
The file will begin downloading on your PC. When you're prompted, from the bottom of your browser window, select Save (in Edge), Open (in Internet Explorer), Open when done (in Chrome), or Save File (in Firefox). In the Download and install window, select Other options.Ĭheck the box Download an offline installer and select the language you want to install the Microsoft 365 apps in. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you'll also need to select Install Office > on the Installs page. Select the Office for business tab from above instead. It's fallen behind LibreOffice in recent times, but OpenOffice remains a good choice for those looking for an alternative to Microsoft Office.Note: If you're trying to install Microsoft 365 that you got through your work or school and you already signed in with your work or school account, don't follow these instructions. OpenOffice also saves your documents in the open document format (ODF) meaning that they can be opened within other office suites, even Office itself. Everything you need to run your business. OpenOffice ships with a document writer, a spreadsheet, a presentation maker and many other modules. That compares favourably to the Mac and Windows versions of Office, which are very different beasts, making it hard to become experts across both. Despite losing its way of late - leading to rival LibreOffice taking the lead, OpenOffice is now firmly back on track and making waves of its own.įor those uninterested in such rivalry, the key thing to note is that OpenOffice will write and open most Office formats, while its cross-platform nature means you can use it across Windows, Mac and Linux without having to learn a whole new way of doing things.

Of those free alternatives, the granddaddy is OpenOffice, the first serious rival to Microsoft Office. The need to run Office for compatibility's sake is no longer as compelling as it was either, with a raft of free alternatives all capable of opening even the latest Office document formats with few problems. But both don't come cheap, which can make it a prohibitive cost for an individual or small business. If a friend or colleague asks you to recommend an office suite, your first thought is likely to be Office for PC or iWork for Mac.
