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Office Software and Apps for Mac

Maximize your productivity with these programs and apps

By Cindy Grigg Cindy Grigg Writer Cindy Grigg is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a productivity writer who teaches Microsoft Office software to students and pros. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 5, 2020 Tweet Share Email Jakraphong Pongpotganatam / Getty Images Tweet Share Email MS Office Word Excel Powerpoint Outlook Find your best office software suite productivity solution for Mac by investigating these popular options. This list takes you through several alternatives, because you have other options than just Apple's iWork or Microsoft's Office for Mac, though those popular options are available as well.

Free Versus Premium Options

This list begins with free options then moves to premium alternatives if you have a little money to invest in your productivity software. Many free suites offer plenty of tools for some users, so you may be able to save money. That said, keep in mind that premium office software suites may offer the additional features you may need, so for some users, the value can be worth the cost.

OpenOffice for Mac Desktop - FREE

Apache Software Foundation The Apache Software Foundation administers an open source software suite that is one of the most popular worldwide, in part because it is compatible with so many operating systems. What We Like Free. Capably tackles most common Microsoft Office tasks. What We Don't Like Installation occasionally glitchy. Intuitive interface, but not as sleek as Microsoft Office.

LibreOffice for Mac Desktop - FREE

The Document Foundation LibreOffice was voted by this site's community to be the Readers' Choice Award Winner of Favorite Office Software for Mac. A free office suite, LibreOffice is nonetheless a powerful rival to more expensive office software suites. What We Like Open-source, with frequent updates. Extensive help through documentation and large community. Reliably compatible with Microsoft Office formats. What We Don't Like No integrated cloud storage. No real-time collaborative editing.

iWork for iCloud Online - FREE

Apple You can also check out iWork for iCloud, the free online version of iWork. This requires an online account, which implies needing an internet connection. This can be a great option for someone who wants to stay within the Apple lineup of products. What We Like Free. No Apple device necessary, enabling cross-platform collaboration. Documents accessible from anywhere. What We Don't Like Requires internet connection. Not as fully featured as Apple’s desktop versions.

Google Docs Apps for Mac Online - FREE

Google Access the free web-based Google Docs and mobile Google Apps by signing up for Google Drive. Google's online suites are not as function-rich as iWork or Microsoft Office but are still robust and very popular as accessible, user-friendly versions of tasks for the average user. You will find free and business versions. What We Like Free. Widely used. Accessible from anywhere. What We Don't Like Lacks a few features of Microsoft Office. Docs aren’t always mirror images of Office versions.

Microsoft Office for Mac - Varies

Microsoft Microsoft has traditionally offered a separate Mac version for Office. Find desktop versions, 2016 and earlier, by visiting Office for Mac News & Tips. Office 2016 is the latest version of the traditional desktop suite and a subscription-based Microsoft 365 is available for Mac. What We Like Familiar, intuitive interface. Robust set of features. What We Don't Like Can be expensive. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 8 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives of 2022 The 10 Best Free Word Processing Apps for iPad (2022) The 7 Best Shared Calendar Apps of 2022 The Best Mac Desktop Publishing Software of 2022 The 22 Best Free iPad Apps of 2022 17 Best Free Cloud Storage Services for Backup in 2022 Is Microsoft Word Free? Yes, It Can Be The 9 Best Free PDF Editors (October 2022) 7 Free Online Fax Services (Updated October 2022) List of Office Software Options for Windows 9 Best Free HTML Editors for Windows for 2022 The Best Free Productivity Apps for the iPad Microsoft Office Online Review Microsoft Office vs. iWork 9 Best Free Microsoft Office Alternatives The 10 Best Sites to Get Free Software for Students Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies