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Microsoft 365 vs LibreOffice

A side-by-side look at Microsoft 365 (the paid SaaS) and LibreOffice (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.

Microsoft 365 LibreOffice
Tagline Office suite in the cloud — Word, Excel, PowerPoint. The classic open source office suite for desktop.
License Proprietary SaaS MPL-2.0
Pricing Personal from $6.99/month. Free to self-host
Self-host option No Yes — difficulty 1/5
Hosted cloud available Yes (only option) No
Desktop apps Varies by product Windows, macOS, Linux
Mobile apps Official apps typically available Android
Ad slot — between tables

Best for

Free desktop office suite with no subscription.

LibreOffice strengths

  • Mature, trusted suite for desktop.
  • No subscription — free forever.
  • Strong ODF support and decent MS Office compatibility.

LibreOffice weaknesses

  • UI feels dated to some users.
  • Collaboration requires Collabora/ONLYOFFICE server.
  • Mobile version is read-focused.

What's the catch with Microsoft 365?

  • Subscription-only model for full features.
  • Heavy client, frequent updates.
  • Cloud storage quota included but limited.

Still unsure?

Check the full list of alternatives to Microsoft 365: see Microsoft 365 alternatives, or learn more about LibreOffice on its project page.

Other comparisons

Microsoft 365 vs ONLYOFFICE

Drop-in office suite with strong Word/Excel/PowerPoint compatibility.

Microsoft 365 vs Collabora Online

Browser-based collaboration with LibreOffice engine.

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