwareand you are worried about potential compatibility issues, try this: limityour MS Office installation to a single machine and install OpenOffice.orgeverywhere else. For internal documents and documents which you print(or otherwise distribute in hardcopy form) you can standardize on theOpenOffice.org format (which is an open standard and not proprietary). For the few documents that you want toelectronically distribute outside your company, you can use OpenOffice.orgto write the document in MS Office format and then use your singleinstallation of MS Office to touch up anything that may not haveconverted perfectly. For incoming documents in MS Office format,OpenOffice.org will read most without a problem. If there ever are anyproblems, simply use your single installation of MS Office. Thissimple strategy could save even a small office several thousanddollars.

Email Client

Things Microsoft Word Can Do

There's a very goodreason why Outlook has come to be nicknamed LookOut by seasoned users.Microsoft Outlook has a notorious security history with many a virusowing its ability to spread to Outlook's 'features'.Help slow the spread of email viruses and support software diversity byusing another email program, such as the free and excellentThunderbird.

Perhaps you use Outlook for more than just email and an address book. If you use Outlook for scheduling as well, you may also want to consider using Yahoo! Calendar in conjunction with Thunderbird or a web based email solution. This can provide quite a bit more convenience and versatility than using Outlook by itself.

Do you want to further explore combining alternatives to replace how you use Outlook? If so:

• Post your own question in the KMFMS forum on alternatives.

Web Based Email

When selecting a web based email service, you absolutely do not want touse Hotmail. Forget for a moment the large number of security holesthat have been uncovered in the Hotmail service (including one thatallowed anybody to read the email from any Hotmail account without using a password). An even bigger problem is that by using Hotmailyou are very likely to become victim of Microsoft's typical lock-intactics at some point in the not-too-distant future. MSN has lockedout non Microsoft browsers before, forcing people to use InternetExplorer, so what happens if Hotmail starts doing this too? Don't thinkfor a second that it doesn't matter because you use IE anyway - whathappens when you're traveling and you stop to check your email viathe web? What if you're visiting a friend who uses Firefox or you'reat a web kiosk that uses Linux underneath for security purposes? Youwon't be able to use IE, which means you won't be able to use servicesthat require IE.

Yahoo! Mail is an excellentalternative to Hotmail. It features exceptional functionality whichmany people consider superior to Hotmail (having never used Hotmailourselves, we are relying on third party comparisons). Mostimportantly, it is not produced by a company that has a vestedinterest in forcing users to use a particular browser. In fact,Yahoo! has an excellent track record of making their content availableto the widest possible audience. Yahoo! Mail is a good way to protectyourself against the software lock-in and incompatibility that yourisk by using Hotmail.

Web Servers

If you're running a web server it's tough to beatApache.Over half the web servers on the internet are running Apache(Source: Netcraft), it hasthe largest number of developers developing for it(Source: Netcraft), and it offers far more performancethan most websites could ever dream of needing. It's also open source and freein all senses of the word which means it is more secure (because it is subject topeer review and doesn't rely on security through obscurity), it rapidly incorporatesnew standards, it is feature rich while at the same time capable of being entirelystripped down for maximum performance,it is well modularized for easy expandability, and it is guaranteed tohave long term viability because it is not being used to drive a perpetual upgradecycle. Add the PHP module onto Apachewhich makes dynamic content a lot easier to generate than with the CGI of daysgone by, and you have a first class web server for no money down and no payments ever.For an even more elegant and highly scalable dynamic content system, check outthe Tomcat servlet containerfor serving JSP and servlet content from Apache or other servers.

If you are fortunate to hit the performance limitations of the Apacheweb server, lighttpd is acompelling upgrade option. It combines the incredible scalability ofnext generation web servers with a high degree of customizability andthe ability to serve dynamic content in many of the same ways asApache. Like Apache, it too is free and open source, so youautomatically get the benefits of peer review and long term viability.

Game Consoles

The PlayStation platform has a much larger library of games availablethan the Xbox. Furthermore, current incarnation of the PlayStationare still capable of playing games made for older PlayStations, whichexpands the available library even more given that the PSOne was oneof the most successful systems in history.

Please note: this recommendation is under consideration for possible reconsideration. You may want to consider other alternatives as well, such as Nintendo.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

You should definitely avoid using MSN because it will force you intousing Microsoft's software. As of this writing (November, 2001) youmust use Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Hotmail to retrieve your MSNmail and the MSN website portal recently made headlines by blockingmost users who weren't using Internet Explorer (earning Microsoft amuch deserved rebuke from Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the WorldWide Web). You would be much better off with a non-Microsoft ISP andthere is practically no reason to go with Microsoft in this case asISPs are all very standardized and Microsoft doesn't wield monopolypower in that industry (yet).

Your physical location will have a great impact on your choices ofISPs. 'The List' is a verycomprehensive list of ISPs which should help you find an ISPregardless of your location. If you are in the United States, youmight want to considerEarthlink for dial-up access orSpeakeasyfor broadbandaccess. Earthlink has a very large number of dial-up numbersthroughout the US, which is good if you travel at all and have alaptop, and it is very easy to set up Linux to use an Earthlinkaccount. Speakeasy is an exceptionally good DSL company (absolutelyworlds apart from the Baby Bells, if you've had any experiences withthem) with a surprisingly clueful technical support staff whichactually supports Speakeasy on Linux.

Email Servers

The KMFMS evaluation of email servers is not complete enough to make arecommendation because expectations vary widely on what an emailserver is meant to do. Here at KMFMS we actually have considerableexperience with email servers within the context of sending andreceiving email. The problem is that enterprises might also want theemail server to handle ancillary tasks, such as calendaring, and weonly have experience using email servers for email.If you want a best of breed email server that outshines Exchangeon what email servers are supposed to do (transfer email) look nofurther than the staples of the internet,Sendmail andQmail.For email servers that handle more than email,we will reserve recommendations for a later date. For now, we willpass along the following pitch from arepresentative at Steltor who has informed us thatSteltor's Outlook Connectoris a 'piece of client-side middleware (MAPIservice providers) that allows you to replace Exchange with astandards-based offering consisting of a mail server offered bySteltor partners such as Sendmail, directory servers (offered bySteltor partners) and a best-of-breed calendar server offered bySteltor.'

A KMFMS reader wrote in to highly recommendExim writing that he stronglyprefers it over Sendmail and that it has easy to use spamfiltering.

Another KMFMS reader also wrote in to tell us aboutEMWAC IMS. He said that ifyou are stuck using Windows, EMWAC IMS is an excellent, free choicefor a mail server.He used it at his own ISP which handled over 100,000 email messages aday on a Pentium 100 and he claims that it is very well supportedin the community.

Do you want to further explore Exchange alternatives? If so:

• Post your own question in the KMFMS forum on alternatives.