In a day and age where we have options like OpenOffice, LibreOffice, and Google Docs, Microsoft is touting its Office Web Apps as the better free alternative to Office. Microsoft mentions that lately there have been an influx of free productivity applications in the market, but they offer a basic level of functionality when compared to Microsoft’s offering.
“We know the crowded app market is creating confusion for customers, but the reality is, the best free alternative to Office is Office–Office Web Apps. The Office Web Apps are a free version of the Office applications you already know and love with the same familiar user experience you want. And, they trump the free alternatives hands down,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post.
“Office Web Apps trump the free alternatives hands down.”
Microsoft touts several reasons why Office Web Apps is better and one of the reasons has to do with being a complete suite. Office Web Apps provides the ability to create, edit, and share Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote files. This offers a consistent user experience and functionality that works across the apps.
Office Web Apps work anywhere, regardless of your device or browser platform. “Whether you’re a PC, Mac, iOS or Android fan and whether you use a touch device or mouse and keyboard, Office Web Apps work across all devices and browsers. Office Web Apps live in the cloud, so you can get to your files and documents anywhere. Your content is always in sync and available across any device,” Microsoft explains.
There is nothing new to learn with Office Web Apps, as each app offers the same experience as in Office. You can also share files though SkyDrive with ease. Microsoft is also bragging that there are over ten million users on Office Web Apps with constant new features and improvements based on user feedback.
“.. because Office Web Apps are browser-based, they don’t do everything Office 2013 or Office 365 does. Some of the more powerful features require the desktop version, but the Office Web Apps are a great solution for a lot of people, and a better option than the alternative point solutions,” Microsoft adds.
For those of you looking for a free alternative to Office, have you given Office Web Apps a try? How does it compare to the other free alternatives out there? Let us know in the comments below.
