NICEVILLE, Fla. — This week’s It’s Geek to Me explores whether replacing Microsoft Office 365 with LibreOffice is a smart move, balancing cost savings with potential challenges.
QUESTION: What are the pros and cons of replacing Office 365 with LibreOffice?
– Larry T., Fort Walton Beach, Florida
ANSWER: Well, that’s certainly brief and straight to the point, Larry. Nevertheless, a question is a question, and these days I’ll take them all – terse or verbose – without complaining.
I want to start off by suggesting that you hit the column archives on my website and read I.G.T.M. Issue #930, May 18, 2025, in which I discuss not just Libre Office, but multiple free alternatives to Microsoft’s Office 365. The actual crux of that issue was reader Doug B.’s question whether uninstalling Microsoft Word would uninstall any components that are needed by LibreOffice (hint: it won’t).
But let’s start with just what the heck is LibreOffice, for those readers who may not know. LibreOffice is a free, open-source alternative to Microsoft Office 365 that, like Office, offers applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. It can even read the files produced by Microsoft’s products. Unlike Microsoft’s Office, there are no fees or mandatory cloud integration. It is 100% free.
Off the top of my head, I would have to say that cost is the biggest “pro” here, Larry. LibreOffice is completely free to download and use, with no hidden fees or “freemium” features locked behind a paywall. This is a massive win for individual users, small businesses, schools, and non-profits operating on tight budgets.
Over time, the savings can be substantial, especially when multiplied across an entire organization. Although I’ll admit, depending on the budget you have to play with for software, the importance can vary from “no biggie” to a complete deal-breaker. I will also say that it is my opinion that Microsoft shifting over to software-as-a-service (SaaS) – where you pay annually for your office suite – isn’t doing any favors for people seeking to run their computer on a shoestring budget.
In some instances, I’m still running just fine on versions going as far back as Office 97. That’s a testament to how well-written the suite was back then, and how little I have need for some of the newer features.
Some other pros include data and vendor independence. When you use LibreOffice, your documents are your own. They aren’t forced into the cloud, or stored in a format that the vendor can discontinue on a whim.
You can store your content in the open-standard OpenDocument Format (ODF) and have the confidence of knowing it will be readable for years to come, regardless of what software you are using. Yet, you still have the flexibility to save in Microsoft’s formats, such as .docx and .xlsx.
I would like to emphasize at this point that all of the “pros” discussed above, as well as most of the “cons” that follow, apply not only to LibreOffice, but all of the other free or open-source office solutions out there. These include OnlyOffice, FreeOffice, WPS Office, Zoho, Calligra, and even Google Docs, access to which comes with your free Google or Gmail account.
There are, of course, those cons you mentioned. First, there is a learning curve to overcome to use any software replacement. If you’re very adept at the Microsoft brand of office products, you might initially be stymied by things that are differently named or located in different places than you’re used to.
This is a minor inconvenience, in my opinion. After all, at some point, you learned Microsoft Word from scratch. You can re-learn what you need to know.
Beyond the form and structure of the software, potential drawbacks include occasional formatting inconsistencies when compared to complex Microsoft Office files. I don’t mean simple things like font formatting, alignment, and that sort of thing.
Rather, some of the more complex functions, such as how embedded tables are implemented, the formatting of graphics, and other advanced features, are either implemented differently or not at all. Importing a complex document created in Microsoft Word may produce less-than-desirable results in a free office product and require some rework.
One final con I’d be remiss in not mentioning is that of support. Microsoft offers a robust and expansive professional support system for its Office 365 customers. The support for LibreOffice is limited to the community of developers and other users.
This is, again, free, but you do often get exactly what you pay for. If you need reliable, on-demand technical support, the free route may not be for you.
The right tool can be a highly personal choice; one that depends on the job at hand, and the environment in which it will be done. LibreOffice offers a compelling, no-strings-attached alternative that can save you money and give you peace of mind regarding your data.
But for a world increasingly built on collaboration and seamless integration, Office 365 holds a powerful and sticky advantage. In the end, the best choice isn’t the one that’s free, but the one that empowers you to get your work done with the least amount of friction.
To view additional content, comment on articles, or submit a question, visit my website at ItsGeekToMe.co (not .com!)
Jeff Werner, a software engineer based in Niceville, Florida, has been writing his popular “It’s Geek to Me” tech column since 2007. He shares his expertise to help readers solve everyday tech challenges.
