Perhaps one of the best free alternatives to Office 365, LibreOffice is an open-source program with its own versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It has all the features that you need to produce well-designed documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.

There are two versions of LibreOffice that you can download. The latest version is recommended for tech enthusiasts and early adopters. However, if you prefer a tried and tested version, you might prefer version 6.4.7 even though it doesn’t have the latest features. The download process is the same for both versions, but the overview below includes the latest features in version 7.0.3.

How to Download and Install LibreOffice for Free

  1. Click on the Download button on the sidebar, and the LibreOffice download page will open in a new tab.
  2. Choose the LibreOffice version you want and press the Download button, and the setup file will automatically download to your computer.
    Download LibreOffice
  3. When the file finishes downloading, open it, and the setup wizard will open.
  4. Click the Next button to begin.
  5. You can choose the Typical or Custom installation and then click Next. The Typical option includes all the programs and files, and with the custom installation, you have the option to pick and choose what to install. Only do this if you have some technical knowledge.
  6. You can opt to have a shortcut on your desktop and to load LibreOffice each time the device turns on. After you make your selection, press the Install button.
  7. You might have to reboot your computer before the installation can finish.

How to Uninstall LibreOffice

If LibreOffice isn’t the right solution for you, perhaps you’ll find something more suitable in the free alternatives listed below. You can remove LibreOffice from your computer in a few quick steps.

  1. Type Add or Remove Programs in the Windows search bar and press the Enter button.
  2. Locate LibreOffice in the list of installed programs, and click uninstall.
    Uninstall LibreOffice
  3. While the software is uninstalling, I had to close my Chrome browser and then reboot the entire computer, and then the program was completely removed.

LibreOffice Overview

LibreOffice is an open-source office productivity suite that rivals the powerful Office 365.

LibreOffice is a fork or a descendant of OpenOffice, the first serious competition to Office. The LibreOffice team was able to make some improvements to the OpenOffice code and developed this all-in-one collection of apps.

There are a total of six programs included in the download:

    • Writer: A word processing tool with all the features that you need to create professional documents. You can customize the page layout, add headers and footers, choose from a selection of fonts, and adjust font sizes to your liking. Writer also comes with grammar and spell-check functions, so your work not only looks professional but will help you limit your typos.
      LibreOffice Writer
    • Calc: This spreadsheet tool encompasses the majority of advanced table functions, formulas, and pivot table capabilities that you require. It also incorporates a variety of distinct templates designed to facilitate your initial setup.
      LibreOffice Calc
    • Impress: Design beautiful presentation slides, complete with animations, transitions between slides, 3D imaging, and a nice variety of templates to choose from. Impress has a presenter console, which allows you to add notes that can only be seen by the one giving the presentation.
      LibreOffice Impress
    • Draw: A nice solution for creating quick sketches, technical drawings, and more. The maximum size of an image is 300×300 cm, and it can be done freehand or with different shapes and line tools.
      LibreOffice Draw
    • Base: This application can handle all your database building needs and is integrated with all the other tools. Base is also compatible with common database software such as MySQL and JDBC.
      LibreOffice Base
    • Formula: This formula editor is great for teachers, scientists, researchers, and academics. It works with Writer, Calc, Impress, and Draw, which makes it easy to insert your formulas or mathematical equations into your various documents.
      LibreOffice Math

LibreOffice Features

  • Compatible with Office: Not only can LibreOffice open all types of Office documents, but one of the major features included in the latest version is it can now save files as a docx.
  • Digitally sign your documents: LibreOffice works with the secure and encrypted OpenPGP digital signature for Writer, Impress, and PDF files.
  • PDF Reader and Editor: Not only can you save files as a PDF, but LibreOffice can open and edit PDFs as well.
  • 100% open source: There are many benefits that come with open source technology. This includes better security, fewer bugs, and a helpful community of developers that can answer your questions should you need help.

Free Alternatives to LibreOffice

FAQ

Is LibreOffice free?

Not only is LibreOffice 100% free and open-source, but they also don’t have ads either. They rely on donations from satisfied users to help continue to fund the project.
Is LibreOffice Secure?

As long as you download the official version of LibreOffice, it is secure and free from viruses and malware. Stay away from downloading LibreOffice from third-party websites as they may try and charge you for the free software or inject malware, adware, spyware, or viruses into the code.
What is the difference between LibreOffice and OpenOffice?

LibreOffice was built using the OpenOffice code, which is why both programs have the same names for their apps. The biggest difference is that while LibreOffice can use the OpenOffice code to enhance any of the apps, OpenOffice doesn’t have access to the LibreOffice code. Therefore, you’ll see some unique features and improvements in LibreOffice that aren’t available in OpenOffice.
Is LibreOffice compatible with Office 365?

LibreOffice can open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, although they may not look exactly the same when opened in LibreOffice. This is because of differences in fonts and layouts. One of the latest LibreOffice features is you can now save your documents using Office formats, making it easy for others to open your files.
Download LibreOffice now!