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Open Office - Compatible and free.
June 25, 2023

Open Office - Compatible and free.

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Apache OpenOffice

We use it as a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Office 365 on common computers for users who do not have a dedicated license. The Apache OpenOffice suite allows us to do everything that the more polished but subscription-necessary MS O365.
  • Low resource footprint.
  • Works on older computers with outdated OS(s).
  • Similar in looks to the more widely used MS Office, it makes uptake easier.
  • Requires Java. Another piece of software that needs to be up-to-date.
  • The user interface is a bit clunky.
  • Limited suite compared to the main competitor in O365.
  • The interface is easy to use.
  • Necessary functionality for office use is present.
  • Save to formats that are not proprietary.
  • Cost savings for temporary, low-priority users.
  • Microsoft Office 2016 (discontinued)
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.

Do you think Apache OpenOffice delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Apache OpenOffice's feature set?

Yes

Did Apache OpenOffice live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Apache OpenOffice go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Apache OpenOffice again?

Yes

It is free to use, and where we have temp or volunteer workers, we can use this without worrying about subscription costs while providing a platform for work to still get done.

Using Apache OpenOffice

8 - Recruiters, IT, and Administrative.
6 - From basic computer skills to power users.
  • No-cost alternative.
  • Full functional Office suite capability.
  • Used by staff on shared computers.
  • Used on older computers.
  • No license/subscription costs.
It is a cheap alternative; however, with Microsoft 365 licenses also dropping significantly, we might opt to go in that direction to maintain uniformity.

Evaluating Apache OpenOffice and Competitors

Yes - Microsoft Office 2016. It reached the end of life.
  • Integration with Other Systems
  • Ease of Use
Cost - it is free to use.
No change.

Apache OpenOffice Implementation

We found that it is possible to use Open Office to accomplish everything we need. Some tasks required searching for steps on Google.
  • Implemented in-house
Change management was minimal - The time dedicated to QA was minimal. Existing workflows were tested and the results were compared for consistency.
  • Getting used to the less sleek interface.

Apache OpenOffice Support

I did not contact support.
ProsCons
None
None
No, we were looking for a low-cost, no-cost option.
I have used google to find answers. Never contacted support.

Using Apache OpenOffice

Provides all the functionality that a standard office suite should provide.
ProsCons
Like to use
Relatively simple
Easy to use
Technical support not required
Consistent
Quick to learn
Convenient
Feel confident using
Familiar
None
  • Mail Merge.
  • Graphics editing.
  • UI is less refined, and buttons look clunky.
Yes, but I don't use it