For help with Word: On the Menu bar, click Help and search for features, commands, and help articles. Or search online at Bing, Google, or support.office.com. Or search online at Bing, Google, or support.office.com. First, know that Word Mac will read and will write Microsoft Word documents. Additionally, I have found the Notebook Layout View exclusive to the Mac version of the software, in conjunction with my Wacom pad, to be a great boon in grading and proofing.

Everyone needs a great word processor, and Microsoft Word is one of the best thanks to its wide format support, integration with other Office apps and huge range of high-quality templates. However, that power and convenience doesn’t come cheap, even with the Microsoft Office 365 subscription model, which spreads the cost throughout the year. Thankfully, free word processing software has come a long way in recent years, and there are some great alternatives to Word that don’t cost a penny. Lightweight distraction-free writing software has its place, but here we’re looking for fully-featured word processors with support for templates, advanced formatting, and compatibility with Microsoft file formats.

You could switch to any of these programs today and begin working immediately. We update this guide regularly, so you know you're always getting the most accurate information about the best software available right now. Excellent file format support 's word processing component, Writer, has a slick design very similar to the current version of Microsoft Word. It features a ribbon interface and almost identical icons. If you like using Office 2007 or later, the move will be pretty much seamless.

With support for both Windows and Mac operating systems, DivX is one of the more well-rounded converters on our list. Thankfully, is one of the best online tools for simple downloads and conversion. Not everyone wants to download a stand-alone application to fulfill their converting needs. Completely free video converter for mac. Cloud Convert (web-based). The web-based software currently handles 218 different formats that go far beyond video (including docs, images, ebooks, and more).

There's tabbed browsing for multiple documents (a feature not found in Word, but one we love), and WPS Office Writer can open pretty much any text document format you can throw at it. It has its own proprietary file format (WPS), but new documents default to Microsoft’s DOCX format for convenient sharing with Word users. WPS Writer includes built-in cloud support with 1GB free storage (comparable to Microsoft OneDrive) for easy backup and syncing. There are also free mobile apps for Android and iOS that are fully compatible with Microsoft file formats, and let you edit and sync documents on the move. WPS Office Writer comes with a good range of templates pre-installed, with more available to download.

Unlike LibreOffice and OpenOffice (below), WPS Office isn’t open source. Instead, it’s supported by ads, but these are unobtrusive and won't stop you getting on with some serious work. There’s that removes the ads and throws in bonus PDF tools, but the free edition is superb. Give it a try – we're pretty sure you'll be impressed. Excellent file format support If you feel most comfortable using the older, pre-ribbon versions of Microsoft Word, you’ll love Writer. Its interface is very similar to Word prior to the controversial introduction of the Ribbon in 2007, so if you’re familiar with the older interface, you’ll be up and running in seconds.