Office 365 is one of the most popular office suites for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Although it’s hard to match its set of features, there are plenty of Office 365 alternatives that are easy to use and budget-friendly.
The Office 365 set of apps includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and more. It can be downloaded as a software package or operated in the cloud using your usual internet browser. Pricing starts from £4.50 per user/month, but it can go up to £30 for access to premium features such as advanced security and enhanced device management.
If you are looking for a set of collaboration tools for your team, or simply want to cut down on software costs, these are the best Office 365 alternatives to consider:
Google Workspace
Google Workspace has proven itself as the best Microsoft Office 365 alternative. The productivity suite from Google includes Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet as alternatives to Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Teams. It also includes Google Drive as the cloud storage service that brings together all your business files.
Apps are broadly interlinked and can be used through any web browser on PC/Mac or dedicated apps on mobile devices. Real-time collaboration is seamless, and users can be confident they’re always working with the latest files, without the need for moving or duplicating documents.
Pricing starts from only £4.60 per user/month and this makes Google Workspace a cost-effective solution for those who don’t want to compromise on functionality.
More reasons to choose Google Workspace:
- Modern user interface
- Based on Google’s advanced and secure infrastructure
- Ready for remote and hybrid work
Zoho Workplace
Zoho is a well-established software company focused on developing business tools. Zoho Workplace is an extensive suite of office apps that enables users to manage their business email, collaborate on documents and spreadsheets, manage files and host online meetings.
Although Zoho apps are compatible with files originating from other platforms, including Office 365, you might occasionally run into compatibility issues with Microsoft formats and PDFs; this could be a problem if you deal with these file types regularly.
The bundle of productivity apps from Zoho comes at an affordable price, starting from only £2.4/user/month.
More reasons to choose Zoho Workplace:
- Easy setup
- Integration with other Zoho apps and 3rd party applications
- Work on the go with mobile apps
LibreOffice
If you’re looking for a free Office 365 alternative, LibreOffice might be your best choice. This free and open-source collection of apps includes a word processor, a spreadsheets app and presentation software. The office suite, which can be downloaded on both PC and Mac, supports a wide range of files, including Microsoft formats and PDF. Users can also add extra functionality to LibreOffice apps using extensions.
You won’t find all the features available with Office 365 or Google Workspace, but you will manage to handle common tasks successfully. Although there’s no technical support, you can find plenty of resources to help you get started.
More reasons to choose LibreOffice:
- Download and use the apps without having to create an account
- Familiar interface
- Export your files into PDF without any hassle
What is the best Office 365 alternative for my business?
When choosing an Office 365 alternative for your organisation, you should not rush the decision. Take your time to research your options and weigh the pros and cons against each other. Solutions such as Google Workspace can successfully replace Office 365 in a business setting, but if budget is key, Zoho Workplace and even LibreOffice might be enough for your business.