LibreOffice vs Apache OpenOffice

LibreOffice: what it's good at

LibreOffice is a complete office suite with a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, database and drawing application. It reads and writes Microsoft Office formats, and for the majority of everyday documents it is a straight replacement at zero cost.

• Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math
• Reads and writes .docx, .xlsx and .pptx
• No subscription, no account, no ads
• Actively developed by a non-profit foundation

Apache OpenOffice: what it's good at

Apache OpenOffice is the long-running open-source office suite from which LibreOffice was forked. It remains a familiar, stable option, though most users now find LibreOffice the more actively developed of the two.

• Full word processor, spreadsheet and presentation apps
• Opens legacy OpenOffice and Microsoft formats
• Apache Software Foundation project
• Free for commercial use

Which should you choose?

Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.

Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux. Both are open source, so neither locks you in.

We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.

Frequently asked questions

Is LibreOffice better than Apache OpenOffice?

Neither is universally better. LibreOffice the leading free office suite — a genuine Microsoft Office alternative, while Apache OpenOffice the original open-source office suite. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.

Are both really free?

LibreOffice is open source and Apache OpenOffice is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.

Can I install both?

Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.