Use free Word, Excel and PowerPoint alternatives

Write letters and make spreadsheets free with Microsoft's web apps, Google Docs or LibreOffice. No paid Office needed.

⏱ About 10 minutes · 5 steps
What you'll need
  • A computer, tablet or phone
  • A free Microsoft or Google account (for the web apps)

Official links

These open the real sites in a new tab. Checked October 2026.

Who qualifies

Anyone. The web apps need a free Microsoft or Google account; LibreOffice needs no account. Apple's Pages, Numbers and Keynote are free on Apple devices.

What you get

Everyday documents, spreadsheets and slides, and you can open and save Word and Excel files.

After the free part

Free. Microsoft's paid desktop apps start with Microsoft 365 Personal at $99.99 a year, but most people don't need them.

Download Office apps safely: Type the official address yourself / Free account, no card / libreoffice.org for LibreOffice; "Free Office" from a search ad / Asks for payment or a "key" / Cracked or patched copies

  1. Microsoft's free web apps

    Sign in at Microsoft365.com with a free Microsoft account to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint in your web browser. They have fewer features than the paid desktop apps and need an internet connection. Files save to OneDrive (5 GB free).

  2. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides

    With a free Google Account, go to docs.google.com. Files save to Google Drive, and they can open and save Word and Excel files.

  3. LibreOffice for your computer

    LibreOffice is a free office suite you install on Windows, Mac or Linux, and it works without the internet. Download it only from libreoffice.org.

  4. Which should I pick?

    • Need to share and work together? Google Docs or Microsoft's web apps.
    • No internet, or want an app on your computer? LibreOffice.
    • Someone sent you a Word file? Any of the three can open it.

  5. Download safely

    ⚠️ Careful: Search ads and look-alike sites sometimes offer "free Office" downloads that come with malware or ask for payment. Type the official address yourself. Real free programs never ask for your card or bank details to give you something free, never pressure you with a countdown, and never come from a random text, pop-up or caller. Go to the official website yourself instead of tapping a link.

Compare at a glance

AppWorks offline?Account?Best for
Microsoft 365 web appsNoMicrosoft accountWord and Excel files
Google Docs, Sheets, SlidesPartlyGoogle AccountSharing and teamwork
LibreOfficeYesNoneNo internet, older PCs
Apple Pages, Numbers, KeynoteYesApple AccountiPhone, iPad and Mac
Open a Word file for free: Sign in at Microsoft365.com with a free account; Upload the file to free OneDrive; Open in Word for the web; Save it stays as a Word file
⚠️ Watch out for look-alike sites

The real addresses are Microsoft365.com, docs.google.com, libreoffice.org. Type it yourself or use the buttons above. Fake sites use names like libre-office-free.download, office365-free-key.com (examples only, do not visit). A real free program never asks for your card or bank details to “unlock” it.

Why we trust this: Feature limits come from Microsoft's own comparison page; downloads from the official LibreOffice and Apple pages, checked October 2026.

🎉 All done! You can do everyday documents, spreadsheets and slides without paying for Office.

Related game: Safe or Risky?. Related explainer: What does “the cloud” really mean? .

Official help pages

Steps checked against these pages in October 2026. If a button looks different, look for a similar label.