LibreOffice Writer vs Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word and LibreOffice Writer, one of its free alternatives, side by side.
LW
Best for a full offline word processor on any desktop
License: Open source
Status: Active
- DOCXDOCX: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Complex layouts and some fonts can shift
- DOCDOC: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Legacy DOC opens and saves; macros and embedded objects can differ
- RTFRTF: opens and saves, full fidelity
- ODTODT: opens and saves, full fidelity. Native format
- PDFPDF: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Exports PDF/A and tagged PDF; opening a PDF edits it in Draw, not as flowing text
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 - DOCXDOCX: opens and saves, full fidelity
- DOCDOC: opens and saves, full fidelity
- RTFRTF: opens and saves, full fidelity
- ODTODT: opens and saves, full fidelity
- PDFPDF: opens and saves, full fidelity
LibreOffice Writer vs Microsoft Word: facts| Fact | LibreOffice Writer | Microsoft Word |
|---|
| License | License: Open sourceMPL-2.0 | License: Free tier |
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| Maintenance | Status: Active | Status: Verified |
|---|
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
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| macOS | Yes | Yes |
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| Linux | Yes | No |
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| Web | No | Yes |
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| iOS | No | Yes |
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| Android | No | Yes |
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| Self-hostable | No | No |
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| Works offline | Yes | Yes |
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| No account needed | Yes | No |
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| Parity with Microsoft Word | 57% | The reference |
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License classes: Open source and Free tier. Status rules: Active means a commit in the last 90 days. See the methodology.
Feature parity with Microsoft Word
How LibreOffice Writer covers what people use Microsoft Word for.
Feature parity with Microsoft Word| Feature | LibreOffice Writer |
|---|
| Compatibility |
|---|
| Complex DOCX layout fidelity | PartialNote 1Opens and saves DOCX; complex layouts and some fonts can shift |
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| Review |
|---|
| Track changes and comments | YesNote 2Record, accept and reject changes with comments |
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| Collaboration |
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| Real-time co-authoring | NoNote 3The desktop app has no real-time co-authoring |
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| Authoring |
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| Styles, templates and mail merge | YesNote 4Styles, templates and mail merge are built in |
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| Footnotes, citations and cross-references | YesNote 5Footnotes, endnotes, cross-references and a bibliography database |
|---|
| Automation |
|---|
| VBA macros | PartialNote 6Basic and Python macros; Word VBA macros often need rewriting |
|---|
| AI |
|---|
| Built-in AI writing assistant | NoNote 7No built-in AI by design as of 26.8; community extensions can connect outside models |
|---|
| Parity score | 57% |
|---|
- LibreOffice Writer, Complex DOCX layout fidelity: Opens and saves DOCX; complex layouts and some fonts can shift
- LibreOffice Writer, Track changes and comments: Record, accept and reject changes with comments
- LibreOffice Writer, Real-time co-authoring: The desktop app has no real-time co-authoring
- LibreOffice Writer, Styles, templates and mail merge: Styles, templates and mail merge are built in
- LibreOffice Writer, Footnotes, citations and cross-references: Footnotes, endnotes, cross-references and a bibliography database
- LibreOffice Writer, VBA macros: Basic and Python macros; Word VBA macros often need rewriting
- LibreOffice Writer, Built-in AI writing assistant: No built-in AI by design as of 26.8; community extensions can connect outside models
All free alternatives to Microsoft Word
LibreOffice Writer vs Microsoft Word: file formats| Format | LibreOffice Writer | Microsoft Word |
|---|
| .docx | Opens and savesNote 1Complex layouts and some fonts can shiftPartial fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
|---|
| .doc | Opens and savesNote 2Legacy DOC opens and saves; macros and embedded objects can differPartial fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
|---|
| .rtf | Opens and savesFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
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| .odt | Opens and savesNote 3Native formatFull fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
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| .pdf | Opens and savesNote 4Exports PDF/A and tagged PDF; opening a PDF edits it in Draw, not as flowing textPartial fidelity | Opens and savesFull fidelity |
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- LibreOffice Writer, .docx: Complex layouts and some fonts can shift
- LibreOffice Writer, .doc: Legacy DOC opens and saves; macros and embedded objects can differ
- LibreOffice Writer, .odt: Native format
- LibreOffice Writer, .pdf: Exports PDF/A and tagged PDF; opening a PDF edits it in Draw, not as flowing text