LibreOffice vs ONLYOFFICE
Both are alternatives to Microsoft 365. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as ONLYOFFICE vs LibreOffice — same comparison, one verdict.
LibreOffice and ONLYOFFICE are closely matched on ownership (100 vs 97) — this one comes down to pricing and to which trade-offs below you can live with.
LibreOffice
TOP PICKThe mature, fully open-source desktop office suite that runs entirely on your own machine.
LibreOffice is the most complete free desktop office suite and the closest all-round replacement for the Word/Excel/PowerPoint apps. It bundles Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math, runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and opens and saves Microsoft's DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files as well as the open OpenDocument (ODF) formats. It is produced by the non-profit Document Foundation, installs locally with no account or cloud, and costs nothing. It is the right pick for individuals and organizations that mainly need capable offline documents and full control over their files. Its main gap versus 365 is native real-time co-authoring in the desktop apps; browser-based simultaneous editing comes from the related Collabora Online project, listed below.
ONLYOFFICE
Open-source suite with the closest Microsoft-format fidelity and real-time co-editing.
ONLYOFFICE is an open-source office suite whose editors use Office Open XML (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) as their native formats, which gives it some of the best fidelity with Microsoft files of any alternative here. It comes in two parts: the free ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, an offline app for Windows, macOS, and Linux; and ONLYOFFICE Docs (Document Server), a self-hostable engine that adds real-time co-authoring, comments, track changes, and version history in the browser. Both are AGPL-3.0 licensed. It is a strong fit for teams that want Microsoft-like documents plus self-hosted collaboration on infrastructure they control. The vendor also sells hosted cloud and enterprise editions.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| LibreOffice | ONLYOFFICE | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 100 | 97 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first data | Yes | Yes |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free / runs locally | Free desktop apps and self-hosted Community server; paid cloud and enterprise editions available |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 2 GB with a large spreadsheet open | 6 GB for the Document Server with a handful of concurrent editors |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $0 — it runs on the machine you already own | $25–40/mo on a VPS for a small team |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 15 minutes | 2–3 hours for the Document Server |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Low. Update on the Still branch unless you need new features. | Moderate. It is a Java service and it wants its memory. |
LibreOffice is Macrostack's recommended Microsoft 365 alternative, so it's our pick here.
Weighing both against staying on Microsoft 365? Is Microsoft 365 free? What it actually costs →
LibreOffice
Strengths
- +Fully open-source under MPL-2.0, an OSI-approved license
- +Runs entirely offline on your own computer with no account, subscription, or cloud
- +The most feature-complete free desktop suite: word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, plus Draw, Base, and Math
- +Reads and writes Microsoft's DOCX/XLSX/PPTX as well as the open ODF formats, so files stay portable
- +Backed by the non-profit Document Foundation with a very active release cadence and large community
Trade-offs
- −No built-in real-time co-authoring in the desktop apps; browser-based simultaneous editing needs the related Collabora Online
- −Complex Microsoft documents (heavy macros, advanced pivot tables, intricate formatting) can shift slightly on import/export
- −No bundled cloud storage, email, or team-chat equivalent to OneDrive/Outlook/Teams
- −The interface and defaults differ from Microsoft's, so there is a short adjustment period
ONLYOFFICE
Strengths
- +AGPL-3.0 licensed and genuinely open, for both the desktop editors and the Docs server
- +Uses DOCX/XLSX/PPTX as native formats, giving very high fidelity with Microsoft files
- +Self-hostable Docs server adds real-time co-authoring, comments, and track changes on your own infrastructure
- +Free offline desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux for users who do not need collaboration
- +Actively developed with a regular release cadence and integrations for Nextcloud, ownCloud, and others
Trade-offs
- −Real-time collaboration requires running and maintaining the Docs server, which needs a capable server
- −The free self-hosted Community edition is intended for smaller deployments; heavier or enterprise use points to the paid editions
- −Some advanced features and official support sit behind the paid cloud/enterprise tiers
- −As a newer suite, it has a smaller extension ecosystem than the most established desktop suites
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose LibreOffice
if a lower exit cost matters more to you than any single feature, and fully open-source under MPL-2.0, an OSI-approved license.
Choose ONLYOFFICE
if aGPL-3.0 licensed and genuinely open, for both the desktop editors and the Docs server.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — no built-in real-time co-authoring in the desktop apps; browser-based simultaneous editing needs the related Collabora Online, and real-time collaboration requires running and maintaining the Docs server, which needs a capable server. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
LibreOffice vs ONLYOFFICE — common questions
Is LibreOffice a better fit than ONLYOFFICE for office & productivity suites?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: LibreOffice scores 100 to ONLYOFFICE's 97 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. ONLYOFFICE earns its place on a different axis — aGPL-3.0 licensed and genuinely open, for both the desktop editors and the Docs server. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
LibreOffice keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. ONLYOFFICE is still self-hostable, so the files stay on your server either way — but it is not local-first by design, so check what its export produces before you rely on it.
Can I self-host LibreOffice or ONLYOFFICE?
Both can be self-hosted. The difference is what it costs you in time rather than whether it is possible — see the setup and maintenance rows above.
Are LibreOffice and ONLYOFFICE both alternatives to Microsoft 365?
Yes — both appear in our Microsoft 365 comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Microsoft 365 and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
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Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.