Microsoft 365 vs LibreOffice
LibreOffice if you want a free office suite on your own computer; Microsoft 365 if you need Microsoft's apps, cloud storage and full file compatibility.
Pick Microsoft 365 if…
Pick Microsoft 365 if you need desktop Word, Excel and PowerPoint plus Outlook and cloud storage. It also fits households that want one plan for up to 6 people.
Pick LibreOffice if…
Pick LibreOffice if you want documents, spreadsheets and slides at no cost with no subscription. It also suits you if you prefer open source software.
Price
- Paid
- Free
- Open source
Starting price
Free plan
Open source
Works on
| Feature | Subscription that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive cloud storage. | Free, open source office suite with word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, drawing and database tools. |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
|
|
| Starting price | $9.99/month or $99.99/year (Microsoft 365 Personal) | — |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Works on | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Try Microsoft 365 (opens the Microsoft 365 website in a new tab) | Try LibreOffice (opens the LibreOffice website in a new tab) |
On price, LibreOffice is free, with source code under the Mozilla Public License v2.0, and the download page asks only for optional donations. Microsoft 365 Personal is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, Family is $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year, and Premium is $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled. Microsoft also sells Office Home 2024 as a one-time $179.99 purchase for 1 PC or Mac.
On features, LibreOffice has six tools: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math. Microsoft 365 adds Outlook, OneNote, Teams and 1 TB of OneDrive storage on Personal (2 TB shared on Family and Premium), plus Copilot AI features with usage limits. The Access app is PC only.
On platforms, LibreOffice installs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and Android has a separate viewer. Microsoft 365 works on PCs, Macs, phones and tablets, and Microsoft offers free Word, Excel and PowerPoint on the web with a Microsoft account if you save files in OneDrive. Linux is not listed for Microsoft's apps on the pages checked.
If you only need to write letters, build spreadsheets and make slides, try LibreOffice first. If colleagues share Microsoft files all day or you want cloud storage and email in the same plan, Microsoft 365 is the simpler fit.
One new comparison, every week
Two tools side by side with our verdict, in one short email. Unsubscribe any time.
Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money