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Best for real-time collaboration in a browser
License: Free tier
Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 DOCX DOCX: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Complex layouts and styles can change on import and export DOC DOC: opens only, partial fidelity. Opens DOC files; downloads are offered as DOCX, ODT, RTF and PDF RTF RTF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Basic formatting carries over ODT ODT: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Basic formatting carries over PDF PDF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Exports PDF; a PDF opened with Google Docs is converted to text and loses its layout MW
Microsoft's word processor for documents, reports and templates, sold with Microsoft 365 or inside Office Home 2024.
License: Free tier
Windows macOS Web iOS Android Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 DOCX DOCX: opens and saves, full fidelity DOC DOC: opens and saves, full fidelity RTF RTF: opens and saves, full fidelity ODT ODT: opens and saves, full fidelity PDF PDF: opens and saves, full fidelity Google Docs vs Microsoft Word: facts Fact Google Docs Microsoft Word License License: Free tierLicense: Free tierMaintenance Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 Status: Verified Oct 7, 2026 Windows macOS Web iOS Android Self-hostable Works offline No account needed Parity with Microsoft Word 50% The reference
License classes: Free tier and Free tier. Status rules: Active means a commit in the last 90 days. See the methodology .
Feature parity with Microsoft Word How Google Docs covers what people use Microsoft Word for.
Feature parity with Microsoft Word Feature Google Docs Compatibility Complex DOCX layout fidelity Note 1Imports DOCX; complex layouts and styles can change Review Track changes and comments Note 2Suggesting mode and comments Collaboration Real-time co-authoring Note 3Live editing for many people at once Authoring Styles, templates and mail merge Note 4Styles and templates; mail merge needs an add-on Footnotes, citations and cross-references Note 5Footnotes and a citations sidebar; no endnotes or cross-references Automation VBA macros Note 6Uses Apps Script instead of VBA AI Built-in AI writing assistant Note 7Gemini in Docs needs a paid Google AI or Workspace plan; some personal accounts get Help me write as an experiment Parity score 50%
Google Docs, Complex DOCX layout fidelity: Imports DOCX; complex layouts and styles can change Google Docs, Track changes and comments: Suggesting mode and comments Google Docs, Real-time co-authoring: Live editing for many people at once Google Docs, Styles, templates and mail merge: Styles and templates; mail merge needs an add-on Google Docs, Footnotes, citations and cross-references: Footnotes and a citations sidebar; no endnotes or cross-references Google Docs, VBA macros: Uses Apps Script instead of VBA Google Docs, Built-in AI writing assistant: Gemini in Docs needs a paid Google AI or Workspace plan; some personal accounts get Help me write as an experiment All free alternatives to Microsoft Word
Google Docs vs Microsoft Word: file formats Format Google Docs Microsoft Word .docx Note 1Complex layouts and styles can change on import and export .doc Note 2Opens DOC files; downloads are offered as DOCX, ODT, RTF and PDF .rtf Note 3Basic formatting carries over .odt Note 4Basic formatting carries over .pdf Note 5Exports PDF; a PDF opened with Google Docs is converted to text and loses its layout
Google Docs, .docx: Complex layouts and styles can change on import and export Google Docs, .doc: Opens DOC files; downloads are offered as DOCX, ODT, RTF and PDF Google Docs, .rtf: Basic formatting carries over Google Docs, .odt: Basic formatting carries over Google Docs, .pdf: Exports PDF; a PDF opened with Google Docs is converted to text and loses its layout