The key difference between LibreOffice and Microsoft is that LibreOffice is an open-source, free suite of office products while Microsoft Office is a commercial office suite product package that requires users to purchase a license. Both will run on multiple platforms and both offer similar functionality though there are some areas where LibreOffice has an upper hand when compared to Microsoft Office.

Comparison: LibreOffice vs Microsoft Office

1) Supported Platforms:

LibreOffice will run on Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are Microsoft Office versions for Windows and Mac. However, running Microsoft Office on Linux can get complicated.

Programs

LibreOffice includes the following software programs:

  • Spreadsheet: Calc
  • Word processing: Writer
  • Presentations: Impress
  • Database: Base
  • Math: Formula Editor
  • Draw: Vector Graphics

Microsoft Office (365 personal subscriptions) offers:

  • Spreadsheet: Excel
  • Word processing: Word
  • Presentations: PowerPoint
  • Database: Access (for PC users only)
  • Email: Outlook
  • Desktop publishing: Publisher (for PC users only)

2) File Compatibility:

LibreOffice is compatible with most of the common file formats from Microsoft Office including XLSX, DOCX, and PPTX. It is also compatible with other non-Microsoft product formats. With Microsoft Office, newer versions of their products are often not compatible with older versions of their products. If you open and try to save a Microsoft document from someone who is using a different version, you will see a message letting you know that some of the features are not supported by earlier versions. LibreOffice beats Microsoft Office in file compatibility because it supports many more formats, including a built-in option to export documents as an eBook (EPUB).

3) User Support:

When you pay for a Microsoft Office license, you are also purchasing customer support. You can use the online chatbot, live chat support, or call to speak with a live person. In addition, Microsoft published a set of guides to help you use their products. LibreOffice, like all open-source platforms, relies on assistance from the users of the community that volunteer their expertise and time. As the product is free, there is no obligation to provide support, so you might have to wait a little longer for answers to your questions. There is, however, a vast amount of information and help available in the form of community support.

4) Price:

LibreOffice is free to download and use, even for commercial purposes – no strings attached. Because it's open-source software, you can also download and edit the source code, should you wish to. You can buy a one-time license for Microsoft Office, but a Microsoft Office 365 subscription offers the best value. There are different tiers available, depending on your needs, with options for business and personal users.

Why should you choose LibreOffice over Microsoft Office?

The first thing that catches the eye about LibreOffice is the price tag, or more specifically the lack of one. LibreOffice originally forked off of OpenOffice and has been regularly maintained and developed over the years. It's one of the best free office suites of applications around and has programs for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. It is a versatile and powerful set of programs. It supports open formats that allow you to use documents from other programs so you don't have to isolate yourself or your workflow into a Libre Office world. The value of LibreOffice is truly impressive. It's practically an advertisement for the open-source community because of how great of an app you can legally get for free. While LibreOffice is free, it's not some half-hearted project. It's regularly maintained and updated to support the latest versions of Windows 10. The suite can also be expanded with extensions to add more power and versatility.

By utilizing LibreOffice in conjunction with Tetra, you will have complete peace of mind regarding all of your business needs. Tetra has a strong track record for always putting customers first.

Contact us to learn what LibreOffice services might look like for your organization. Allow our representative to either call you in 24 hours or e-mail you for more details about our services - Click Here