Apache OpenOffice vs. Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Apache OpenOffice
Score 9.4 out of 10
N/A
Apache OpenOffice is a free open source office suite that includes six applications: Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheets), Impress (presentations), Draw (diagramming and graphics), Base (database), and Math (formulas).N/A
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
An integrated solution, designed for small or medium-sized businesses, bringing together the productivity of Microsoft Office with advanced security capabilities to help safeguard data from external threats and help protect against data leaks. With Microsoft 365 Business Premium, users can empower employees to be productive anywhere on any device. Get more done with AI built into the Office apps. Work better together with a hub for teamwork bringing your tools and people together in one place.…N/A
Pricing
Apache OpenOfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Apache OpenOfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Apache OpenOfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Considered Both Products
Apache OpenOffice
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Apache is the free alternative to MS Office and is enough for basic tasks. It doesn't have all the modern functionality that newer versions of MS Office have, like cloud connectivity and that kind of stuff but for a basic office suite it's really good and it costs nothing to own.
Chose Apache OpenOffice
They are very compatible and very similar overall. If you can use the one, you can use the other. Layouts are also not too dissimilar. So, transitioning from one or the other will not be a problem. Ultimately, pricing may be your deciding factor, not functionality, which is …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
MS Office file formats are native to OpenOffice
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Due to costs mainly, not having to use a ultra expensive app like Microsoft instead. On a big company cost saving is a main driver and apache can fulfill everything even with such a low cost. Initially the team was suspicious of it but now they cannot live without it
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Microsoft Office 2016 required licenses which incurred a cost. Upgrade to Office 2019 or higher is also costly. In terms of functionality, the products are both equally capable, with OpenOffice having a slightly less polished user interface.
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Like OpenOffice, LibreOffice is also an open open source software which ships as the default office suite on Linux operating systems. Libre office is more suited for users using Linux as their primary operating system. Plus it requires 2gb space, same as Microsoft office so …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
For some weird reason, a particular Excel template could not convert properly in QuattroPro so we chose OpenOffice.
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is less intense on our computer systems and saves us a ton of financial resources. Since our document creation and editing needs are typical of a small business and not very complex, Apache OpenOffice is sufficient for us. We think that almost any smaller to …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
OpenOffice comes for free and with almost the same functionalities as Microsoft Office. Even if there may be some small incompatibilities, saving 500+ Microsoft Office licenses can be a real incentive for a small company. Together with moving to OpenOffice, as a part of the …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
OpenOffice is great, free, and easy to use. I enjoy some of this other software, and use Google Drive (and applications) frequently, yet I still find daily use for OpenOffice.
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice (OO) is less complicated than MS Office. This makes it easier for beginners to learn. On the other hand, it does not seem to have some of the more advanced features that power users like (but that can confuse and frustrate basic users). OO could profit by …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
I selected Apache because it provides the same tools and performance (as well as the Microsoft Office formats) for absolutely no price tag. It is produced by people who care about making a product that works— great updates are made periodically. The interface is very similar …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
The big benefits that OpenOffice gives us is the flexibility, the cost, and the ease of licensing. We do have some Office users, and we keep licenses for them. We looked at Office 365, and that was a good way to work for some people, but the requirement to be constantly …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
The products are certainly equivalent, with OOO having a much better price and better performance than the non-Microsoft offerings.

I've used Lotus Smartsuite (now deprecated), Coral Office, Star Office (a previous version of OOO), and Microsoft Office. Functionality across all …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice may not quite have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office, but I chose it for one major reason: it is absolutely free. It is also fully functional as a free software. There is no trial, need to upgrade, or subscription plan. As a small business owner, …
Chose Apache OpenOffice
Microsoft Office 365 and Prezi
Chose Apache OpenOffice
I like the look and feel that Apache open office has. The fact that it is Open Source and not costly is great. It has an easy learning curve for people that are used to using Microsoft Office.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
We selected Microsoft 365 Business Premium as it provides a better integration that aligns better with the needs of our company. Another obvious plus is that our staff was used to Microsoft Office so switching to Microsoft 365 Business Premium offered an almost seamless …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Used Domino/Lotus Notes (IBM) for a long time and just was not as usable in a day to day and team environment. Did not have much choice at the time and using other products like Libre and Google products just didn't have the transparency or cross functionality I was used to …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
there are no real competition in the field. Microsoft Office 365 stands out every other competitor and even if you consider single sub-item or functionality like MDM or EDR or Email services or Instant messaging and file sharing, you will easily understand andbe convinced that …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Google Drive
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Microsoft's integration with the Windows OS, tools like teams, Edge browser and the azure environment make it an easy one-stop-shop. With apps being available on IOS/MacOS, too - and via the web - this really lifts them above the competition. Whilst solutions like Canva are …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
We have used Microsoft 365 Business Premium since I have been with the company, 10 years now, and have not looked at similar products.
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Google suit one of the alternatives which has few similar functionality but AD integration and running at large level the google does not provide those features which is the main reason for us to go with the Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Gsuit does not have stanalone pc …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Jamf Pro works much better with Mac products and gives a much better set of scripting options and feedback. With Microsoft 365 Business Premium I may know that a deploy failed but I won't always know exactly why a deploy is acting the way it does or why exactly it failed. Jamf …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
We looked at alternatives to SharePoint for an intranet. One of SharePoint's weakest points is that several sites create silos that cannot be navigated as a whole. Yes, there is a search but it needs improvement. There is no way to see what sites a person is already a member …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Notion is limited, although it is very good for sharing information or schedules of activities in real-time. But it is Microsoft 365 Business Premium that helps with many more tools, and its light adaptation on any device. In addition, exporting information is easier in …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
There is no comparison. Both Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Adobe Acrobat are beneficial to my job duties.
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
We liked Google Drive G Suite with its smooth integration with G Mail. We never were set up with the MS mail program and did not wnat to make that change. We went with Microsoft 365 because the programs offered (Word, Excel, PP) are much more intuitive and robust. The Google …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
It's also available in many languages which is fun to use. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote available in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, Konkani. Publisher available in English and Hindi.
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Microsoft did a great job with older generations being able to use 365 as well as younger people. The software is very user friendly.
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
We have only evaluated Microsoft 365 Business Premium. We do use Adobe products for a different purpose.
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium

The alternative solutions do not contain all of the features of Microsoft 365 Business Premium. They cover only the Office application requirements.

Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
These products simply do not compare in terms of universal compatibility, features, integrations, user-friendliness, and overall cost. Google is free but not as secure and too cloud-based for our needs as a medium-sized organization. I would recommend Google to independent …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Before migrating to Microsoft 365 Business Premium, we possessed an in-house exchange server. Therefore, it was difficult for us to look at alternatives to Microsoft for a solution – we did look at the Google Suite of products, but the transition for us seemed less cumbersome …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Outside of Outlook email. The rest of the programs included in this bundle are superior to similar products I have tried. For example, Teams is a much better program than Jabber. Teams is easier to use, has more tools (some of which will link directly to other programs in the …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
The honest truth is that Microsoft 365 doesn't have any real competition. Apple's office applications are attractive and simple, and OpenOffice is great because it's free, but neither suite offers the power, compatibility, scalability and ease of use that 365 does. The …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
The only application that is close to Microsoft 365 Business Premium is Google Drive. The advantage of Microsoft 365 Business Premium over Google Drive is that it integrates more seamlessly with Microsoft Power Point, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc. Dropbox Business …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is very limited in its implementation and collaboration abilities within a business. It cannot compare with [Microsoft 365 Business Premium] with its convenience, ability to create and edit documents, email, data storage and retrieval and price. It is …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
There really are few viable alternatives to Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Organizations can either use Google, Microsoft 365, or an amalgamation of Slack, Zoom, and Google/\Microsoft. For organizations that already use Microsoft, it's convenient to upgrade rather than …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
I am an advocate of G Suite, but where you need more enhanced functionality, Microsoft is a winner, hands down. With Microsoft, we are able to run financials, and build and analyze more complex spreadsheets and data sets. Microsoft integrates with our third-party ERP system, …
Chose Microsoft 365 Business Premium
I think MS 365 stacks up against all competitors very well. I think there are certainly benefits to Cisco's platform along with RingCentral's platform and some of that will be important to look at side by side for anyone looking to choose between these platforms. The …
Best Alternatives
Apache OpenOfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Small Businesses
Google Workspace
Google Workspace
Score 9.1 out of 10
Google Workspace
Google Workspace
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Google Workspace
Google Workspace
Score 9.1 out of 10
Google Workspace
Google Workspace
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Score 8.9 out of 10
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365
Score 8.7 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Apache OpenOfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Likelihood to Recommend
10.0
(0 ratings)
8.8
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.0
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(0 ratings)
8.5
(0 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
8.4
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
5.0
(0 ratings)
9.4
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
6.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Apache OpenOfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium
Likelihood to Recommend
In my opinion, Apache OpenOffice is best suited for writing, editing and proofreading texts in any language. You can also download additional language packages that really take up little space in your PC's storage. Of course, Apache OpenOffice is comprehensive of spreadsheet-/drawing-/database-related softwares and so on, but I primarily use it for writing and editing my own texts. I don't see any scenarios where it is less appropriate, at least so far.
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Microsoft 365 Business Premium is well suited to any size organization and is a must-have for business purposes. It is a vital component for the majority of work software needs, as the Microsoft 365 Business Premium package has apps to handle needs that I didn't know we had. It is a great way to provide the required software programs to teams, especially those that work remotely due to the great sharing capabilities built into it. Furthermore, the nonprofit program provided our small nonprofit with vital components for our remote work, while allowing us to keep our donated funds going directly to our mission.
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Pros
  • OpenOffice is ideal to have as an application on your PC versus utilizing an online word archive application like Google Docs.
  • OpenOffice can deal with an assortment of document types like [.doc, .rtf, .xml] , making it a fundamental apparatus for the individuals who don't approach Microsoft Word.
  • OpenOffice is a more profound programming than Word and is more open. I know, openness for a record composing programming, I know. In any case, OpenOffice takes into account rapidly evolving edges, typeface, size, and so forth, and I think shows improvement over Word, and in a simpler arrangement.
  • OpenOffice can deal with bookkeeping pages, essential information bases, introductions, and fundamental drawings. It handles the entirety of the typical Microsoft Office instruments inside one application.
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  • Work remotely with ease
  • All documents readily available
  • This software can be used on any device
  • Very user friendly and efficient
  • Confidence in Microsoft brand performance and dependability
  • Cost effective with always having the latest updates without having to purchase a new software package
  • Customer service is outstanding
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Cons
  • Some people used to Microsoft products can feel it's a little bit old in its style
  • I saves documents in its native format, which is incompatible with MS Word or Excel, unless you change that in the preferences tab
  • The UI is not very pretty
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  • The only thing that is a bit cumbersome is that it doesn't seem that you can save files directly to programs like one drive if you aren't using a Microsoft program to generate the document. An example of this would be if I am working in a PDF in our PDF Program I have to first save it to my desktop and then drag it into one drive. I end up with duplicates and that can sometimes make it hard to remember which is the most up-to-date.
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Likelihood to Renew
It is a cheap alternative; however, with Microsoft 365 licenses also dropping significantly, we might opt to go in that direction to maintain uniformity.
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It is part of the organisation now. It provides and rich feature set and requires a relatively low amount of administration.
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Usability
It's good overall, just the UI it's not the prettiest, feels like an older version of MS office, but gets the job done. Once get the hang of it it's easy to use, besides it has great documentation on how to use it and there are many forums that discuss many related topics.
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The basic apps are straightforward and easy to use, especially since they have been around so long. I'm referring to the basic apps like Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc. Other features such as Microsoft Teams and Sharepoint Sites, Sharepoint Lists, Sharepoint Groups, etc. all require a higher level of knowledge to both implement and use properly
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Performance
No answers on this topic
In the last 5 years, Microsoft has come a long way. The performance of the products has become more and more user-friendly and it seems that the feedback provided by the user community is being listened to and worked on. The processes are very fast and seamless. There are negligible errors and doesn't slow the systems down.
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Support Rating
Is there really support? There is a user forum but I do not see much developer input. Support options are limited. The most recent (Sept 2019) version of the product seems to have issues operating under Windows 10, yet there are few recent comments in the community forum, most comments are regarding older versions.
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As mentioned elsewhere in the review, Microsoft has historically paid attention to community feedback and issues, but timeliness can improve, and so can the addressing of long-standing issues about which many users have said "I have this issue too!" but no official solution exists. For issues that do have a solution, however, the solution is usually not difficult to find, and the explanation of features on Microsoft's website can mitigate many problems.
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Implementation Rating
We found that it is possible to use Open Office to accomplish everything we need. Some tasks required searching for steps on Google.
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No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
The big benefits that OpenOffice gives us is the flexibility, the cost, and the ease of licensing. We do have some Office users, and we keep licenses for them. We looked at Office 365, and that was a good way to work for some people, but the requirement to be constantly connected to the internet was difficult for some of our field staff. Same with Google Drive, though that was more popular than Office 365. We don't do a ton of collaborative work, so the lack of online collaboration wasn't a dealbreaker for us, though I can see how 365 or Google Drive would be much more helpful for a team of people working on a single document.
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We selected Microsoft 365 Business Premium as it provides a better integration that aligns better with the needs of our company. Another obvious plus is that our staff was used to Microsoft Office so switching to Microsoft 365 Business Premium offered an almost seamless transition. The addition of Team and the SharePoint libraries sealed the deal as we were able to migrate our entire infrastructure from on-premise to the cloud thereby simplifying administration, backups and ultimately reducing costs.
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Return on Investment
  • Moving to OpenOffice will save the company the cost of 500+ of Microsoft Office licenses in our company.
  • Because it is cross-platform, we could also save 500+ of Microsoft Windows licenses if we move everyone to Linux.
  • On the negative side, the lack of online collaboration and browser support may be an issue when you use clouds like Box, Workboard etc.
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  • Positive: we do not spend money or time on training for new users to start using it
  • Positive: it can be used on any device, we should not buy computers or special equipment to be able to use these programs safely and freely.
  • Negative: there are some tools within the programs that do not work well, or that get out of configuration when disconnecting from the internet.
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ScreenShots