This is an unofficial guide. The official LibreOffice site is libreoffice.org.
What is LibreOffice
LibreOffice — free Microsoft Office alternative
- Writer
- Word processor — opens and saves .docx files. Microsoft Word alternative.
- Calc
- Spreadsheet — opens and saves .xlsx files. Microsoft Excel alternative.
- Impress
- Presentation software — opens and saves .pptx files. PowerPoint alternative.
- Draw
- Vector graphics editor. Visio alternative.
- Base
- Database application. Access alternative.
- Math
- Formula editor for scientific equations.
All guides
LibreOffice Windows guides
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Download guide | MSI installer, offline, portable options |
| Install guide | Step-by-step MSI install walkthrough |
| MSI installer | MSI vs EXE, silent install, enterprise |
| Offline installer | Download for air-gapped machines |
| Portable version | Run from USB, no install needed |
| Windows 11 | Windows 11 specific setup |
| System requirements | Minimum and recommended specs |
| Writer guide | Word processor, .docx compatibility |
| Calc guide | Spreadsheet, .xlsx compatibility |
| Impress guide | Presentations, .pptx compatibility |
| Extensions | Install extensions and templates |
| Macros | Run and create macros on Windows |
| Dark mode | Enable dark theme on Windows |
| Fix install errors | MSI error fixes |
| Not opening | Startup crash fixes |
| Update guide | Update to latest version |
| vs MS Office | Feature and compatibility comparison |
| Review 2026 | Is LibreOffice worth using? |
| FAQ | Common questions answered |
FAQ
Quick answers
Is LibreOffice really free?
Yes. LibreOffice is completely free with no paid tiers, subscriptions or hidden costs. It is published under the Mozilla Public Licence 2.0 by The Document Foundation, a non-profit organisation. You can use it for personal, educational and commercial purposes at no cost.
Can LibreOffice open Microsoft Office files?
Yes. LibreOffice opens and saves .docx (Word), .xlsx (Excel) and .pptx (PowerPoint) files. Compatibility is very good for standard documents. Complex formatting, macros and some advanced features may not transfer perfectly. See the compatibility guide.
LibreOffice vs Microsoft Office — which is better?
It depends on your needs. LibreOffice is free and works for most everyday office tasks. Microsoft 365 has better collaboration features, cloud integration and more advanced features. See the full comparison guide.