Best free alternative to MS Word 2017

Everyone needs a great word processor .Microsoft Word is one of the best thanks to its wide format support, integration with other Office apps, and huge range of high-quality templates. However, that power and convenience doesn’t come cheap – even with Microsoft’s Office 365 subscription model, which spreads the cost throughout the year.

Free software has come a long way in recent years, and there are now superb free alternatives to Microsoft Word that don’t cost a penny.

Lightweight distraction-free writing software has its place, but here we’re looking for fully-featured word processors with support for templates, advanced formatting, and compatibility with Microsoft file formats. You could switch to any of these programs today and begin working immediately. 

We update this guide regularly, so you know you're always getting the most accurate information about the best software available right now.

WPS Office Writer

The best free alternative to Microsoft Word, with a smart interface, cloud backup, and mobile apps

WPS Office Writer 's slick design is very similar to the current version of Microsoft Word, with a ribbon interface and almost identical icons. If you like using Office 2007 or later, the move to WPS Writer will be pretty much seamless.

There's tabbed browsing for multiple documents (a feature not found in Word, but one we love), and WPS Office Writer can open pretty much any text document format you can throw at it. It has its own proprietary file format (WPS), but new documents default to Microsoft’s DOCX format for convenient sharing with Word users.

WPS Writer includes built-in cloud support with 1GB free storage (comparable to Microsoft OneDrive) for easy backup and syncing. There are also free mobile apps for Android and iOS that are fully compatible with Microsoft file formats, and let you edit and sync documents on the move.

WPS Office Writer comes with a good range of templates pre-installed, with more available to download. 

Unlike LibreOffice and OpenOffice, WPS Office isn’t open source. Instead, it’s supported by ads, but these are unintrusive and won't stop you getting on with some serious work. There’s a premium version of WPS Office that removes the ads and throws in bonus PDF tools, but the free edition is superb. Give it a try – we think you'll be impressed.

Download here: WPS Office Free

Debi prasad