LibreOffice vs ONLYOFFICE
LibreOffice and ONLYOFFICE are free apps you can use instead of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PowerPoint. LibreOffice is a desktop suite. ONLYOFFICE edits in the browser.
A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. How this works
Instead of Microsoft Word
Last checked October 24, 2026
LibreOffice is #1 (90). ONLYOFFICE is #3 (80).
LibreOffice
#1 · Closest
5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: works without an account.
ONLYOFFICE
#3
5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: comments and tracked changes and works without an account.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | LibreOffice#1 · 905 of 5 checked features | ONLYOFFICE#3 · 805 of 5 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Opens and saves DOCXCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Styles, headings, and a table of contentsCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
| Comments and tracked changesCounts for 8 | Full | Partial |
| More than one person in the same fileCounts for 6 | Full | Full |
| Works without an accountCounts for 8 | Partial | Partial |
Where they differ
Comments and tracked changes
Worth 8 points. LibreOffice does all of it. ONLYOFFICE does part of it.
Both do all of these: opens and saves DOCX, styles, headings, and a table of contents, and more than one person in the same file.
Also ranked: Collabora Online is #2 (80). CryptPad is #4 (57). AbiWord is #5 (43).
Collabora Online (#2) and ONLYOFFICE (#3) score 80 with the same share of the checklist checked. The order follows that tie.
Instead of Microsoft Excel
Last checked October 24, 2026
LibreOffice is #1 (93). ONLYOFFICE is #2 (83).
LibreOffice
#1 · Closest
5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: simultaneous editing.
ONLYOFFICE
#2
5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: charts and works offline.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | LibreOffice#1 · 935 of 5 checked features | ONLYOFFICE#2 · 835 of 5 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Opens and saves XLSXCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Formulas and summariesCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| ChartsCounts for 6 | Full | Partial |
| Simultaneous editingCounts for 6 | Partial | Full |
| Works offlineCounts for 8 | Full | Partial |
Where they differ
Charts
Worth 6 points. LibreOffice does all of it. ONLYOFFICE does part of it.
Simultaneous editing
Worth 6 points. LibreOffice does part of it. ONLYOFFICE does all of it.
Works offline
Worth 8 points. LibreOffice does all of it. ONLYOFFICE does part of it.
Both do all of these: opens and saves XLSX, and formulas and summaries.
Also ranked: Gnumeric is #3 (78). CryptPad is #4 (40). EtherCalc is #5 (40).
Instead of PowerPoint
Last checked October 24, 2026
LibreOffice is #1 (90). ONLYOFFICE is #2 (80).
LibreOffice
#1 · Closest
5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: works offline.
ONLYOFFICE
#2
5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.You only get part of: a presentation mode and works offline.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | LibreOffice#1 · 905 of 5 checked features | ONLYOFFICE#2 · 805 of 5 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Opens PPTXCounts for 10 | Full | Full |
| Layouts and speaker notesCounts for 8 | Full | Full |
| A presentation modeCounts for 8 | Full | Partial |
| Images on a slideCounts for 6 | Full | Full |
| Works offlineCounts for 8 | Partial | Partial |
Where they differ
A presentation mode
Worth 8 points. LibreOffice does all of it. ONLYOFFICE does part of it.
Both do all of these: opens PPTX, layouts and speaker notes, and images on a slide.
Also ranked: Sozi is #3 (50). CryptPad is #4 (38). reveal.js is #5 (38).
Instead of Microsoft 365
Last checked October 29, 2026
ONLYOFFICE is #2 (56). LibreOffice is #3 (48).
LibreOffice
#3
8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: email, file sync, and team chat, and 1 more.
ONLYOFFICE
#2
8 of 8 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.What you give up: email, team chat, and a shared calendar. You only get part of: file sync.
Scroll sideways to see both apps.
| Feature | LibreOffice#3 · 488 of 8 checked features | ONLYOFFICE#2 · 568 of 8 checked features |
|---|---|---|
| Word-style documentsCounts for 8 | FullWriter opens DOCX. | FullDOCX editing in the desktop apps and in the docs server. |
| SpreadsheetsCounts for 8 | FullCalc opens XLSX. | FullXLSX. |
| SlidesCounts for 6 | FullImpress opens PPTX. | FullPPTX. |
| EmailCounts for 8 | Missing | Missing |
| File syncCounts for 8 | Missing | PartialThe docs server edits files. It is not a OneDrive replacement by itself. |
| Team chatCounts for 6 | Missing | Missing |
| A shared calendarCounts for 6 | Missing | Missing |
| Works with no serverCounts for 4 | FullThe desktop apps need no server. | FullDesktop editors run with no server. |
Where they differ
File sync
Worth 8 points. LibreOffice does none of it. ONLYOFFICE does part of it. The docs server edits files. It is not a OneDrive replacement by itself.
Both do all of these: word-style documents, spreadsheets, slides, and works with no server.
Also ranked: Nextcloud is #1 (65). Collabora Online is #4 (41). Thunderbird is #5 (28). mailcow is #6 (20).
The facts on file
LibreOffice
A desktop suite that opens Office files.
- Rules
- Open source. MPL-2.0
- Run it yourself
- The desktop apps are not a server. Collabora Online is the browser version.
- Free plan
- The desktop apps are free to download.
- They host it
- No hosted price on file.
- Where it runs
- Mac, Windows, Linux
Last checked October 29, 2026
ONLYOFFICE
Browser editors for DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.
- Rules
- Open source. AGPL-3.0 (community docs)
- Confirm Document Server versus the commercial build before you deploy.
- Run it yourself
- Setup: medium. Plan on Docker or a small virtual machine. A paid hosted plan, if there is one, is separate from the free copy you run yourself.
- Free plan
- You can run the free version on your own server. You don't pay for each person. We don't list a price for the hosted version. Not checked.
- They host it
- No hosted price on file.
- Where it runs
- Web, Run it yourself, Mac, Windows, Linux
Last checked October 29, 2026
Website·Source·Paid link · We may earn a fee. That fee does not change the score.
Which one to pick
LibreOffice
Pick LibreOffice if you want a desktop suite that opens Office files. Comments and tracked changes are full in Word. Charts and offline work are full in Excel. A presentation mode is full. Simultaneous editing is partial. The license is MPL-2.0. The desktop apps are not a server.
ONLYOFFICE
Pick ONLYOFFICE if you want browser editors for DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX. Simultaneous editing is full in Excel. Comments, charts, offline work, and a presentation mode are partial. The community docs license is AGPL-3.0. Confirm Document Server versus the commercial build before you deploy. Setup is medium.