Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office 365

The following are free alternatives to subscribing to Microsoft’s Office 365 software suite. SMSI supports the use of Google Apps in our learning environment, and as you’ll see in the first recommended solution, you can import, edit and export any Office files using Google Docs.

Solution 1. Import + Export via Google Docs

Did you know you can import, edit, and export and Office files via Google Docs?

See this Google tutorial for more info on importing and exporting Microsoft Office documents (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) in Google Docs:
Work with Microsoft Office Files (click to open article in new tab)

Pros: You can use the Google Docs suite that’s supported by your SMSI Google account. No additional software is necessary.
Cons: This solution is online-only, and requires an import and export step if you want to share files interchangeably with Office users.

Solution 2. Use Microsoft Office Web

You can use the free web-based version of Office (“Microsoft Office Web”, info here). You’ll have to create a free Microsoft account if you don’t already have one. Any Microsoft account you create will not be managed by SMSI (as your Google account is).

Pros: This is Microsoft’s entire Office suite for free. No software download or install is required. You can open your documents on any computer.
Cons: Documents can be opened and edited online-only. Requires a (free) Microsoft account.

Solution 3. Install Open Office

If you absolutely need to work with office files offline… As a last suggestion, you can use the free open source software Open Office which opens, edits, and exports Office files natively.

Caveat: Open source software can require an unexpected degree of technical configuration, and is more prone to “bugs” than commercial software, so be prepared to do some Googling if you run into trouble. Although we’re happy to spread awareness of Open Office, SMSI cannot provide technical support for this solution if you run into technical challenges.

Pros: Free software alternative to Microsoft Office that opens all Office filetypes natively.
Cons: Requires greater technical competency and independence, prone to possible challenges.

Need Help? Book a Consultation

If you are a St. Nicholas student and you’d like some assistance finding the best solution for you, reach out to our Instructional Designer Steve Welsh (steve.welsh@smsi.ie) to coordinate a brief consultation either in person at the College or online via Zoom.