Microsoft Office vs. Open Office — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 22, 2023
Microsoft Office is a proprietary suite of productivity software by Microsoft; Open Office, an open-source suite, offers similar applications for free.
Difference Between Microsoft Office and Open Office
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Microsoft Office, produced by the tech giant Microsoft, is a set of productivity tools encompassing applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Open Office, on the other hand, is an open-source office suite, meaning its source code is available to the public, promoting communal development and improvements.
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Oct 22, 2023
While Microsoft Office comes with a price tag, whether through one-time purchase or subscription, Open Office is available for free download. Both provide a range of applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more.
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Microsoft Office, given its proprietary nature, often comes with advanced features, regular updates, and dedicated customer support. In contrast, Open Office leans on community-driven updates and can sometimes lag in incorporating the latest functionalities.
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Comparison Chart
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Support
Dedicated customer support and regular updates
Relies on community support and might have less frequent updates
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Advanced Features
Often has more advanced features due to proprietary development
Might lag in incorporating the latest features
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Definitions
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a comprehensive suite of productivity tools from Microsoft.
Most businesses rely on Microsoft Office for their documentation needs.
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Open Office
Open Office is an open-source suite of office applications.
As a startup, we initially used Open Office to save on software costs.
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Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office often comes with enterprise-level features for businesses.
The company upgraded to the enterprise version of Microsoft Office for enhanced functionalities.
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Open Office
Open Office supports multiple file formats and can be compatible with other software suites.
She opened her Microsoft Word document seamlessly in Open Office.
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Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office offers cloud services with its 365 subscriptions.
With Microsoft Office 365, I can access my documents from anywhere.
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Open Office
Open Office is community-driven and allows for user modifications.
The developer customized Open Office to better suit his team's needs.
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Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office includes applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
I prepared my presentation using Microsoft Office's PowerPoint application.
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Open Office
Open Office can be freely downloaded and used by anyone.
For her school project, she downloaded Open Office instead of buying other software.
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Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is available on various platforms, including Windows and MacOS.
She installed Microsoft Office on her new Macbook.
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Open Office
Open Office provides applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and more.
He typed his thesis using the word processing tool in Open Office.
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FAQs
Does Microsoft Office provide cloud storage?
Yes, with Microsoft Office 365, users get cloud storage through OneDrive.
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Is Open Office compatible with MacOS?
Yes, Open Office is available for various platforms including MacOS.
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Which suite has more advanced features?
Microsoft Office generally offers more advanced and latest features due to its proprietary nature.
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Can I contribute to Open Office's development?
Yes, since Open Office is open-source, users can contribute to its development.
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Is Microsoft Office free?
No, Microsoft Office typically requires a purchase or subscription.
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Can I edit Word documents in Open Office?
Yes, Open Office can open and edit Microsoft Word documents.
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Which applications are included in Microsoft Office?
Microsoft Office includes applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.
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Which suite is more secure?
Both suites prioritize security, but Microsoft Office, with its regular updates and dedicated support, might be perceived as more secure.
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Which is better for business use?
Many businesses prefer Microsoft Office for its advanced features and robust support, but it depends on the specific needs of the business.
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How is Open Office available for free?
Open Office is open-source, community-driven, and operates without the commercial objectives of proprietary software.
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Are files created in Open Office compatible with Microsoft Office?
Generally, yes. Files from Open Office can be saved in formats compatible with Microsoft Office.
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Can Open Office run on mobile devices?
Open Office doesn't have a dedicated mobile version like some Microsoft Office apps.
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How often is Open Office updated?
Being community-driven, Open Office updates might be less frequent compared to Microsoft Office.
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Is there a cloud version of Open Office?
No, Open Office doesn't have a dedicated cloud version like Microsoft Office 365.
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Are Microsoft Office files backward compatible with older Open Office versions?
Not always. Some newer file formats or features might not be supported in older versions of Open Office.
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Author Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
