It’s not exactly cheap at $79.00 but it’s a very straightforward, slick and functional word processor that offers much of what Microsoft Word does. There a few free alternatives to Word on Mac but of course, none of them have the same features or power as Word. AbiWord's list of features reads like a checklist for the definitive word processor program: spelling and grammar checking, headers and footers, table and column support, templates, footnotes and so on.
- Do Macs Have Something Like Microsoft Word For Mac
- Google Docs
- Do Macs Have Something Like Microsoft Word Online
- Do Macs Have Something Like Microsoft Word And Excel
Office 365 for the Mac has these requirements:
- Operating System: Mac OS X version 10.10 or later.
- Computer & Processor: Intel processor.
- Memory: 4 GB RAM or higher.
- Disk Space: 6 GB or higher. Requires HFS+ hard disk format (also known as Mac OS Extended or HFS Plus).
- Monitor Resolution: 1280 x 800.
Office for the Mac has never included Access, the database in the Windows version, or Ink. However, FileMaker Pro is an excellent alternative in terms of databases on the Macs. Microsoft Project has not ever been included with the Mac version. Note: all these titles are available if you run the Windows version of Office.
For those without those requirements there are numerous options out there:
Office 2011 has known issues with 14.5.5 and earlier versions and 10.11 El Capitan, and 14.5.6 was released to address them and 14.5.7 is already available.
For Mac OS X 10.7 and later, Microsoft Office 2008 (the installers that come with it may not be compatible, but most files can be dragged and dropped) and 2011 are compatible from http://www.microsoft.com/macand it has its own forums at:
Earlier versions of Microsoft Office will not work natively with Mac OS X 10.7 or later (Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, or Yosemite),
that includes v.X and 2004 even though they might have worked with prior versions of Mac OS X. If you need to read newer Office documents,
see the alternatives below to upgrading to Office 2008 or 2011 to see if they might be cheaper or are able to fill the need. If migrating from PowerPC to Intel Mac, you should also be aware of this tip: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2295
Note: Very few Office documents may require Office for Windows due to specific macros, or DirectX additions. If you get something that is unreadable, it either is due to that, or a version of Office newer than what you have.
Here are the most commonly referenced alternatives to Microsoft Office.
http://www.apple.com/support/mac-apps/ - lists Numbers, Pages, and Keynote as alternatives to Excel, Word, and Powerpoint.
http://www.openoffice.org/ - open source
http://www.libreoffice.org/- open source, and also includes support for Publisher.
http://www.neooffice.org/- open source
Word processing only:
Apple TextEdit (prebundled with Mac OS X) - yes it can open Word files, though formatting may be seriously hampered for all except the most simple documents.
Spreadsheet only:
Visio:
And Online:
Installing Windows on your Mac:
For Macs prior to July 20, 2011, Appleworks was also an alternative, though this tip had to be created to help people to migrate:
The https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6841 link mentioned on tip 2522
can also help those who have older versions of Microsoft Office for Mac OS X.
Microsoft Access has never been written for Mac OS, though Filemaker Pro has been around for a long time. People migrating from Windows
will be glad to know there is a tool to get Access to Filemaker Pro format before moving to Mac OS X:
You don't have to leave Microsoft Office if you decide to switch from PC to Mac. Microsoft has a perfectly good version of Office 365 for Mac that comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and more. If you've been thinking about switching away from the Office productivity suite, there are alternatives that offer many of the features you love in Microsoft's programs, plus some features you can't get anywhere else.
iWork Suite
Apple's alternative to Office is iWork. It's the most comparable alternative to Microsoft's productivity suite, only it comes free with every Mac. The interface is different, and will take some time to get used to, but if you're really interested in kicking Office to the curb, the iWork suite is the best alternative on Mac.
If you're ready for change, and Office's user interface, design, and tools aren't burned into your psyche, get Apple's iWork suite of apps. It comes preinstalled on new Macs, but you can also find it in the Mac App Store.
- Pages - Download now
- Numbers- Download now
- Keynote - Download now
OpenOffice
OpenOffice by Apache is probably the most similar to Microsoft Office in look and design. It comes with a word processor, a spreadsheet maker, and a presentation creator, all with many of the same features their Office counterparts have. Files are saved as open document format files, so they can be opened with any document viewer, including Office apps, without needing to be converted first. The best part is that OpenOffice is completely free.
If you're looking for an alternative to Microsoft Office that looks and works pretty much exactly the same, but doesn't cost a dime, OpenOffice is for you.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is an open source productivity suite very similar to Microsoft Office that comes with a word processor, spreadsheet maker, and presentation creator. It also includes a vector graphics editor, a math formula editor, and a database manager. Files are saved as open document format files, so you can open them with any document viewer, including Office apps, without needing to be converted first, though it does provide tools for saving a document as an Office-specific file. LibreOffice is totally free. It is very similar in design to Microsoft Office, with some minor differences in the design.
LibreOffice is a solid replacement for the Office apps and includes some useful extra programs that Office doesn't even have.
Google Docs
Google Docs is the easiest replacement for Microsoft office because it's so accessible. If you have a Gmail account, or a Google Hangouts account, or a YouTube account, you have Google Docs. Just visit the web-based app from your browser and you can create word processor documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. There is a Google Drive app you can download onto Mac so you can work offline. The changes will be made when your Mac is back online. Google Docs doesn't look at all like Microsoft Office, and has a very different user interface, but it does have many of the same, familiar features you know from Office.
The thing that makes Google Docs so useful, however, is it's real-time collaboration, which works seamlessly with multiple users. I've worked alongside a dozen other people in one document. I am able to see where everyone is within the documents and can see exactly when changes are made.
If you're looking for a very easy to use Office replacement that is ideal for working with others in real-time, you'll be pleased with Google Docs.
What's your pick?
Do Macs Have Something Like Microsoft Word For Mac
Do you use a Microsoft Office alternative you'd recommend to our readers that are new to Mac or just want to switch from Microsoft? Put your suggestion in the comments below and tell us why its the one you chose.
MacBook Pro
Main
Google Docs
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
For all your USB-C needsDo Macs Have Something Like Microsoft Word Online
The HybridDrive is a USB-C dock with an SSD built in
Do Macs Have Something Like Microsoft Word And Excel
You need more ports, right? And you probably need more storage, right? What you really need is the HybridDrive.