As is the case with Google Docs, Pages boasts real-time collaboration across Mac, iPad or iPhone, or even a PC. Pages is another word processor that lets you create documents and comes included with most Apple devices.

Screenshot: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia Apple Pages Further benefits of using a cloud app also include access to your files from anywhere and that there’s no need to save your documents. While I prefer an app-based Word-like platform, the collaboration tools available with Google Docs are very, very useful. It has all of the formatting, spell checking, etc tools you expect nowadays from a word processor and you shouldn’t run into problems working with contacts who are using Word. It’s also got the limitation of being web-based, which I personally don’t like. While Google Docs is free to use online, it’s only free if you have a Gmail account. But I also feel like Google Docs has come a long way in recent times. Google’s effort feels more intuitive and comfortable on the Web than Microsoft’s app, perhaps as it’s been built from the ground up as an online tool rather than an adaptation of existing software. Screenshot: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia Google Docs LibreOffice is probably one of the more cleaner looking Word alternatives. It comes with all of the features you’re going to need such as auto-save, change tracking and a commenting, as well as spell checker, header and footer support and the ability to save as PDF – so it won’t feel too dissimilar to the Word you already know. Its Writer component is a more-than-capable replacement for Microsoft Word, despite a slightly old-fashioned appearance. If you’re looking for a solid, dependable desktop tool that doesn’t look toooooo different to Word, then LibreOffice is a good alternative. If you’re looking outside the blue box, though, here are four alternatives worth your time. Microsoft does offer a stripped-down online version of Word free of charge with your OneDrive account, so if you’re committed to Office that should be your first stop. Screenshot: Asha Barbaschow/Gizmodo Australia In addition to Word, you get access to Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive.

For one person, a Microsoft 365 Personal account will be billed at $99 annually (or $10 a month).

Free basic word processor for windows