Document Mgmt for 2023 by Megan Murphy
With the year coming to a close, it might be a good idea to reevaluate your business software. Are you getting everything you need from a word processor or slide-making service? Your first thought here might have been the prominent Microsoft Office Suite (MOS), but are they best for your needs? Let’s explore other options that offer similar-if-not-exactly-the-same programs for you.
G Suite
Pros:
- Saves into the cloud
- Nearly the same controls as MOS
- Offers Excel and PowerPoint comparable products
- Totally free
- No download needed
- Collaboration options for editing and commenting
- Universal access (no program necessary)
- Syncs with web-based spellcheckers
- Integrates with Gmail and Google Calendar
Cons:
- Word processor incapable of loading documents longer than 10k words
- Spell check is not as thorough as MOS (in my experience)
- Unable to save photos from Google Docs (which is an option with MOS)
Apache’s Open Office
Pros:
- Totally free
- Offers the same setup and controls as MOS
- Offers Excel and PowerPoint comparable products
Cons:
- Documents save as their own file type – not convertible to other programs
- No cloud storage capabilities
- No document sharing and collaboration options like Google Docs
- Not suitable for documents with a mixture of media
- No email component (like Outlook or Gmail)
LibreOffice
Pros:
- Suitable to use with older computer/laptop models
- Import and Convert docs from previous programs (like MOS)
- Totally free
- Offers Excel and Powerpoint comparable products
Cons:
- Does not run well on Mac
- No cloud storage capabilities
- No document share/collaboration options
- No PDF conversions
- No email component
Apple’s iWork
Pros:
- Totally free
- Mobile app capabilities
- Offers Excel and Powerpoint comparable products
- Simple interface
- Easy to use with Apple Pencil
- Automatic download for all iOS users
Cons:
- No email component
- Documents save as their own file type – not convertible to other programs
- Customer service not readily available
While there are a few other programs out there, lesser known, I feel these are your best alternatives to MOS. It’s up to you to figure out which is your best option, but in my opinion, if you’re tired of MOS for business, G Suite is the next best thing. But if you’re tired of MOS for creative writing or large writing projects, I’d go with Libreoffice. It will be your closest alternative to what you’ve previously used.
What do you think? What works best for you and your team? Let me know below!
