Microsoft Office is one of the most popular software packages of all time, with a suite of programs most commonly used for word processing, building databases, creating spreadsheets and putting presentations together. Many people, however, find that Microsoft Office is too expensive for private or small business use, especially when purchasing the full version. Some people also prefer not to use Microsoft products, for a variety of reasons. Whatever your reason for wanting to avoid Microsoft Office, these 4 free alternatives could provide everything you need.

OpenOffice

OpenOffice is an open-source suite of programs for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, graphics manipulation and even mathematical equations. OpenOffice was originally designed as a free alternative to Microsoft Office, with the code freely available for any developer to use and alter. OpenOffice is widely used across a range of platforms, and all documents can be saved in a format compatible with Microsoft products.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a free web-based service provided by Google, including an office suite with word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, graphics and form building capabilities, as well as free online data storage. Google Docs provides the ability to create, edit, save and store documents in a variety of formats. Users can also create shared documents that can be accessed and edited by other people. All Google Docs can be saved and downloaded in formats compatible with Microsoft products.

KOffice

KOffice is a free open-source office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet software, graphics manipulation tools and a presentation application. KOffice was originally designed for use on Linux, but has since been made available for Windows systems. There is extensive support available online for those wanting to use the advanced features.

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free open-source office suite that can be used on both Windows and Linux-based systems, and was originally developed from the OpenOffice suite of programs. LibreOffice contains word processing, spreadsheet, database, graphics editing and presentation software, as well as a program for creating mathematical equations. There are also additional tools and support for working with PDF files.

If you are looking for new office software and want to save money, you don’t need to pay a fortune for an office suite. There are free programs available that can perform most, if not all, of the functions provided by paid-for office software.