7 Best Free Word Processors For Easy Editing

The best free word processors offer a simple platform for creating standard word documents without needing a paid account. While Microsoft Word has become the de facto standard among word processors, its high price has dissuaded many potential customers. You can try it out for free for a month on trial, but the full version costs $159.99 for one device.

Why pay for something if you can get it for free? Several open-source word processors have followed in MS Word’s footsteps by adopting DOC/DOCX compatibility and offering similar features. These word processors can be used online, and some even have downloadable offline versions.

More importantly, they are free to use for any purpose, including writing and editing lengthy documents. Let’s examine which free word processors are worth considering.

1. Google Docs

Google Docs is an excellent alternative to MS Word and is widely used by individuals and businesses. All kinds of written content can be uploaded, edited, and shared with others using Google Docs. It comes loaded with functions that can be expanded with third-party plugins.

Documents can be saved online and automatically stored on your Google account, but they can also be downloaded or forwarded as Microsoft Word, ODT, PDF, text files, or RTF attachments. You can allow people to work on the document with you simultaneously or let them view it for assessment only.

If you’re using Google Docs, you can activate offline access and continue working on your documents even without an internet connection. You only need a free Google account to get started. Additionally, it gives you a selection of pre-made layouts to utilize. It supports both Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF file formats for storage and editing.

2. Microsoft Word Online

With a free Microsoft account, you can access Word Online, a streamlined web app version of the full Word experience. The interface is similar to the desktop program, sharing many features, including real-time collaboration.

Word Online lacks some advanced features, like split views and custom styles. It supports one file type for saving documents: DOCX, Microsoft’s standard file format. Other Microsoft Office file formats, such as DOC and DOCM, can be opened and edited, but cannot be saved or downloaded.

Though it covers everyday, general-purpose use, Word Online doesn’t match Google Docs’ extensive functionality.

3. Zoho Writer

ZOHO Writer is a fantastic web-based word processor that provides various pre-made layouts for several document types. It has many useful tools, including a grammar checker, a clipboard manager, offline capability, document merging, digital signatures, and more.

There are zero ads, zero downloads, and no fees to use this tool. It simplifies opening and saving Microsoft Word documents without changes. Resulting Word files can be saved in various formats, including DOCX and PDFs.

Its unique selling point is the built-in writing assistant, Zia, which functions like Grammarly, offering suggestions for improved term and phrase usage. Zia uses a machine-learning model to improve over time.

Incorporating feedback from teammates and revising content as a group is a breeze with Zoho Writer. You can customize document access for team members. With Zoho Writer integration, you can create and publish content instantly to WordPress or Blogger. The Writer Extension is available for Google Chrome.

4. WPS Office

You can get all the office software you need free with WPS Office. It has three main components: WPS Writer, WPS Presentation, and WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office is available on various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS.

It can modify Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF documents. Compatible with many platforms, WPS Office serves as a powerful replacement for Microsoft Office. All Microsoft Office file types (DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, etc.), as well as HTML, RTF, XML, PDF, PPT, and more, can be opened and saved in the program.

It provides over 100,000 free templates, organized by type, for professional-looking documents. It also allows cross-platform synchronization and easy collaboration with a modern, mobile-first design approach.

5. LibreOffice Writer

LibreOffice is a free and open-source word processing software. A dedicated user community regularly tests and uses the program, pushing the ethos of collaboration. The Writer is a feature-rich word processor similar to Microsoft Word.

Each version has pre-made wizards and document templates, and it’s simple to create your own. It prides itself on having an unobtrusive and easy-to-use UI without compromising on extras. It is compatible with all common file types and can export files as PDFs.

LibreOffice is one of the few offline-first word processors available today; it doesn’t require an internet connection for full use. LibreOffice integrates with other office applications in their suite, like LibreOffice Base for bibliography generation.

6. Etherpad

Etherpad is a free, highly-flexible word processor for real-time collaboration. Etherpad’s adaptability is one of its greatest strengths. You have access to more than 290 plugins and 105 languages.

Plugins allow you to alter your platform’s appearance and performance. You can customize the theme and color scheme of your Etherpad. It’s simple to write, edit, and save documents, with plugins like PDF import and export.

Etherpad focuses on being the best at basics, with a simple, clean user interface. If you need more features, the plugins are always available!

7. WordPad

WordPad does not come with a suite of programs but has the benefit of not requiring installation. It has been included in every Windows release since Windows 95.

It’s not as feature-rich as Microsoft Word, but it works for writing simple documents and reading word files. WordPad supports export formats like .txt and RTF.

Texts with special formatting, such as italics, boldface, custom fonts, bullets, etc., can be produced in WordPad. It’s DOCX-compatible, making it an alternative to Microsoft Word documents. It’s effective for quickly checking a document without opening a browser or dedicated program.

8. Apple Pages

Apple Pages is ideal for Mac, iPad, or iPhone users needing a free word processor. Everything necessary for word processing is available in Apple Pages. Opening, editing, and exporting documents is straightforward.

It includes helpful tools, including a spell checker, word counter, and comments section for collaboration. Pages also have an auto-save feature that works in real-time. When connected to the internet, it routinely saves your work to internal storage or iCloud.

Additionally, it detects and removes duplicate files. Pages offer a greater degree of control over integrated images compared to Word.

You can export a manuscript as an EPUB file, ready for publication. Being part of the Apple ecosystem, everything syncs across devices. Text left half-done on your iPhone can become a fully-fledged document on your Mac.

Final Verdict

After reviewing these options, we can confidently say that Google Docs and Office Word Online are the best free word processors for professional use. For cloud-based office suites with document collaboration features, consider WPS Office, Zoho Writer, or Office Word Online.

LibreOffice is an excellent alternative to Microsoft Office due to its range of features and publishing options. WPS Office excels in data management and PDF editing. Google Docs stands out as the best for efficient teamwork with support for voice typing, file sharing, and smart assistance features.