10 Best Office For Mac & Microsoft 365 Alternatives of 2026 (Free & Paid)

If you’re looking for a cheaper – or even free – alternative to Microsoft 365 on a Mac, there are now better options than ever.

While Microsoft rebranded Office to Microsoft 365 and heavily integrated AI tools like Copilot, not everyone wants a subscription or AI-driven features. Many Mac users simply want reliable apps for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations – without the ongoing cost (although a one-time purchase version of Office for Mac is still available).

The good news is that in 2026, there are excellent alternatives that offer:

• Full compatibility with Microsoft Office formats (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX)
• Native support for Apple Silicon Macs
• Cloud collaboration (or offline desktop apps)
• Free or low-cost pricing models

Whether you want a fully cloud-based suite, a traditional desktop replacement, or something free and open-source, here are the best Microsoft Office alternatives for Mac right now.

Comparison Table

Product	Pricing	Best For

iWork

Free (pre-installed on Mac)

Best free Mac-native suite

LibreOffice

Free (open source)

Best open-source desktop alternative

WPS Office

Free version; Premium from $30/year

Best all-in-one budget suite

OnlyOffice

Free community edition; Paid from $5/user/month

Best for secure collaboration

FreeOffice

Free basic version

Best lightweight free desktop suite

Google Workspace

From $6/user/month

Best overall (cloud collaboration)

SoftMaker Office NX

From $30/year subscription

Best for MS Office compatibility

Zoho Workplace

From $3/user/month

Best for small business teams

Polaris Office

Free basic plan; Premium from $4/month

Best cross-device productivity

NeoOffice

Discontinued; older versions $30 one-time

Legacy Mac-focused Office suite (now replaced by LibreOffice)

1. iWork (Best Free Mac Native Suite)

Best for: Free Mac-native Office apps

iWork (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) is Apple’s built-in alternative – and it’s completely free.

It’s beautifully designed, fast on Apple Silicon Macs, and deeply integrated with macOS and iCloud.

While Numbers isn’t as powerful as Excel, iWork apps produce some of the best-looking documents and presentations of any suite.

It supports Microsoft formats, although complex files may lose formatting when exported.

Pros:

• Free and pre-installed on Macs
• Optimized for macOS and Apple Silicon
• Excellent templates and design tools

Cons:

• Limited compatibility with complex Office files
• Collaboration weaker than Google Workspace

2. LibreOffice (Best Free Open Source)

Best for: Free open-source desktop alternative

LibreOffice is the best completely free desktop replacement for Microsoft 365.

It includes Writer, Calc, Impress, and Base (a Microsoft Access alternative), and works fully offline.

Compatibility with Microsoft formats is good, although formatting can occasionally shift with complex documents.

There’s no built-in cloud collaboration, but it integrates with services like Dropbox and Google Drive.

Pros:

• 100% free and open-source
• Full offline desktop apps
• Includes database tools (rare in free suites)

Cons:

• Outdated interface
• No real-time collaboration

3. WPS Office (Best All-In-One Budget Suite)

Best for: All-in-one budget Office suite with extras

WPS Office is a polished, feature-rich alternative that includes Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and a built-in PDF editor.

It’s one of the most visually modern Office suites and integrates well with macOS features like Split View and Sidecar.

The free version is ad-supported, while premium plans unlock PDF tools, cloud storage, and extra templates.

Pros:

• Slick, modern interface
• Built-in PDF tools
• Strong mobile + desktop integration

Cons:

• Ads in free version
• Some features locked behind subscription

4. OnlyOffice (Best For Secure Collaboration)

Best for: Secure collaboration and open-source flexibility

OnlyOffice is a strong option for teams that want both open-source transparency and collaboration tools.

It offers desktop and cloud versions, plus features like document comparison, edit tracking, and encrypted collaboration.

Recent updates include AI integrations with multiple models.

Pros:

• Excellent collaboration features
• High-level security and encryption
• Free tier available

Cons:

• Less polished UI
• Limited documentation

5. FreeOffice (Best Free Lightweight Suite)

Best for: Lightweight free desktop alternative

FreeOffice is a simplified version of SoftMaker Office.

It offers a familiar Microsoft-style interface and solid compatibility with Office files, making it ideal for home users.

However, it lacks collaboration features and some advanced tools.

Pros:

• Free and easy to use
• Familiar interface
• Good file compatibility

Cons:

• No cloud collaboration
• Fewer features than paid suites

6. Google Workspace (Best Cloud Alternative)

Best for: Cloud collaboration and real-time editing

Google Workspace remains the closest cloud-based alternative to Microsoft 365.

It includes Docs, Sheets, and Slides (alternatives to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), plus Gmail, Meet, and Calendar. In 2026, it also integrates Gemini AI, which can summarize documents, draft emails, and assist with tasks.

Google Workspace now handles Microsoft file formats extremely well – you can open, edit, and export DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files with minimal issues.

Collaboration is where it really stands out, with real-time editing, comments, and version history that often feel smoother than Microsoft’s own tools.

You can also check our comprehensive look at Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 for more.

Pros:

• Excellent real-time collaboration
• Strong Microsoft file compatibility
• Works on any browser (no install needed)
• Generous free tier

Cons:

• No full desktop apps
• Fewer advanced features than Excel

7. Softmaker Office NX (Best Office File Compatibility)

Best for: Microsoft Office compatibility without subscription

SoftMaker Office NX is one of the closest desktop replacements for Microsoft Office.

Its biggest strength is file fidelity – it preserves formatting better than most alternatives when opening and saving Office documents.

The interface feels familiar, with both ribbon and classic menu options, making it ideal for switching from Microsoft 365.

Pros:

• Excellent compatibility with Office formats
• Fast and lightweight
• One-time purchase or subscription

Cons:

• No built-in collaboration tools
• Less integrations than Microsoft products

8. Zoho Workplace (Best For Small Businesses)

Best for: Small business collaboration suite

Zoho Workplace is a powerful cloud-based suite designed for teams.

It includes Writer, Sheet, Show, plus email, chat (Cliq), storage (WorkDrive), and meetings.

It’s more business-focused than Google Workspace, with strong integrations and workflow tools, although it has a steeper learning curve.

Pros:

• Full business suite (email, chat, docs)
• Strong collaboration features
• Affordable pricing

Cons:

• Not ideal for casual users
• Less intuitive than Google Workspace

9. Polaris Office (Best Cross Device Productivity Suite)

Best for: Cross-device productivity

Polaris Office is designed for users who switch between desktop and mobile devices.

It supports a wide range of file formats and includes cloud syncing and PDF editing.

While the free version includes ads, it’s a flexible option for working across Mac, iOS, and Android.

Pros:

• Strong multi-device support
• Good file compatibility
• Built-in cloud features

Cons:

• Ads in free version
• Desktop version sold separately

10. NeoOffice (Legacy Option Only)

Best for: Legacy Mac users only

NeoOffice is no longer actively developed and has been replaced by LibreOffice.

It may still run on older macOS versions, but it’s not recommended for modern Macs in 2026.

Pros:

• Built specifically for macOS
• Better Mac integration than standard LibreOffice
• Full suite of office tools
• One-time purchase with no subscription
• Works on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs (with Rosetta if needed)

Cons:

• No longer actively developed
• Interface looks dated compared to modern suites
• No real-time cloud collaboration
• File fidelity with Office formats not perfect

FAQ

What is the best alternative to Microsoft 365 for Mac?

For most users, iWorks is the best all-round alternative as its free, made by Apple and works natively on macOS. If you prefer desktop apps, SoftMaker and Office NX are the closest matches to Microsoft Office. Google Workspace is the best Cloud alternative thanks to its collaboration features and ease of use.

Are there any completely free Office alternatives for Mac?

Yes – LibreOffice, iWork, and FreeOffice are all free to use and support Microsoft file formats.

Which alternative is best for Microsoft Office file compatibility?

SoftMaker Office NX, WPS Office, and OnlyOffice offer the best compatibility with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

Do these alternatives work on Apple Silicon Macs?

Yes. All major Office alternatives listed here run natively on Apple Silicon (M1–M5) or are fully optimized for modern Macs.

Which Office alternatives support collaboration?

• Best: Google Workspace, Zoho Workplace
• Good: OnlyOffice
• Basic: iWork (via iCloud)

Is Microsoft 365 still worth it on Mac?

If you rely heavily on Excel, Outlook, or advanced features, Microsoft 365 is still the most powerful option. But for many users, these alternatives offer better value, especially if you want to avoid subscriptions.

Conclusion

In 2026, you no longer need Microsoft 365 to be productive on a Mac.

• Want the best cloud collaboration? Google Workspace
• Want something free and native? iWork
• Want a true Office replacement? SoftMaker Office NX
• Want a free desktop suite? LibreOffice

The right choice depends on whether you prioritize price, compatibility, or collaboration – but there’s now a strong option for every type of Mac user.