Right here at PCMag, we began placing phrase processors to the check in 1986. And we’re nonetheless at it. At present, workplace suites usually discuss with packages of software program that include at the very least apps for phrase processing, spreadsheets, and shows. Microsoft 365, the present identify for what was once Workplace 365 or Microsoft Workplace, is the colossus of workplace suites and the one which a lot of the world makes use of by default. It is also one in all our prime picks, incomes an Editors’ Alternative award alongside Google Workspace. However that doesn’t essentially imply both a type of is the fitting suite for you. We’ve examined workalike and work-almost-alike suites from Apple, Corel, The Doc Basis, SoftMaker, and Zoho that will help you decide the very best workplace suite on your wants.
Deeper Dive: Our High Examined Picks
Greatest for Full Workplace Productiveness
Microsoft Workplace Skilled 2021
Execs & Cons
Purchase-once, use-forever model of Microsoft Workplace
By far probably the most highly effective workplace suite
Consists of entry to internet and cellular variations
Cleaner interface with no new studying curve
Microsoft Phrase’s automation options are intrusive and laborious to regulate
Outlook can appear bloated and unwieldy
Some options are deeply hidden in obscure menus
Why We Picked It
Microsoft Workplace, now often known as Microsoft 365, is the gathering of workplace productiveness instruments to beat. This suite is mature, wealthy with options, and so broadly used that you simply by no means must even take into consideration compatibility. Free variations of mainstay apps, like Phrase and Excel, can be found on-line. Assist for real-time collaborative modifying is much more versatile than it’s in Google’s apps as a result of with Microsoft the paperwork might be on a Microsoft SharePoint Server, in a private OneDrive folder, or on Dropbox.
Who It is For
The Skilled model of Microsoft 365 is aimed squarely at enterprise customers.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
Be taught Extra
Microsoft Workplace Skilled 2021 Evaluate
Greatest for Steady Updates
Microsoft 365
Execs & Cons
Essentially the most highly effective, feature-rich workplace suite
Easy collaboration options
Distraction-free focus view in Phrase
Handy automated options in Excel
Common updates with added options
Consists of entry to internet and cellular variations
Outlook’s new model lacks important options from the previous model
Phrase’s automation options are intrusive and laborious to regulate
Some options are deeply hidden in obscure menus
Why We Picked It
Microsoft’s productiveness apps are the very best at what they do, bar none. For getting any type of work finished, they’re top-notch. Cell apps and internet apps make them accessible anyplace. If it’s good to get severe work finished in paperwork or worksheets, Microsoft’s suite isn’t merely definitely worth the cash, however an incredible discount.
Who It is For
Dwelling customers and really small companies will discover Microsoft 365 Private a superb deal. While you account for not solely the apps but in addition the space for storing that comes included, a subscription is effectively definitely worth the value.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
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Microsoft 365 Evaluate
Greatest for Enterprise Options
Google Workspace
Execs & Cons
Elegant workplace instruments
Works the identical on any browser
Fantastic-tuned collaboration and revision-tracking options
Company-friendly consumer administration
On-line-only apps
Much less highly effective than comparable desktop apps
Offline modifying requires Chrome and advance planning
Why We Picked It
Google Workspace has a lot to supply any group that wants a collaboration-ready workplace suite, an internet site, shared calendars, and mail companies. Google Workspace is cloud-only, not like Microsoft’s apps. Whether or not this is a bonus or drawback is determined by your wants. Cloud-only apps are higher if you wish to guarantee that every thing produced by your group is at all times obtainable within the cloud. For its ease, class, velocity, and depth, Google Workspace is a strong selection.
Who It is For
The Workspace model of Google’s productiveness suite is for companies. It is just for organizations which might be keen to have all their information and apps hosted within the cloud.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
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Google Workspace Evaluate
Greatest for Apple Customers
Apple iWork
Execs & Cons
Easy, elegant interface
Distinctive canvas-style format for worksheets
Tight integration with Apple’s cellular platforms
Highly effective graphics options
Free
Native file codecs gained’t open in another apps
No multi-chapter help in Pages
No user-created capabilities in Numbers
Why We Picked It
We admire Apple’s workplace apps for his or her sheer magnificence and ingenuity. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote all take a novel graphic-centric strategy.
Who It is For
Apple’s apps do come up quick on some options, but when they’re adequate on your wants, they’re a pleasure to make use of. And among the apps have distinctive options that you simply gained’t discover elsewhere—though comparatively few customers will want them. When you dwell and work in Apple’s ecosystem and just like the comfort of, for instance, taking a photograph in your telephone and inserting it right into a doc or worksheet in your Mac, then it’s best to use the iWork apps.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
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Apple iWork Evaluate
Greatest for Exact Formatting
Corel WordPerfect Workplace
Execs & Cons
Distinctive management over formatting and different options
Highly effective help for lengthy paperwork
Builds complicated paperwork from the wizard interface
Specialised authorized options and book publishing
Imports and exports Microsoft and legacy codecs
Outdated interface
No cellular or Mac variations, solely Home windows
Cannot simply substitute codecs like underline and italic
Spreadsheet and presentation apps lag behind the competitors
No real-time collaboration help
Why We Picked It
What units aside the WordPerfect Workplace suite from others is the truth that its namesake phrase processor, WordPerfect, is the one workplace app that provides you complete management over each element of the paperwork you produce. The suite includes two extra apps, Quattro Professional (a spreadsheet app) and Shows.
Who It is For
Corel WordPerfect Workplace is for anybody who wants a substitute for Microsoft’s apps, particularly for extremely particular formatting wants. It is also just for Home windows customers, as there isn’t any model for Mac.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
Be taught Extra
Corel WordPerfect Workplace Evaluate
Greatest Worth
SoftMaker Workplace
Execs & Cons
Highly effective, elegant various to Microsoft 365
Speedy, dependable efficiency for many duties
Extremely customizable ribbon or menu-based interface
Opens legacy paperwork that Microsoft Workplace apps can’t
Optionally available model backup
Apps for Home windows, macOS, Linux (plus full-featured cellular apps)
Lacks internet apps and collaboration options
Restricted document-viewing choices
Sluggish efficiency with big worksheets
Grammar-checking just for German textual content
No recorded macros, and scripted macros obtainable just for Home windows model
Why We Picked It
Softmaker’s productiveness suite is the very best desktop-based various to Microsoft 365. It has extra of a presence in Europe than within the US, however SoftMaker must be on the prime of your checklist when you do not wish to use Microsoft’s apps. You get excessive compatibility with Microsoft paperwork; quick efficiency; and a principally clear and environment friendly interface. It is obtainable for Home windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux techniques, with barely completely different characteristic units on every platform.
Who It is For
Since Softmaker would not have on-line apps or help collaboration, it is best for individuals who work solo.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
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SoftMaker Workplace Evaluate
Greatest for On-line Collaboration
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Execs & Cons
Free
Easy, elegant interface
Net-based options like voting-by-emoji and dropdown lists
Simple-to-use revision historical past
Advanced preparation wanted earlier than working offline
Restricted characteristic set in comparison with desktop suites
Awkward track-changes characteristic
Sluggish operation with most and may’t open some giant information
Why We Picked It
Docs, Sheets, and Slides, amongst a number of different apps, make up Google’s productiveness apps for house customers. We love their best-in-class collaboration and revision-tracking options. Whereas Docs, Sheets, and Slides are solely obtainable as internet apps, they’re extremely handy to make use of.
Who It is For
This model of Google’s productiveness apps is for house customers and college students. It is a great group of apps to make use of if you’ll be able to work virtually solely on-line.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
Be taught Extra
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides Evaluate
Greatest for Open-Supply Doc Enhancing
LibreOffice
Execs & Cons
Free and open-source
Gives desktop apps for Home windows, macOS, and Linux
Can import and convert virtually any legacy doc
Much less secure on Macs than rival suites
No on-line collaboration options
Complicated and overstuffed interface
Why We Picked It
LibreOffice is a formidable achievement that retains enhancing with every incremental launch. It nonetheless suffers from a clunky interface, regardless of some current enhancements, and it crashes greater than it ought to. However it’s your most suitable option without cost, open-source workplace apps.
Who It is For
LibreOffice is for individuals who need open-source software program. Specifically, open-source software program tends to be interesting to authorities workplaces, monetary corporations, and different privacy-conscious customers, as a result of they’ll look at the supply code for vulnerabilities. It is also a superb selection for anybody with older paperwork in outdated codecs, as LibreOffice can normally open them.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
Be taught Extra
LibreOffice Evaluate
Greatest for Funds-Pleasant On-line Apps
Zoho Workplace
Execs & Cons
Full-featured workplace apps with clear interface
Google-style revision historical past and collaboration options
Quick access to superior options like doc fields
Elegant graphics
Proprietary file format and principally online-only entry
Inconsistencies between desktop and web-based apps
Efficiency glitches in synchronization app
Why We Picked It
Zoho Workplace is a versatile, cheap, and high-powered workplace suite. It includes the workplace apps present in Zoho Office, which is a bigger enterprise package deal of services and products, together with e-mail and storage. Zoho Workplace is an interesting various to the workplace suite it most intently resembles—Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (aka Google Docs) and the corporate-level Google Workspace. Like Google, Zoho shops your information virtually totally on-line, with restricted capability to work offline.
Who It is For
Zoho Workplace is squarely greatest for company customers who want its collaboration and built-in workflow options at a low value. Since its apps are largely cloud-based, it’s good to be snug placing your information into the fingers of an enormous company, through which case, Zoho Workplace is unquestionably price contemplating.
Specs & Configurations
Opens/Saves Microsoft Codecs
Be taught Extra
Zoho Workplace Evaluate
Shopping for Information: The Greatest Workplace Suites for 2024
How A lot Do Workplace Suites Price?Some workplace suites—comparable to these from Apple, Google, and LibreOffice—are free. SoftMaker additionally gives a free model. Others, comparable to Corel WordPerfect, require you to pay a one-time price. Google Workspace is a subscription-based service (we discuss with the free model as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides), whereas Microsoft 365 and SoftMaker Workplace each supply standalone and subscription-based variations. The price of a subscription is determined by what number of units it’s good to use the software program on, in addition to which apps you want.With any subscription-based workplace suite, your apps mechanically keep updated with all the newest options and safety updates. That is an vital profit, however when you do not actually care about getting absolutely the latest updates, you would possibly desire to buy a static standalone model. Many workplace suites supply the newest model to current customers at a reduction, so that you may not must pay full value while you determine it is time for an improve.What Do You Get in an Workplace Suite?Three apps stay the core of each workplace suite: a phrase processor, a spreadsheet editor, and a presentation app. Relying on the suite, and, in some instances, relying on which model of a collection you select, you additionally get a mail and calendar app, a database supervisor, PDF-editing software program, a note-taking app, web site creation instruments, and any of a dozen miscellaneous apps and companies that cowl every thing from video conferencing to form-building.One factor that every one of at this time’s suites have in frequent is that their core apps—the phrase processor, spreadsheet, and presentation app—share a lot of their underlying code. Which means, for instance, that the drawing instruments within the presentation app are sometimes additionally obtainable within the phrase processor and spreadsheet app. Additionally, the core apps sometimes share an analogous interface, so you’ll be able to transfer from one to the opposite with out problem.Ought to You Use Cloud or Native Apps? One vital determination to make earlier than you select an workplace suite is whether or not you wish to work on-line, offline, or each. Each varieties of software program have benefits. As an example, on-line apps mean you can collaborate with others and may also help be certain that your information can be found all over the place. Native apps are sometimes extra highly effective and dependable, nevertheless. Corel WordPerfect, LibreOffice, and SoftMaker Workplace all lack internet variations and confine you to engaged on paperwork in your native machine. Google’s business and client apps, in contrast, are web-first experiences. As an example, all of the apps inside these suites can be found by way of a browser and each doc you’re employed on is saved to cloud storage. Though you’ll be able to work on Google Docs information offline, that is not as viable an answer as downloading full-featured, local-disk variations of apps. Microsoft 365 gives the very best of each worlds. By default—although it’s simple to alter this—Microsoft’s apps save paperwork to its cloud storage service, Microsoft OneDrive, which lets you preserve copies of your paperwork each offline and within the cloud. Microsoft makes it simple to edit and entry your paperwork both on-line by means of a browser or domestically by means of top-notch desktop apps. Apple’s iWork apps (Web page, Numbers, and Keynote) are additionally obtainable on-line, in addition to on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS units. Apple, not like Microsoft, doesn’t present Home windows or Android variations of its workplace apps.What File Conventions Do Workplace Suites Use?For higher or worse—and we predict it’s principally for higher—Microsoft 365 units the usual for doc codecs; all different suites allow you to save paperwork in Workplace’s file codecs.The one doc codecs that each suite we reviewed can deal with are Microsoft’s Phrase and Excel codecs. You’ll be able to arrange your non-Microsoft apps to avoid wasting in these codecs, however you’ll sometimes must swat away message containers and different warnings while you do. When you solely share paperwork inside a corporation standardized on non-Microsoft codecs, this is not a difficulty. In truth, some security-conscious customers or companies could desire to maintain doubtlessly delicate paperwork solely in LibreOffice’s open-source codecs. Nevertheless, when you continuously ship paperwork to recipients outdoors your group, be careful for compatibility issues.Google’s apps have a novel means of dealing with file varieties. You’ll be able to obtain Google’s paperwork in commonplace codecs, comparable to these utilized by Microsoft 365 or LibreOffice, however the originals which might be saved to the cloud can solely be edited in Google’s internet and cellular apps (with some particular exceptions). All the apps inside Apple’s iWork suite use proprietary codecs, which makes sharing troublesome.
Advisable by Our Editors
Ought to You Use an Various to Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Workplace? When deciding on an workplace suite, it’s best to contemplate whether or not you’re selecting one for your self or your complete group. If it is the previous, use no matter feels most snug. When you do select something apart from Microsoft 365 (the web subscription model of Microsoft’s killer suite or Workplace 2021 (the buy-once-and-use-forever native software program model) and plan to ship your information to anybody else, be ready to arrange your suite to export information in the usual Microsoft Workplace codecs.When you’re selecting an workplace suite for a small enterprise or a big group, then issues get extra sophisticated. Microsoft 365/Microsoft Workplace 2021 is the simplest, dependable, and best to make use of of all of the suites, but it surely has two disadvantages: First, it is costly. Second, you might have sturdy causes to keep away from proprietary software program.When you insist on open-source software program, then LibreOffice is your solely severe selection. It does undergo from a clunky interface with menus that may confuse even knowledgeable customers. In order for you free software program and you employ a Mac, Apple’s iWork apps could be match (these apps can be found in a browser, too, however they’re greatest on a Mac). At no cost software program on another desktop OS, contemplate SoftMaker Workplace’s free model. When you’re content material with cloud-only software program, then Google’s apps are highly effective and intuitive. When you’re in an business or analysis subject that makes use of WordPerfect, then Corel’s suite is the one selection. Microsoft’s suite, in whichever model, clearly leads the sector, but it surely’s not for everybody. Sadly, there’s no clear desire among the many options, however you’ll be able to check all of them, together with Microsoft 365, with free or trial variations.
