Word, Google Docs, and More
Microsoft Word
For most writers, academics, and businesses, Microsoft Word is the standard word processor. In the past, Microsoft sold Word as a one-time purchase piece of software. Now, however, they’ve split Word between a subscription-only full-featured desktop application and a free online version with scaled-back features. While either can get the job done, you might want to consider the pros and cons of each before deciding which you want to use.
Word for the desktop
If you’ve used Word before, it was probably Word for the desktop. Word for the desktop runs as a desktop application, working online or offline, and includes many advanced features, including design and drawing tools, 3D model support, and automated citation generation. It’s generally the industry leader in terms of features and should be able to handle nearly any writing project.
Word for the desktop is sold as part of the Microsoft 365 suite (formerly Microsoft Office), which is a subscription product. You’ll need to pay a monthly or yearly fee to use it. Many academic institutions and businesses offer access to desktop Word as a perk, so—especially if you’re a college student—you may want to see if you already have access to this software before purchasing.
Word for the web
Word for the web runs in a web browser and has a set of features similar to Google Docs (discussed below), including real-time collaboration and 5GB of cloud storage. However, it’s important to note that Word 365 is lacking many of the more advanced features that desktop Word offers, such as the ability to format text into columns. This means it might not be the best choice for all writing projects, but it can certainly get the job done for most basic writing tasks.
Word for the web is available for free, so long as you sign-in with a Microsoft account. It runs on any device with a web browser.
Google Docs
Google Docs is a free word processor from Google. Similar to Word for the web, Google Docs runs in a web browser and is also available as a mobile app. It is often the word processor of choice for collaborative projects, as it supports real-time collaboration between multiple users. While it lacks many of the advanced features that desktop word processors offer, Google Docs is quite capable for many writing projects, and is often a good choice if you need to quickly share your writing with others.
LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Writer is a free alternative to desktop Word. In terms of features, it comes close to matching desktop Word, but doesn’t have some of the more advanced features like 3D design that Word offers. Documents written in Writer can be exported to Word’s .docx format, making it interoperable with both Word and Google Docs.
In contrast to Microsoft Word and Google Docs, LibreOffice is free, open-source software licensed under the Mozilla Public License v2 and supported by the nonprofit The Document Foundation. It runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, and more. If you don’t have institutional access to desktop Word, LibreOffice Writer is an excellent alternative that should be able to handle most writing projects.
Comparison
The chart below contains a basic comparison between these offerings.
| Runs offline | Price | Open Source | Features | |
| Word for desktop | Yes | $6.99/month (as of January 2023) | No | Most features |
| Word for web | No | Free | No | Fewer features |
| Google Docs | No | Free | No | Fewer features |
| LibreOffice | Yes | Free | Yes | Many features |
Conclusion
Ultimately, what software you use is up to you. Your writing practice should be the focus here, not the software you write in. A capable writer could write a novel, poetry collection, or journal article in any of these word processors.Licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0
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