Alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026: free, offline, and DOCX compatible

Looking for Microsoft Office alternatives for 2026? The landscape is much more diverse now than before, and the available options, more robust and attractiveBelow, we'll tell you what free, offline alternatives are available that are compatible with the ubiquitous DOCX format.

Alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026: The established classic trilogy

It couldn't be otherwise: among the best alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026, there are three established options. We're talking about LibreOffice, OnlyOffice and WPS OfficeThe classic trilogy of office suites. It's true they started as modest rivals, but today they've evolved into viable and powerful replacements. Let's take a closer look.

LibreOffice: The best of the best in free software

Unquestionably, LibreOffice It's the standard-bearer of open source when it comes to office applications. By far, it's the most complete option for those seeking independence from Microsoft and who value the philosophy of free software. robust, stable and efficient, the best alternative to Microsoft Office for 2026 in the academic and professional field.

Needless to say, LibreOffice It is free and can be installed locally.No mandatory cloud storage or hidden telemetry. And of course, it includes a word processor (Writer), spreadsheets (Calc), presentation software (Impress), graphics (Draw), data management (Base), and formulas (Math). In 2026, it further refined its interface, making it more user-friendly and almost as intuitive as Microsoft Office.

Speaking of compatibility, LibreOffice Writer's default format is .odt, but You can change it to .docx from its settingsThis way, any document you edit will be saved in this universal and widely used format. And there's more good news: LibreOffice now has a Ribbon menu like Word, and you're going to love it. when you try it.

ONLYOFFICE: Most similar to Microsoft Office

If you prefer a visual experience more similar to Microsoft Office, then you can try the office suite only Office. Its interface is the one that most closely resembles, both visually and functionally, the Office ribbon.It is deliberately designed this way: it minimizes the learning curve and appeals to the most nostalgic users.

In terms of compatibility, OnlyOffice stands out among the alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026. The suite uses a rendering engine that aims for a almost identical fidelity with Word and Excel documentsFurthermore, it handles complex elements with great precision, such as content controls, nested comments, and revisions.

OnlyOffice comes in two versions: Desktop Editors, which is free, offline, and locally installedIt also offers a powerful cloud-based collaboration suite (for a fee) for those who want to scale up later. Like LibreOffice, it is cross-platform and fully compatible with DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.

WPS Office: The elegant all-in-one solution

The third alternative to Microsoft Office for 2026 is WPS OfficeThe elegant all-in-one solution. There's no denying it: this software combines a Modern and polished interface with a very complete free suiteIts design is perhaps the most visually appealing of the three, and its performance is second to none.

It also has excellent compatibility with the native Office format, .docx. Like OnlyOffice, it prioritizes high fidelity in viewing and editing. Furthermore, It includes a large library of free Microsoft-style templatesThese are very useful for quickly starting documents. And if that weren't enough, it's cross-platform, including Android, where it has a large number of loyal users.

One reason WPS Office has gained legions of followers is that it's packed with features. It seamlessly processes text, spreadsheets, and presentations, and boasts a powerful PDF editor. And its tabbed interface for managing multiple documents She is adored by many.

Any complaints? The free version shows ads The interface is non-intrusive. Additionally, some advanced features, such as bulk PDF conversion, require a paid (but affordable) license. Otherwise, it's one of the best and most comprehensive alternatives to Microsoft Office 2026.

Other alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026 that you can try

Is there life beyond the LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, and WPS Office trilogy? Yes, there is, although in its A simplified version for less demanding usersThe truth is, these three alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026 are the most highly recommended. Besides being free, offline, and compatible with DOCX files, they are very well-built and supported.

But since we're talking about alternatives, it's worth mentioning some lesser-known but functional ones. In fact, There aren't many options that meet all three requirements: free, offline, and compatible with DOCX.Many meet the first and last criteria, but are reserved for or work better in their online version. In any case, they are listed below, and you can try them out to see if they meet your expectations.

FreeOffice

This office suite developed by SoftMaker has everything it needs to compete head-to-head with the leading alternatives to Microsoft Office 2026. It's fully compatible with the DOCX format, 100% free, and installs locally. Its interface offers two modes: Classic, similar to the menus in Office 2003, and a Ribbon Mode very similar to the Microsoft Office 2021/365 interface.

On the other hand, FreeOffice has a paid version, SoftMaker Office, which adds more fonts, proofreading features, and priority support. But its free version is undoubtedly one of the best-kept secrets in the office suite world. You can download this software from its website. Official Site.

Apache OpenOffice among the alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026

Apache OpenOffice is a historic project, as well as the venerable grandfather of free office suites. Under the name OperOffice.org, it was the suite that demonstrated to the world that a free and open-source alternative to Microsoft Office was possible. LibreOffice emerged from it, but the official proposal remains active, albeit with a slower development rate.

Apple Pages (macOS and iOS)

Finally, we find Pages among the alternatives to Microsoft Office for 2026 within the Apple ecosystem. Naturally, It comes pre-installed on the brand's computers and mobile phones, and is free to use.While it can create .docx documents from scratch without issue, it may encounter compatibility problems when opening and editing them. Otherwise, it's a powerful, comprehensive, elegant, and seamlessly integrated text editor.