Office 365 Alternatives - File Compatibility/Functionality

Silvio · Jan 6, 2026

Has anyone here, replaced Ms Office on their home machines, with one of the office alternatives? e.g:

Libre Office
Star Office

While ago, on my "Linux only drive" at home, tried LibreOffice, and found no obvious functionality differences, but when sending docs to agents/accountants, they often requested documents produced by Ms Office only, as often the documents I provided, had font/formatting problems, when opened by MS Office apps.

As a result of the frequency of problems, I purchased cheap 2nd Xeon workstation, purely for running Windows/Office 365, problem solved.

Now as a result of the AI slop being forced down our throats by MSs, it seems time for a change again.

Post on recent thread, states, LibreOffice documents, produced on Windows, are less problematic, when opened in MS Office.

Makes sense to me.

Opinions !?

FreeBooter · Jan 6, 2026

Best Microsoft Office alternative of 2025

Find something different to work with

www.techradar.com

Senecio · Jan 6, 2026

I found Softmaker's Office suite to be a close approximation to MS Office, especially as it allows you to save in MS Office formats. (It doesn't have the latest bells and whistles including AI integration - although there are links to Open GPT in its word processor). It does cost, though, if you want to save in MS Office formats. Open Office is the free version which (If I recall correctly) only saves in open office format. I had problems with Libre Office on Windows a year ago, with regard to opening and running some Powerpoint presentations with autorun video and animations, although I have recently tested it on Linux and the recent version there had no problems opening and running those Powerpoint presentations.
I don't object to paying for an office suite, and would contribute to Libre Office if I used that exclusively, so Softmaker (NX) is fine for me. I would probably go with Libre Office if I wanted something free.

Here's the link to the subscription version of Softmaker Office: SoftMaker Office | The GDPR-compliant alternative to Microsoft Office
This is the link to the lifetime one off payment (currently 2024 version) Shop | SoftMaker Office 2024

John

cereberus · Jan 6, 2026

Silvio said:
Has anyone here, replaced Ms Office on their home machines, with one of the office alternatives? e.g:

Libre Office

Star Office

While ago, on my "Linux only drive" at home, tried LibreOffice, and found no obvious functionality differences, but when sending docs to agents/accountants, they often requested documents produced by Ms Office only, as often the documents I provided, had font/formatting problems, when opened by MS Office apps.

As a result of the frequency of problems, I purchased cheap 2nd Xeon workstation, purely for running Windows/Office 365, problem solved.

Now as a result of the AI slop being forced down our throats by MSs, it seems time for a change again.

Post on recent thread, states, LibreOffice documents, produced on Windows, are less problematic, when opened in MS Office.

Makes sense to me.

Opinions !?

It only makes sense to use "Office" clones for personal use.

As you are using it for business, you have already have Office 365. Why would you use clones?

Think of it from clients perspective - you subminally send a "message" saying you are not prepared to invest.

You do not have to use the AI functions (you can turn copilot off in settings) and also you can install MS 365 on 6 devices, and get 1TB of cloudspace.

Frankly, it makes no sense to use inferior clones when you already have a valid MS 365 licence.

SlicEnDicE · Jan 6, 2026

Under Linux Mint I use latest LibreOffice (v25.8.4.2) and it has been quite good. Does not beat MS Office in stability, features and workflow, but it is darn close. Keeps evolving daily/weekly. It however still contains minor bugs when it comes to formatting it seems. (I sometimes get random results when jumping between MSO and LO)

EDIT: A clarification. I mostly use Excel/Calc for most of my Office workflow, so my experience is mostly only on that tool. LibreOffice also support VBA and has full support for O365 file formats including .xlsm.

Helmut · Jan 6, 2026

I installed MS Office for work/business compatibility, nothing else will do in most cases.

Silvio said:
As a result of the frequency of problems, I purchased cheap 2nd Xeon workstation, purely for running Windows/Office 365, problem solved.

So why bother creating compatibility problems.

In retirement home PC/Laptop, I have used OpenOffice for many years, and a few days ago Libre Office, They are derivatives of Star Office from way back, look it up in Wikipedia.

Rather obviously the more complex the document more the differences appear, MS Office is way more polished in use. That is the reality, not an opinion.

Silvio · Jan 6, 2026

Helmut said:
So why bother creating compatibility problems.

The AI slop forced down our throats, slurping data, and sending it home.

99% of time, WFH means logging into work Citrix server, so nothing can be done about that.

For now, seems best way to avoid forced AI on machine, is to install W10, insert AI disabling keys, install decent Internet security, like Bitdefender.

I don't browse net on Windows machines.

neves · Jan 6, 2026

I use LibreOffice portable. Objectively, it's the most complete and refined choice - especially since it's fully free (not just Freemium) - and actively maintained/updated. Even comes with extensions support. Like everything else - it's a matter of getting used to its subtle differences (compared to Microsoft Office - if that's the only office app you used before). Thus, switched to LibreOffice even at work - cause i was simply more used to it. Even tho, i have a Microsoft Office Certification Diploma - which unfortunately... it's plastic wrapped - so can't even use it as toilet paper.

Also used OnlyOffice in parallel - cause it used to be/feel lighter in the past...

ONLYOFFICE desktop and mobile apps

Download free ONLYOFFICE document editors for your desktop and mobile devices

www.onlyoffice.com

Even recommended it - for this reason. But now, despite the bigger size (double compared to OnlyOffice) - i find LibreOffice snappier. OpenCL support (hardware acceleration) was improved/Optimized too (didn't make that big of a difference in the past).

SlicEnDicE · Jan 6, 2026

I'm in the process of creating a few quite complex spreadsheets. I'll try making them in LibreOffice Calc, save to O365 format and then test in O365 Excel.

It'll take weeks, due to complexity and time constraints, but I'll return here once I'm done.

Edwin · Jan 6, 2026

I'd be interested to see how other Suites handle the likes of this xlsx

Senecio · Jan 6, 2026

Silvio said:
The AI slop forced down our throats, slurping data, and sending it home.

99% of time, WFH means logging into work Citrix server, so nothing can be done about that.

For now, seems best way to avoid forced AI on machine, is to install W10, insert AI disabling keys, install decent Internet security, like Bitdefender.

I don't browse net on Windows machines.

It's odd that as you started this thread specifically asking for MS Office alternatives, that a number of people seem to think that they should use this opportunity to advertise MS Office. For those using Windows and Linux operating systems, an office program which works natively on both would seem to be a no-brainer, and in this regard MS Office is inferior to other office programs.

timbobit · Jan 6, 2026

I replaced MSO with Libreoffice and I am pleased with performance and not AI

timbobit · Jan 6, 2026

no AI that is

Edwin · Jan 6, 2026

Senecio said:
It's odd that as you started this thread specifically asking for MS Office alternatives, that a number of people seem to think that they should use this opportunity to advertise MS Office.

You're right! I've removed my drivel!

Mind you, the OP did ask for opinions!

Silvio said:
Opinions !?

SlicEnDicE · Jan 6, 2026

Edwin said:
I'd be interested to see how other Suites handle the likes of this xlsx

I grabbed the file in.xlsx format and opened in Linux using LibreOffice. No issues what I can see.

SlicEnDicE · Jan 6, 2026

Something is off...colors missing...etc...but the data is there

SlicEnDicE · Jan 6, 2026

Also dropdowns work, but I can't figure out how to multi select

EDIT: Figured it out. Can not be done in Excel without VBA code.

Silvio · Jan 6, 2026

Senecio said:
It's odd that as you started this thread specifically asking for MS Office alternatives, that a number of people seem to think that they should use this opportunity to advertise MS Office. For those using Windows and Linux operating systems, an office program which works natively on both would seem to be a no-brainer, and in this regard MS Office is inferior to other office programs.

My priority, is not an Office suite that works on Linux and Windows.

The point of this thread, is to enquire, are docs produced by LibreOffice, 100% file compatible with Ms Office.

Feedback I'm receiving is, maybe on Windows, not likely on Linux.

Win 10 install in progress...

Will probably install Office 2021..

Senecio · Jan 6, 2026

Edwin said:
I'd be interested to see how other Suites handle the likes of this xlsx

This is what I see in Softmaker PlanMaker:

You need to be aware that fonts need to be the same in the initiating computer and the receiving one, which they may not be in the case of my PC and yours.

neves · Jan 6, 2026

Edwin said:
I'd be interested to see how other Suites handle the likes of this xlsx

https://imgur.com/rT2D4EJ

Office 365 Alternatives - File Compatibility/Functionality

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