OSI-licensed only · self-hostable
Microsoft Office covers word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and, with Microsoft 365, shared online editing. Open-source suites handle the desktop jobs and several self-hosted editors handle the browser jobs. Format fidelity with complex .docx and .xlsx files is the main thing to test before you switch.
Every tool below is under an OSI-approved licence, checked against its repository. Some are full desktop suites, others are online editors you host yourself, and one is a plain collaborative text editor.
Licences checked against each repository on November 7, 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Licence | Runs as |
|---|---|---|---|
| LibreOffice | Full desktop office suite | MPL-2.0 | Desktop app |
| ONLYOFFICE Docs | Closest look to Microsoft Office online | AGPL-3.0 | Docker |
| Collabora Online | LibreOffice-based online editing | MPL-2.0 | Docker |
| Apache OpenOffice | Permissively licensed classic suite | Apache-2.0 | Desktop app |
| CryptPad | End-to-end encrypted collaboration | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Server |
| Etherpad | Real-time collaborative text | Apache-2.0 | Docker |
Best for: Full desktop office suite
An integrated office suite based on copyleft licences that works with most document formats, backed by The Document Foundation. The repository lists GPL-3.0, LGPL-3.0 and MPL-2.0 licence files.
Best for: Closest look to Microsoft Office online
A free collaborative online office suite with viewers and editors for texts, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, PDFs and diagrams.
Best for: LibreOffice-based online editing
Collabora Online's README says the project is primarily under MPLv2, with some parts under other open-source licences. Development happens on Gerrit and GitHub is used for issues and release artifacts.
Best for: Permissively licensed classic suite
A full-featured office productivity suite based on open standards that continues OpenOffice.org.
Best for: End-to-end encrypted collaboration
An end-to-end encrypted, open-source collaboration suite for real-time document collaboration; the README says server operators cannot read user content.
Best for: Real-time collaborative text
A modern, really-real-time collaborative document editor.
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| If you need… | Start with |
|---|---|
| A desktop suite with the widest format support | LibreOffice |
| Browser editing most like Microsoft 365 | ONLYOFFICE Docs or Collabora Online |
| Permissive licence on a desktop suite | Apache OpenOffice |
| Private collaboration with end-to-end encryption | CryptPad |
| Quick shared text notes | Etherpad |
Quick answers to common questions
Yes. LibreOffice is an integrated office suite for most document formats and is the usual starting point on the desktop.
ONLYOFFICE Docs and Collabora Online are server products for browser editing. ONLYOFFICE is AGPL-3.0, and Collabora Online is primarily MPLv2.
Most of these suites work with common document formats, but complex layouts, macros and formulas can differ. Test a sample of your real files first.
Its repository shows no archive notice and active commits, but check release frequency against LibreOffice for your needs.
CryptPad describes itself as end-to-end encrypted, so server operators cannot read user content unless they modify the code.
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