The best free word processor 2021: alternatives to Microsoft Word

Date:
Mon, 04 Oct 2021 06:51:29 +0000

Description:
We feature the best free word processors, to make it simple and easy way to create familiar documents, without having to purchase a license or subscription to use it.

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The best free word processor makes it simple and easy way to create familiar documents, without having to purchase a license or subscription to use it. Best free word processors

Click the links below to go to the provider's website:



1. LibreOffice Writer

2. WPS Office Free Writer

3. FocusWriter

4. FreeOffice TextMaker

5. Writemonkey

You might be able to manage without a spreadsheet tool or something for
making slideshows, but text documents are unavoidable. However, while there are some good, free word processing programs out there, they tend to not have so many features as paid-for software.

Even when they do, there can be compatibility issues with moving document formats between software platforms, especially when importing to Microsoft Word .

Here were looking at the very best word processors that can be used offline (particularly useful for distraction-free writing), but there are also
several excellent browser-based tools to consider if you'd rather do your writing online.

Google Docs is the most obvious choice, and has the advantage of saving your work automatically so you dont have to worry if your connection fails. Its also a good choice for collaborative working, and means you dont have to upload work to a separate cloud storage service. However, it has a limited selection of templates, theres no way to import content from other Google applications, it suffers from the formatting issues when importing mentioned above, and any online tool is going to be surrounded by distractions like social media.

Here then are the best free word processors and alternatives to Microsoft
Word that will provide a reliable platform for you to work from, at home or
in the office. We've also featured the best Microsoft Office alternatives .

The best word processor available today is: Microsoft Word
For sheer features and convenience it's still hard to beat Microsoft Word. While it's not free like the tools listed below, the latest version fully integrates with Microsoft OneDrive, and lets you shift material seamlessly between the whole suite of Microsoft 365 apps. (Image credit: LibreOffice) 1. LibreOffice Writer

All-singing, all-dancing word processors for any text-based work Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux Excellent format compatibility Document
template galleries Support for plugins No ads or paywalls

LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice, and the two offer very similar word processing apps, but LibreOffice receives more frequent updates and has
a more lively userbase, so we're inclined to lean in its favor.

The word processor, Writer, is a feature-packed analog of Microsoft Word, packed with all the tools you could need for any text-based work.

The two versions of Writer include wizards and templates for common document types, such as invoices and letters, and its easy to create your own
templates for future use as well. The word processors also work together with the other office software in their respective suites so you can use Base to create a bibliography, for example.

Both word processors support all the most popular file formats, and can
export documents to PDF without the need for additional software. If youre looking for a word processor that can stand in for Microsoft Word, either of these two will be a perfect candidate. Read our full LibreOffice review . (Image credit: WPS Office) 2. WPS Office Free Writer

A word processor with cloud storage and support for all text files Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux Interface almost identical to Word Excellent file format support Free cloud storage Contains some ads

If youve used a modern version of Microsoft Word, therell be no learning
curve when you switch to Writer the word processing component of WPS Office Free.

This free word processor looks and behaves almost exactly like its premium counterpart, and even has its own equivalent of OneDrive, offering 1GB free cloud storage.

Its selection of pre-installed templates gives you everything you need for common document types, and you can easily create your own for bespoke tasks. Its compatible with every text file format you can think of, including
current and legacy versions of Microsoft Word dating back to Office 97.

WPS Office Writer is supported by discrete ads, which can be removed by upgrading to the premium version, but theyre barely noticeable and no
features are locked behind a paywall. Overall, WPS Writer is very impressive, and in our opinion its the best free word processor available to download today.

WPS recently launched a free PDF to Word converter as well, which is a great companion to its word processor. Read our full WPS Office Free review .
(Image credit: FocusWriter) 3. FocusWriter

The ideal word processor for first drafts, with no fussy formatting Operating system: Windows, macOS, Linux Blocks out distractions Timers and alarms Auto-save function Not ideal for editing

If you simply want to hammer out some words without worrying about
formatting, you could just use Windows built-in Notepad app, but FocusWriter is full of clever tools that will help you maximize productivity without ever getting in the way.

As the name implies, FocusWriter blocks out all distractions so you can give that all-important first draft your full attention. In normal use, all you
see is a blank page toolbars are only visible if you move your mouse pointer to the edge of the screen but theres a killer feature in Focused Text, which fades everything into the background except the current paragraph or
sentence.

FocusWriter also features alerts that are triggered at certain times, or when youve reached a predefined word count, so you dont need to worry about watching a counter (as you would in Microsoft Word). This also makes FocusWriter a good tool to use in tandem with the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working hard for a period of time thats long enough for you to work productively, but not so long that you become fatigued.

Its not great for editing, but for productivity, FocusWriter is hard to beat. Read our full FocusWriter review . (Image credit: FreeOffice) 4. FreeOffice TextMaker

Another great looking word processor, but watch your file formats Operating system: Windows, Mac, Linux Can export to EPUB format Prints multiple pages per sheet Opens password-protected files Doesn't support DOCX files

TextMaker the word processing element of SoftMaker FreeOffice is good looking, and comes with several handy templates for creating letters and
other everyday documents. The selection isnt as extensive as some of its rivals, but you can also make new designs for future use and save them in TMV format.

All the features youd expect from a modern word processor are present and correct, including advanced formatting options, the ability to create databases for managing bibliographies and footnotes, and a function for tracking changes to collaborative projects.

The only real drawback of TextMaker is its inability to save your work in
DOCX format (though you can open and edit these files with no difficulty). This feature is limited to the premium version of SoftMaker Office. Read our full FreeOffice review . (Image credit: Writemonkey) 5. Writemonkey

Productivity-focused word processing with quick shortcuts Operating system: Windows Distraction-free interface Supports markup Handy keyboard shortcuts Only works with TXT files

WriteMonkey is another no-frills word processor designed to help you maximize your output without fussing with editing and formatting. Its not intended for documents like letters or CVs, but is great for committing early ideas to paper (or screen) so you have the raw material to develop later.

Unlike FocusWriter, which is compatible with all the most common text formats (including Microsofts DOC and DOCX), WriteMonkey only works with TXT files,
so youll have to convert any works in progress before opening them. WriteMonkeys hidden controls are trickier to navigate, too everything is accessed via a large right-click menu, or a vast collection of keyboard shortcuts.

That said, if youre happy to commit those shortcuts to memory, youll find WriteMonkey faster to use than toolbar-based alternatives.

We also like the ability to look words up in Wikipedia, Google Images, Poetry.com, Answers.com, and many others without opening a browser winder manually and leaving yourself open to the temptations of Twitter and
Facebook.

WriteMonkey is a portable app, so theres no need to install it just extract all the downloaded files to a removable drive or cloud storage service and fire it up by running the file WriteMonkey.exe. Read our full Writemonkey review . We've also rounded up the best free photo editors



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