List of Office Software Suites and Apps for Windows

List of productivity tools for your Windows laptop or desktop

by
Cindy Grigg
Writer
Cindy Grigg is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a productivity writer who teaches Microsoft Office software to students and pros.
our editorial process
Cindy Grigg
Updated on March 11, 2021

The office suite apps or software for your Windows computer or device depend on your preferences for features such as user interface, document compatibility, price, and cloud options.

Here are some of your most popular software suites to begin looking at. You can buy software or apps for Windows desktop from a variety of sites​ but we suggest focusing on each software manufacturer's site. Be careful to always download from reputable sources.

Also, keep in mind that the last few on this list are cloud or online options. In those cases, you need to create an online account to access those programs.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office logo

Microsoft
What We Like

  • Create documents that are easy to exchange without compatibility issues.

  • Large assortment of templates.

  • Vast array of features and capabilities.

What We Don't Like

  • Confusing navigation.

  • Significant cost, but has a free trial and monthly subscription plans.

  • Bloated, with many features some users won't use.

Naturally, Microsoft Office is an important productivity option to consider for your Windows device. While opinions certainly vary regarding how intuitive the world's most popular office suite really is, it is still the standard for document compatibility.

Corel WordPerfect

WordPerfect Suite

Corel Corporation
What We Like

  • Reveal Codes to diagnose formatting issues quickly and easily.

  • Easy to create useful macros.

  • Generates files that are compatible with Microsoft Office.

What We Don't Like

  • Not as widely used as Office, so fewer third-party add-ons are available.

  • Spreadsheet program not as powerful as alternatives.

Corel's office suites are feature-rich programs comparable to Microsoft Office. Check out Corel WordPerfect Office X6 or later for interesting features such as eBook Publisher functionality.

At the time of this writing, it is only available as a desktop version.

Kingsoft Office

Kingsoft Free Office 2012

Kingsoft Office
What We Like

  • Full complement of features, despite low or no cost.

  • Customizable interface that's similar to Microsoft Office.

What We Don't Like

  • Free version is ad-supported.

  • No grammar checking.

The Kingsoft Office suite is offered by a popular software manufacturer based in China.

For Windows, you can select an affordable mobile or desktop version, or try the OfficeSuiteFree version if available.

LibreOffice Suite

LibreOffice Suite

The Document Foundation
What We Like

  • Free.

  • Large user community means lots of support and templates.

What We Don't Like

  • Interface looks dated.

  • Impress (for presentations) not fully compatible with PowerPoint.

LibreOffice software is free as an open-source project from The Document Foundation. The suite offers impressive language options and continually improves the suite with each new version release.

OpenOffice Suite

OpenOffice Logo

Apache Software Foundation
What We Like

  • Free.

  • Able to handle a variety of formats from other programs.

What We Don't Like

  • No email or calendar application.

  • Occasionally slow and buggy.

OpenOffice is a free software suite under the Apache Software Foundation, an open-source community. With hundreds of thousands of developers and other professionals donating their skills, OpenOffice remains a robust alternative to Microsoft Office.

ThinkFree Office

ThinkFree Office

Hancom Inc.
What We Like

  • Optimized for tablet and phone use.

  • Offers basic functionality of other office suites.

What We Don't Like

  • Macros and templates are lacking or unavailable.

  • Compatibility issues with Microsoft Office files.

ThinkFree Office by Hancom comes in a desktop (premium) or online version (free) you may be interested in. This suite includes Write, Calc, and Show.

Microsoft Office Online

Excel Web App

Microsoft
What We Like

  • Easy, real-time collaboration.

  • Accessible from anywhere.

What We Don't Like

  • Annual subscription fee.

  • Can't run macros or access password-protected files.

Microsoft also features a free, streamlined version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Users access these programs through their internet browser. 

Google Docs and Google Apps

Google Docs Icon

Google
What We Like

  • Free.

  • Documents are automatically and frequently saved in the cloud.

  • Seamless, convenient online collaboration.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited selection of templates.

  • Not as robust as Microsoft Office.

  • Working with images can be a bit finicky.

The web-based Google Docs and mobile Google Apps are accessed through the software company's cloud environment, Google Drive. The free version is impressive and compatibility issues keep decreasing with this productivity option. You can buy a subscription for a business version similar to Microsoft 365 which includes additional features.

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