LibreOffice vs. OnlyOffice: The Best Alternatives to Microsoft Office
The Problem with Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is expensive (from ~€10/user/month), and data is stored on US servers. For companies with sensitive data, this is problematic.
LibreOffice (Germany)
LibreOffice is developed by the Document Foundation, a German non-profit organization. It is completely free and open source.
Strengths
- Free: No subscription, no license fees
- Full feature set: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math
- Best Microsoft Office compatibility of all open-source solutions
- Runs locally: No cloud dependency
Weaknesses
- Real-time collaboration only via Nextcloud/LibreOffice Online
- Occasional display issues with complex DOCX files
OnlyOffice (Latvia)
OnlyOffice was developed by a Latvian company and is characterized by excellent Microsoft Office compatibility.
Strengths
- Excellent DOCX/XLSX compatibility
- Real-time collaboration in document editing
- Integrated in Nextcloud, Seafile, and others
- Modern interface
Weaknesses
- Community edition has limited features
- More complex setup than LibreOffice
Collabora Office (UK)
Collabora Online is the enterprise version of LibreOffice for the browser – ideal for Nextcloud integration.
Which Solution for Whom?
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|----------|---------------|
| Individuals / SMEs | LibreOffice (free) |
| Collaborative work | OnlyOffice + Nextcloud |
| Enterprise | Collabora Online |
Migration from Microsoft Office
1. Install LibreOffice in parallel and test
2. Train employees (interface similar but not identical)
3. Convert document templates
4. Gradual switch by departments
Conclusion
LibreOffice and OnlyOffice are full-fledged alternatives to Microsoft Office. For most office activities, LibreOffice is completely sufficient – free and GDPR-compliant.