Best 5 Free Microsoft Word Alternatives for Mac 2024

Looking for a free Microsoft Word alternative for your Mac? You’re not alone. Finding the right tool can be tricky, especially when you need something that’s both functional and compatible with macOS.

There are great options out there that won’t cost you a dime. If you’ve been searching for the best word processors for Mac, you’re in the right place.

I’ve done the digging and found five top alternatives to Microsoft Word, all tailored for Mac users. Keep reading to discover the perfect tool to boost your productivity!

If you are just looking for the most similar free alternative to Microsoft Office Word, you can directly click the button to download WPS Office without taking your time to read the whole article!

Quick Summary 5 Free Word Tool Alternatives

Have a look at this summary and get to know some basic information about the alternatives. If your device system does not fit the requirements, such as macOS 10.14 or newer of FreeOffice and LibreOffice, you can ignore them and only see others.

1. WPS Office - Writer: the Most Similar Alternative to Word

WPS Office Writer is a highly acclaimed word processor within the comprehensive WPS Office Suite. Renowned as one of the best free office software alternatives to Microsoft Office, WPS Office offers a robust solution for your document creation needs. With seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office Suite, you can confidently work with documents interchangeably between platforms without worrying about formatting loss. Plus, leveraging the power of WPS AI, this intelligent office suite ensures efficient and accurate document processing.

Features

• Compatibility: WPS Office - Writer ensures seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office Suite, allowing you to work with documents interchangeably without losing formatting.

• Free Office Software: WPS Office - Writer offers a comprehensive suite of office tools, including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, at no cost.

• Collaboration tools for team projects: WPS Office Writer streamlines document collaboration with track changes, comments, and real-time editing.

• PDF conversion and editing capabilities: WPS Office Writer enables PDF conversion, editing, annotations, images.

• 1 GB Free Cloud Storage: Available to sync and share files easily.

• WPS AI: Experience advanced AI features in WPS Office - Writer, enhancing document creation, editing, and formatting efficiency.

Pros

• Free to use

• User-friendly interface

• WPS Office has integrated AI into its Office Suite as Microsoft’s Copilot, allowing users to streamline their work

Cons

• WPS Office Writer's cloud integration may be limited.

System Requirements & Download

To use WPS Office - Writer on your Mac, make sure your system matches the following requirements:

• Mac OS X 10.12 and later

• 1 GHz Intel processor or higher

• 1 GB RAM or more

• 200 MB of available disk space.

Just click the button to download WPS Writer in WPS Office!

2. Google Docs: Standout for Online Collaboration

Google Docs is a web-based document editor provided by Google, and serves as a free MS Word alternative Mac users can utilize. It provides a flexible and convenient word editing experience with its intuitive UI, seamless collaboration capabilities, and accessibility from any device with an internet connection. Google Docs facilitates real-time collaboration, automatic saving, and simple sharing, making it an excellent alternative for individuals, teams, and corporations. It's also free to use, supports numerous file types, and offers plenty of storage space in Google Drive.

Features

• Online Editor: Google Docs enables users to create, edit, and format documents in their web browser without software installation.

• Collaboration Support: Multiple users can work on a document simultaneously, enhancing teamwork and collaboration.

• Auto-save and Version History: Google Docs saves changes, maintains version history, enabling users to review and restore previous versions of documents.

• Accessible Anywhere: Google Docs is a cloud-based service providing convenience and flexibility for users.

• Sharing and Permissions: Google Docs enables secure collaboration and sharing of documents through specific permissions for viewing, commenting, and editing.

Pros

• Google Docs offers web-based document editing without any installation

• Real-time collaboration enables team projects and remote collaboration.

Cons

• Google Docs requires internet connection for access and usage.

• While Google Docs does offer an offline option for limited document editing, it requires particular setup and synchronization beforehand.

System Requirements & Download

Since Google Docs is a web-based application, it works with the majority of modern web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. It is available on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome OS.

Google Docs can be accessed directly through your web browser by visiting the website. No download is required to use the service. Simply sign in with your Google account or create a new account to start creating and editing documents.

3. Pages-Word Processor: Designed for MacOS & iOS Users

Pages is an advanced word processor that is only available for Mac users. Pages stands out as a good alternative given its user-friendly interface, extensive graphic design possibilities, and seamless interaction with Microsoft Word. It has an extensive list of features, including powerful formatting tools, simple collaboration capabilities, and compatibility for many file types. Pages gives a user-friendly experience and amazing outcomes whether you're writing professional papers or personal projects.

Features

• User-Friendly Interface: Pages provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and work with documents.

• Rich Visual Design: The application offers a wide range of templates, fonts, and formatting options to create visually appealing documents.

• Collaboration Features: Pages allows for real-time collaboration, enabling multiple users to work together on the same document simultaneously.

• Compatibility with Microsoft Word: Pages supports importing and exporting documents in Microsoft Word format, ensuring compatibility with Word users.

• Media Integration: It offers seamless integration with media files, allowing users to add images, videos, and audio to their documents.

Pros

• Pages provides a user-friendly interface for all skill levels.

• Offers diverse design options, templates, formatting tools for visually appealing documents.

• Pages facilitates real-time collaboration for team projects and remote work.

Cons

• Pages is limited to macOS and iOS devices.

• Limited third-party integration compared to other word processors.

• Pages lacks advanced features and macros, limiting capabilities.

System Requirements & Download

Pages is only available for macOS and iOS devices. The particular system requirements vary based on the version of Pages and the operating system. It is usually included for free with new Mac and iOS devices, but it may also be downloaded from the Mac App Store or the iOS App Store.

Pages is available for download through the Mac App Store. If it isn't already installed on your Mac device, you can purchase and download it from the App Store. Here’s how:

4. FreeOffice-TextMaker: Stand out for Spell Checking Multiple Languages

FreeOffice TextMaker is a free alternative to Microsoft Word for Mac users. It has a user-friendly interface, extensive graphic design possibilities, and seamless interoperability with Microsoft Word files, among other things. FreeOffice TextMaker is an appealing solution for Mac users searching for a trustworthy and free alternative to MS Word due to its cross-platform availability and the ability to easily create, modify, and share documents. Experience FreeOffice TextMaker's power and adaptability for all of your text processing requirements.

Features

• Document Creation and Editing: FreeOffice-TextMaker offers diverse document formatting options.

• Microsoft Office Compatibility: Supports importing and exporting documents in Microsoft Word formats.

• Cross-Platform Availability: FreeOffice-TextMaker is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to access and work on their documents across different operating systems.

• Multilingual Support: The software offers spell-checking and hyphenation in multiple languages, enhancing the user experience for international users.

Pros

• Offers cost-effective word processing.

• Cross-platform compatibility across Windows, macOS, Linux.

• Supports Microsoft Office document import/export.

Cons

• Limited cloud integration may affect collaborative workflows and document access.

• Limitations in advanced features compared to robust word processors.

System Requirements & Download

The software and hardware prerequisites for installing on a Apple macOS computer are as follows:

• macOS 10.14 or newer

• Intel or Apple silicon processor (via Rosetta - native Apple silicon support is being developed)

• 512 MB RAM

• Up to 800 MB available hard disk space

• 1024x768 graphic device with 256 colors (higher resolution recommended)

Open the website and click the download Writer of FreeOffice on Mac!

5. LibreOffice-Writer: Customizable User Interface

LibreOffice Writer is an open-source and free alternative to MS Word for Mac users. It offers a wide range of features, including advanced formatting options, spell-checking, and the ability to handle complex documents. With its intuitive interface and compatibility with Microsoft Word files, LibreOffice Writer provides a seamless transition for users looking for an alternative. It's free, open-source, and regularly updated, making it a reliable choice for Mac users seeking a robust word processing solution without the need for a costly subscription.

Features

• Document Creation and Editing: LibreOffice-Writer has powerful tools for creating and enhancing documents, such as complex formatting choices, tables, pictures, and charts.

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, allowing users to work seamlessly across different platforms.

• Compatibility with Multiple File Formats: LibreOffice-Writer supports various file formats for easy collaboration.

Pros

• Free and Open-Source

• Cross-platform compatibility enables seamless work across multiple operating systems.

• LibreOffice-Writer supports diverse file formats for seamless collaboration.

Cons

• Installation is required

• Limited cloud service integration compared to dedicated word processors.

System Requirements & Download

The software and hardware prerequisites for installing on a Apple macOS computer are as follows:

• macOS 10.14 or newer

• Intel or Apple silicon processor (via Rosetta - native Apple silicon support is being developed)

• 512 MB RAM

• Up to 800 MB available hard disk space

• 1024x768 graphic device with 256 colors (higher resolution recommended)

You can click here to download Writer of LibreOffice on your Mac!

FAQs

Q1. How much is just Microsoft Word for Mac?

The latest version of Microsoft Word for Mac will cost $6.99 per month.

Q2. What are the Limitations of MS Word?

Some of the limitations of MS Word include:

• MS Word requires paid subscription or purchase for access.

• MS Word's limited collaboration features hinder simultaneous document work.

• MS Word supports image manipulation but lacks advanced editing capabilities.

Discover the Best Free Microsoft Word Alternatives for Mac

Finding the best Microsoft Word alternative for Mac can be challenging, but we've got you covered with these top five free options, including WPS Office, Google Docs, Pages, FreeOffice, and LibreOffice.

Which one is better? It depends on your personal needs. You can choose WPS Office for its convenient user experience, or Google Docs for its online collaboration functionality. Each one has its own features.

But if you do not have a decision, why not try WPS Office Writer first? With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive tools, WPS Office offers a seamless experience for Mac users, enhancing productivity and streamlining your work. Download WPS Office for Mac and unleash your creativity with its feature-rich Word alternative!