Which office suite to put in your computer?

Think about it, not so long ago you had to open and use multiple software to work. Nowadays, it is possible to do almost everything from a simple web browser, like Safari, Firefox, Edge and many others.

The strength of online services

With one or two windows of your favorite browser, you can have your search engine, your word processing page, your spreadsheet, a dictionary, your brokerage service or even your online messaging in a series of tabs.

And on the second, why not a few pages of entertainment or information; music, social media, weather, news, etc.

The big advantage is that you don’t need a powerful, state-of-the-art $ 2000 computer. Entry-level keyboard and mouse tablets and laptops are ideally suited for these web browser-based online services.

The Apple iPad and the Surface Go 2 Microsoft’s tried here are very good candidates. Or the products Chromebook from Google.

Free online services

For students and their parents and telecommuters, this is a good way to reduce material costs. On the other hand, there are many great online services that are free, even without collecting personal data for advertising purposes.

Zoho One, free

At no cost to single users, Zoho offers a solid office suite without ads or data collection, called Zoho Office Suite. This is the starting point for any freelance writer or student starting their studies. Later, this online suite can follow you throughout your career, from school to your future CEO role with corporate tools.

Zoho Office Suite offers four basic tools like Writer word processor, Sheet compatible spreadsheet program, Show presentation program, and Notebook notes app. All of them are compatible with Microsoft Office files.

Last interesting detail, the four tools for your computer are also available in mobile versions for iOS and Android. And by accessing any computer, at school or at home, just open a web page in Zoho to find all your documents and applications.

Of course, where Zoho makes up for it is by charging for its services for professionals and businesses.

If Zoho is offered in French, it happens however to find sections in English, but nothing dramatic.

Free Apache OpenOffice (macOS, Linux and Windows) office suite

This other office suite free includes all types of files similar to those of the competitor Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher).

Very complete, it includes six modules: the Writer word processor, the Calc spreadsheet, the Impress presentation module, the Base database module, the Draw module and the Math mathematical equation editor. There is even documentation in French in the form of guides and tutorials and free assistance on a French-speaking forum and discussion lists.

Google apps

In the same vein, Google also offers online office applications: Docs text documents, Sheets spreadsheets, Slides presentations and Drive online storage. Everything is obviously available online in our language on any web browser from your Google account.

If you are looking for a more powerful computer equivalent to work offline and online, just download Chromium on your macOS or Windows system to take advantage of Office editor for Docs, Sheets and Slides.

This editor allows you to view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files without installing Office on your computer.

In a paid version for business, Google Workspace https://workspace.google.com/, formerly G Suite, is available.

Paid software suites

NeoOffice for macOS $ 40 on the App Store

Based on the macOS versions of LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice, the suite NeoOffice provides better integration and features and functions unique to macOS systems.

Since 2013, the publisher of NeoOffice has chosen a commercial distribution model by single purchase on the App Store.

Microsoft Office

This suite Office is the elephant in the room! It was on her that Microsoft built its empire.

In 2016, there were 1.2 billion users and 60 million businesses worldwide who use Office tools on their computers – numbers that are surely higher today. And at the rate things are going, it is not the competition of free suites that seems to worry the American publisher.

Before taxes, the subscription license of the suite Office 365 Personal costs $ 79 per year.

Compatible with macOS, iOS, Android and Windows, we get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Skype, while Publisher and Access are only compatible on Windows.

With cloud mode, the subscription includes 1000 GB (1 TB) of online storage on OneDrive.

Another option is the definitive purchase of Office Home and Student 2019 for $ 169 on a single computer, macOS or Windows PC. In this case, there are only three softwares, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and no updates. If in three years you want to use a newer version, you will need to purchase a new license or subscribe.

The Bill Gates Empire also offers a family package: the subscription for six people maximum against $ 109 per year.

Apple iWork

If you opt for a macOS and mobile iOS system, be aware that Apple offers its own Pages, Numbers and Keynote applications with its Mac products. Solid!