ONLYOFFICE Workspace vs Apache OpenOffice

Bitrix24

Wrike

monday AI Work Platform

Bitrix24 is a cloud and on-premises workspace platform combining CRM, project management, team communication, HR tools, and website.

Wrike is the trusted work delivery platform where AI extends what people can accomplish. By centralizing all work in one governed environment, Wrike helps organizations streamline collaboration and project planning. Key features include AI Agents and Wrike Copilot. 20,000+ organizations trust Wrike.

monday.com is the AI Work Platform where people and agents operate as one team - with shared cross-department context, enterprise-grade trust, and an easy-to-use interface built for adoption at scale.


Owner

I've been using it for a number of years now and its consistently improved over time.

ONLYOFFICE Workspace is a secure web office integrated with CRM, document and project management, email, calendar, chat and internal social network, all to organize your teamwork in one place.

Access Controls/Permissions

Address Book

Alerts/Notifications

Archiving & Retention

Calendar Management

Calendar/Reminder System

Calendar Sync

Charting

Chat/Messaging

Collaboration Tools

Commenting/Notes

Contact Management

Customizable Templates

Data Import/Export

Data Visualization

Deadline Management

Document Editing

Document Generation

Document Management

Document Storage

Document Templates

Electronic Signature

Email Management

Email Reminders

Event Management

File Conversion

File Management

File Recovery

File Sharing

File Transfer

HR Management

Live Chat

Mobile App

Monitoring

Multi-Language

Multiple Projects

Office Suite

Offline Access

Optical Character Recognition

Presentation Tools

Productivity Tools

Progress Tracking

Projections

Project Management

Project Templates

Project Time Tracking

Project Tracking

Real-Time Updates

Reporting/Project Tracking

Scheduling

Secure Data Storage

SSL Security

Tagging

Task Management

Task Planning

Task Progress Tracking

Task Scheduling

Team Collaboration

Team Management

Template Management

Text Editing

Third-Party Integrations

Version Control

Workflow Management

Most reviewers indicate that ONLYOFFICE Workspace delivers strong value for money, especially for small businesses and students, but some reviewers feel the paid plans can become expensive for larger teams and find the pricing structure confusing.

Value for money

Reviews for ONLYOFFICE Workspace come from a wide variety of industries, including Information Technology and Services (10% of reviewers), Education Management (8%), and Computer Software (8%). The most frequent use case for ONLYOFFICE Workspace cited by reviewers is document management (78% of reviewers).

Open Source

ONLYOFFICE Workspace

Web-based

iPad

Android

Windows

Linux

iPhone

Microsoft 365

Google Docs

Apache OpenOffice

Enterprise

Enterprise Plus

Enterprise Premium

Slow loading and lag

65% of reviewers feel negative about OnlyOffice’s performance and speed. Some users report that the software is slow to load, especially when opening files or starting the main application. Reviewers indicate that delays and occasional lag disrupt their workflow and can be frustrating during busy periods. They mention that navigating folders in cloud services or working with larger documents often results in noticeable slowdowns. Some reviewers find that these performance issues are persistent and can affect productivity, particularly when compared to other office software.

Clean and familiar layout

91% of reviewers feel positive about OnlyOffice’s user interface. Users think the interface is clean, uncluttered, and visually appealing, making it easy to focus on tasks. Some reviewers appreciate that the layout resembles familiar office suites, which helps them transition smoothly. They say the interface is well-organized, with accessible tools and logical arrangement of menus. Many users mention that the simplicity and clarity of the design contribute to a more efficient and enjoyable experience, especially when managing documents or collaborating with others.

Minimal learning curve

92% of reviewers feel positive about OnlyOffice’s ease of use. Reviewers indicate that the software is straightforward to navigate, with intuitive menus and clearly labeled buttons that help them quickly find needed functions. Some users say the similarity to MS Office reduces the time needed to adapt, while others appreciate that even those without technical backgrounds can operate it efficiently. They find the tooltips and help sections valuable for overcoming initial confusion, and many mention that the application supports a fast workflow without requiring extensive training or IT support.

political scientist

Within the program one finds a full range of features (document management, offline access, calendars) making it suiting for general usage, including time and data management which are also improved.

GIS Specialist

I am able to read and save as Microsoft documents, and I can save it all on my personal server which is accessible anywhere I have internet.

The project management is great, the software structure simplifies tasks for employees and control for managers.

Manager

It also gives you the option to work with a range of Ms Office documents.

Administrative Assistant

Deploying the software for the first time is confusing and frustrating, as it won't linked with my storage server and no detailed manual are provided from them to guiding me to troubleshoot the problem myself.

Administrative Coordinator I 

OnlyOffice is great because it has the look of my favorite Microsoft Office applications but without the cost.

Property  Practitioner and Student 

Cant work on the same document with other users at the same time.

Vice President

We have all we needd and I just love the integration of the email system with the CRM system.

Very satisfied - it really helps us run our non-profit association in a very professional and productive way.

Partner

It's cross-platform. Since it runs directly in the browser, you can use OnlyOffice in any device that has one.

Wish the user interface could be little more user friendly.

OnlyOffice is, essentially, an online editor for text documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Freelancer

I am reading, editing and creating all kind of documents.

The licensing scheme is weird for open source software.

Customer Care

Very fast and uncomplicated support for the commercial version.

Consultant

tightly integrated suite of office capabilities

There are also standalone desktop versions.

Software architect

I like the software in terms of its functionality.

Desktop Version

Setup and Deployment

Pricing

Features

Document Access

File Saving

Email Integration

Large Enterprises

Freelancers

Small Business

Mid-size Business

Most users consider ONLYOFFICE Workspace to offer strong value for money, highlighting its comprehensive features at a lower cost compared to major competitors and appreciating the availability of a free version with robust functionality. They say the software helps reduce business and startup costs, and students find it a cost-effective option. Reviewers appreciate that the free plan includes many features typically found in paid products. Some reviewers feel the paid versions can become expensive, especially for larger teams or infrequent users, and a few users report confusion around pricing and the visibility of the free version.

Ascensio System

Google Docs is an online word processor that lets businesses create and format text documents and collaborate with team members in real time.

Microsoft Excel

Excel is a spreadsheet management software program with data analysis tools to help users track and visualize data for greater insight and more ways to share data.

Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365, provides web, desktop, and mobile apps for Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, Skype, OneDrive, Exchange Online, and more

Apache OpenOffice is an open-source office suite that helps organizations create spreadsheets, presentations, and graphics, among other files. The writer module offers document templates, which allow team members to create letters, agendas, and faxes with table of contents, references, and notes.

Database Creation

Design Management

Graphical Workflow Editor

Organizational Charting

Reporting & Statistics

Templates

Reviews for Apache OpenOffice come from a wide variety of industries, including Information Technology and Services (9% of reviewers), Computer Software (7%), and Retail (4%). The most frequent use case for Apache OpenOffice cited by reviewers is productivity (95% of reviewers).

Users and use cases

Apache OpenOffice is a productivity solution with key features that include an office suite, data import/export, and more.

LibreOffice

WordPerfect Office

Google Workspace

WPS Office

Microsoft Word

Basic

Frequent crashes and data loss

Trader

I used it on a daily basis for years up until a year ago and OpenOffice usually crashed two or three times a day losing my work.

85% of reviewers feel negative about OpenOffice’s stability due to frequent crashes. Users report that the software can unexpectedly freeze or close, often resulting in lost work, especially if auto-save is not enabled. Reviewers say these crashes occur across different operating systems and can disrupt important tasks like presentations or document editing. They find it difficult to recover unsaved data and express frustration with the lack of reliability, indicating that this instability is a major drawback for regular or business use.

Sluggish performance and lag

That said, they were never as responsive and as usable.

71% of reviewers feel negative about OpenOffice’s performance and speed. Users report that the software can be slow to start and sometimes lags when working with large or complex documents. Reviewers say it uses significant system resources, leading to sluggishness, especially compared to alternatives like LibreOffice or Microsoft Office. They find the interface can feel unresponsive and outdated, and some mention occasional freezing or instability, making it less suitable for fast-paced or demanding work environments.

Issues with file and software compatibility

56% of reviewers feel negative about OpenOffice’s compatibility with other software and file types. Users report difficulties when opening or sharing documents with Microsoft Office users, especially with complex formatting or newer file formats. Reviewers say some features or integrations do not work seamlessly, and compatibility problems can arise with third-party software or when printing. They indicate that these issues can hinder collaboration and limit the software’s usefulness in mixed-software environments.

Outdated interface and slow updates

Blogger

There was an security issue a couple years ago and it took actually quite some time until a update was available. Since then this has never happened again, but it still lies in my head.

72% of reviewers feel negative about OpenOffice’s update process and interface. Users say the software’s appearance feels dated and lacks modern features found in competing office suites. Reviewers indicate that updates are infrequent, with some bugs and security issues taking a long time to be addressed. They mention the lack of real-time collaboration and modern UI elements, and some feel the manual update process is inconvenient. This lack of ongoing development leads users to question the long-term viability of the software.

Formatting and file conversion problems

Pastor 

Going between Open Office and Microsoft Word can lead to major formatting issues.

51% of reviewers feel negative about OpenOffice’s file format compatibility. Users say that converting documents between OpenOffice and Microsoft Office often leads to formatting errors, such as misplaced images, altered spacing, or font issues. Reviewers report frustration when sharing files with others who use different office suites, as formatting inconsistencies can make documents look unprofessional or require extra time to fix. They find that support for newer file formats like DOCX or XLSX is limited, complicating collaboration.

Viable Microsoft Office alternative

Excelent experience, for me Apache OpenOffice is the best alternative to Microsoft Office

100% of reviewers feel positive about OpenOffice as an alternative to Microsoft Office. Users say it provides essential office applications like word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations without the high cost of Microsoft products. Reviewers appreciate that it is free, making it accessible for those who cannot afford or do not wish to pay for MS Office. They indicate it covers most basic and even some advanced needs, and mention it is especially useful for students, nonprofits, and anyone seeking a no-cost solution for office tasks.

Comprehensive office suite tools

Substitute Teacher

OpenOffice is an excellent product for creating documents, slideshow presentations, spreadsheets, graphs, drawings, and math worksheets.

IT Support Specialist

Features just like MS Office tools are available in OpenOffice for word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and many more this makes the software very versatile one.

97% of reviewers feel positive about OpenOffice’s presentation and spreadsheet capabilities. Users say the suite offers a full range of tools for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, similar to Microsoft Office. Reviewers appreciate having all essential office functions in one package, noting its versatility for business, academic, and personal use. They indicate the ability to handle various file types and tasks, from reports to multimedia presentations, is a key benefit, and they value the cost savings of having these features available for free.

Easy and accessible download

OWNER

Has never failed me, easy to download and setup, and does everything I could possibly want in my small office. And it's free.

90% of reviewers feel positive about the ease of downloading OpenOffice. Users say the software is simple to find online, quick to download, and straightforward to install on multiple operating systems. Reviewers appreciate that it is lightweight, requires minimal system resources, and can be set up rapidly, making it accessible even for beginners. They indicate the offline functionality and ability to distribute or install on many computers without restrictions are significant advantages for both individuals and organizations.

Open source flexibility and cost

The fact that you can own a complete Office software package that's open source and just as good as its expensive alternatives.

98% of reviewers feel positive about OpenOffice being open source. Reviewers appreciate that its open-source nature means no licensing fees and unrestricted use, which is important for businesses and individuals looking to avoid ongoing costs. Users think the community-driven development leads to ongoing improvements and bug fixes. They find the open-source model makes the software flexible, customizable, and accessible to a global audience, with many highlighting the value of free, collaborative software that can be installed and shared widely.

Cost savings and free access

OpenOffice is fully compatible with Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Access solutions. Since this is a free solution, we are saving years of subscription costs for each employee.

Marketing Director/Front-End Web Developer

It offers all the essential core functionality of MS Office for the low low price of absolutely free! When I was a student and began my career I was using OpenOffice exclusively. If offers excellent capabilities right out of the box and is available even on Linux (my preferred operating system).

94% of reviewers feel positive about OpenOffice’s pricing. Users appreciate that it is completely free, eliminating the need for expensive licenses or subscriptions. Reviewers indicate that this makes it especially attractive for students, startups, and organizations with limited budgets. They say the suite provides most of the features found in paid office software, allowing them to perform everyday tasks without financial strain. Many mention the long-term savings and the ability to deploy the software widely without additional costs.

Marketing JR

Crucially, it lacks native cloud sync, real-time collaboration features, and mobile app integration, while also trailing behind modern alternatives like other free competitors in terms of regular feature updates and performance optimization.

IT Marketing Intern

In addition, unlike some other office suites, it doesn't have such convenient and necessary tools as Real-time document editing and cloud storage functions, and it also lacks a more rapid development process.

ONLYOFFICE Workspace vs Apache OpenOffice Comparison (2026)

ONLYOFFICE Workspace

Apache OpenOffice

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives