Word vs LibreOffice
Microsoft Word
Microsoft's word processor in Microsoft 365, Office Home 2024, and Word for the web.
Best for OneDrive and Microsoft 365
LibreOffice Writer
The word processor in LibreOffice 26.8.0, under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
Best for a no-cost desktop download
Microsoft Word is included in Microsoft 365. Personal is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and Word for the web is free when the file is saved in OneDrive. LibreOffice Writer is the word processor in LibreOffice, which the project offers at no cost under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. The current download is LibreOffice 26.8.0. There is no winner.
Deciding factor: Word for Microsoft 365 and OneDrive collaboration, including a free web app. LibreOffice Writer for a no-cost desktop download under the Mozilla Public License.
Key fact: Microsoft 365 Personal is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, Word for the web is free with OneDrive, and the current LibreOffice download is 26.8.0.
Best fit for OneDrive and Microsoft 365: Word. Personal is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, and Word for the web is free when the file is in OneDrive. Best fit for a no-cost desktop word processor: LibreOffice Writer. The download is offered at no cost under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. The current download is LibreOffice 26.8.0. There is no single winner.
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Best for OneDrive and Microsoft 365
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Best for a no-cost desktop download
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Desktop price:Microsoft 365 Personal from $9.99 a month vs Website download at no cost
- Free web app:Word for the web, files in OneDrive vs LibreOffice Online needs your own server stack
- Default file:.docx vs .odt
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Key Differences
5 attributes compared head-to-head
- Microsoft 365 Personal from $9.99 a monthDesktop priceWebsite download at no cost
- Word for the web, files in OneDriveFree web appLibreOffice Online needs your own server stack
- .docxDefault file.odt
- Microsoft 365 subscription or Office Home 2024LicenseMozilla Public License 2.0
- Microsoft 365 and Office Home 2024Named releaseLibreOffice 26.8.0
- Desktop price
Microsoft Word
Microsoft 365 Personal from $9.99 a month
LibreOffice Writer
Website download at no cost
- Free web app
Microsoft Word
Word for the web, files in OneDrive
LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Online needs your own server stack
- Default file
Microsoft Word
.docx
LibreOffice Writer
.odt
- License
Microsoft Word
Microsoft 365 subscription or Office Home 2024
LibreOffice Writer
Mozilla Public License 2.0
- Named release
Microsoft Word
Microsoft 365 and Office Home 2024
LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice 26.8.0
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  Microsoft Word |  LibreOffice Writer |
|---|---|---|
| License | Microsoft 365 subscription, or Office Home 2024 as a one-time purchase for one PC or Mac | Mozilla Public License 2.0. Contributions are also asked under the GNU Lesser GPL v3 or later |
| Published price | Personal $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Family $12.99/month or $129.99/year. Premium $19.99/month or $199.99/year. Word for the web is free. Office Home 2024 is $179.99 one-time for PC or Mac | At no cost from the project. Store copies: a small charge, amount not published |
| Platforms | PC, Mac, Android, and iOS. Personal: five devices at once. Web app: browser, iOS, and Android | Windows 10 or 11, Windows Server 2012 through 2022, macOS 11 or newer, Linux kernel 4.18 or higher. 26.8.0 builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux |
| File formats | .docx is the default. .odt can be opened and saved, and formatting might be lost. .doc, .pdf, and .rtf are also supported | Default .odt, with a separate save as .docx or .doc. LibreOffice 26.8 adds Markdown import and export |
| Collaboration | Word for the web collaborates in real time when the file is saved in and shared from OneDrive | LibreOffice Online edits in a browser after you add file access and sign-in. Not a hosted Document Foundation cloud. Notice past 10 documents or 20 connections |
Show 1 more attributeOffline use Installed Word does not need a constant connection. A subscription still needs the internet at least every 31 days or editing stops Desktop download runs on the computer and does not require an account | ||
Microsoft WordLibreOffice WriterShow 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
8 pros·8 cons across both
Microsoft Word
Pros
Cons
LibreOffice Writer
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions
Microsoft offers Word for the web at no charge with a Microsoft account. Real-time collaboration requires the file to be saved in and shared from OneDrive. The free offer includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage plus web and mobile apps for the browser, iOS, and Android. Desktop Word is a separate product. Microsoft 365 includes Word in Personal at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, Family at $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year, and Premium at $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year. Office Home 2024 is a $179.99 one-time purchase for PC or Mac and includes Word.
LibreOffice offers the tools at no cost. LibreOffice is free software made available under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, and contributions are asked to be licensed under both that license and the GNU Lesser GPL v3 or later. Website downloads cover Windows, macOS, and Linux. Microsoft Store and Mac App Store copies are still free software, but there is a small charge to cover putting the software in those stores. The store price is not published.
Microsoft says .docx is Word's default XML format, and that Word can open and save OpenDocument Text .odt files. Formatting might be lost when users save and open .odt files. Word also supports .doc, .pdf, and .rtf. Writer creates and saves OpenDocument .odt files by default, and a document can be saved as .docx or .doc. Save the OpenDocument copy first. Other versions of LibreOffice may differ. LibreOffice 26.8 adds Markdown import and export.
Word for the web is for writing and collaborating online in real time. The files must be saved in and shared from OneDrive. LibreOffice Online is a server service for display and collaborative editing in a browser. It does not include a file system, and it has to be integrated with file access and authentication. The Document Foundation says it is not planning to run a hosted cloud like Microsoft's, and that a build used past 10 concurrent documents or 20 connections shows a not-supported notice while it keeps working.
Microsoft 365 apps are compatible with PC, Mac, Android, and iOS, and Personal lets one person sign in to five devices at once. Features and app availability may vary by region. A subscription's apps go into reduced functionality if the computer is not online at least every 31 days: you can view or print, but not edit or create, until you reconnect. Once installed, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint do not need a constant connection. LibreOffice runs on Windows 10 or 11 and Windows Server 2012 through 2022, macOS 11 or newer on Intel or Apple silicon, and Linux with kernel 4.18 or higher. LibreOffice 26.8.0 offers Windows x86-64 and ARM64, macOS Apple silicon and Intel, and Linux rpm and deb packages.
Install Microsoft 365, or use Word for the web, if the documents already live in OneDrive and you want Word's real-time editing there. Download LibreOffice if you want Writer on your own computer under the Mozilla Public License, with OpenDocument as the default save format. The two can exchange .docx and .odt files. Microsoft says formatting might be lost on .odt. There is no winner.
Analysis: Microsoft Word vs LibreOffice Writer
Choose Word if you want Microsoft's word processor in Microsoft 365 or in the free web app. Choose LibreOffice Writer if you want the desktop suite the project offers at no cost, with OpenDocument as the default format. There is no winner.
Price and license
Microsoft 365 Personal is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year for one person, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote desktop apps, 1 TB of cloud storage, and sign-in on five devices at once. Family is $12.99 a month or $129.99 a year for one to six people, with up to 6 TB (1 TB per person). Premium is $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year. Office Home 2024 is a $179.99 one-time purchase for PC or Mac and includes Word. Word for the web is free. Microsoft says features and app availability may vary by region.
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LibreOffice offers the tools at no cost. The license is the Mozilla Public License 2.0. Website downloads for Windows, macOS, and Linux do not add a price. Microsoft Store and Mac App Store copies have a small charge. The amount is not published.
Files
Word's default format is .docx. Microsoft says Word can open and save .odt, and that formatting might be lost. Writer's default save is .odt, and a .docx or .doc copy is a separate file. Save the OpenDocument copy first. LibreOffice 26.8 adds Markdown import and export. Other versions of LibreOffice may differ in appearance and functionality.
Working together
Word for the web collaborates in real time when the file is in OneDrive. LibreOffice Online can edit in a browser only after someone integrates it with file storage and sign-in. The Document Foundation says it is not building a hosted service of its own. A deployment past 10 concurrent documents or 20 connections shows a not-supported notice.
Who should install which
Install Word, through Microsoft 365 or the free web app, when the people you write with already use OneDrive. Download LibreOffice Writer when you want a local word processor at no cost from libreoffice.org, and you are willing to keep an OpenDocument original before you hand someone a .docx copy.
Resources & Learn More
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External Resources
Microsoft 365 plan comparison (opens in new tab)
Personal $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Family $12.99/month or $129.99/year. Premium $19.99/month or $199.99/year. Office Home 2024 is $179.99 one-time for PC or Mac.
Free Word for the web (opens in new tab)
Free Word for the web, 5 GB OneDrive, real-time collaboration when the file is in OneDrive.
Word file formats (opens in new tab)
.docx is the default. .odt can be opened and saved, and formatting might be lost.
LibreOffice download (opens in new tab)
LibreOffice 26.8.0 for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with Markdown import and export.
LibreOffice licenses (opens in new tab)
Free software under the Mozilla Public License 2.0.
LibreOffice suite overview (opens in new tab)
Writer is the word processor. The tools are offered at no cost.
LibreOffice system requirements (opens in new tab)
Windows 10 or 11, macOS 11 or newer, and Linux kernel 4.18 or higher.
LibreOffice Online and store downloads (opens in new tab)
Store copies have a small charge. LibreOffice Online needs your own file access and sign-in, with a notice past 10 documents or 20 connections.
Writer getting started guide (opens in new tab)
Published June 2026 for LibreOffice 26.2. Default save is .odt. A .docx or .doc copy is a separate save.
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