# The best free word processors in 2026

A comparison of eight word processors you can use without paying, covering what the free version really includes, Word files, and AI

By Artur Sapek. Published 2026-10-12. Updated 2026-10-12.

Summary

- This guide covers Revise, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer, Word for the web, Zoho Writer, OnlyOffice, Apple Pages, and WPS Office.
- All eight open and save .docx. The biggest differences between them are whether AI is included for free, whether they work offline, and whether they run as an app or in a browser.
- Revise is our pick for free AI editing, and Google Docs is our pick for shared editing. LibreOffice suits open-source desktop use, Word for the web suits native Word files, and Zoho Writer is a no-cost online editor. OnlyOffice is good for self-hosting, Pages is for Apple devices, and WPS is a free suite on desktop and mobile.

You don’t need to pay to write a properly formatted document anymore. Every tool on this list can import and export `.docx`, although vendors make different compatibility claims. That is enough for schoolwork, a job application, or the occasional contract without a subscription.

I have spent the past year building Revise, which is one of the word processors below, so I know where free editions tend to cut corners. The usual places are AI limits, storage, and features held back for a paid tier. Plans and limits below come from each vendor’s own pages, which are linked in the sources at the end.

## Free word processors at a glance

“Paid from” shows what you would pay if you outgrow the free version. LibreOffice has nothing to pay for, and Zoho Writer charges only for team storage and extra document automation credits. The AI column describes each product’s AI, which is not always part of the free version. Table 2 shows what the free versions include.

| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid from | AI capabilities |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Revise](https://revise.io) | A free word processor with an AI agent | Yes (daily AI limit) | $8/mo (Plus) | Agent proposes text and formatting edits as suggestions. Header, footer, and page-layout changes apply directly |
| [Google Docs](https://workspace.google.com/products/docs/) | Free real-time collaboration | Yes (with a Google account) | $7/mo (Workspace Business Starter) | Gemini drafts, rewrites, and summarizes, refinements you accept or reject |
| [LibreOffice Writer](https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/writer/) | Free, open-source desktop writing with no account | Yes (free and open source) | Free | None built in |
| [Microsoft Word](https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/word) | Opening Word files in Word itself | Yes (Word for the web) | $9.99/mo (Microsoft 365 Personal) | Copilot drafts, rewrites, and summarizes, edits in place with highlight and undo |
| [Zoho Writer](https://www.zoho.com/writer/) | A full online editor at no cost | Yes (all editing features, extra automation credits paid) | Free | Zia drafts, rewrites, and summarizes selected content or the whole document |
| [OnlyOffice](https://www.onlyoffice.com) | Free desktop editors and self-hosting | Yes (desktop apps, self-hosted, and DocSpace Startup cloud) | $20/mo (DocSpace Business (cloud, per admin)) | Inline agent edits and formats with conversation history, broader agent features depend on edition and setup |
| [Apple Pages](https://support.apple.com/pages) | Mac, iPhone, and iPad | Yes (free on Apple devices) | $12.99/mo (Apple Creator Studio (optional)) | Proofreads, rewrites, and summarizes selected text |
| [WPS Office](https://www.wps.com) | A free desktop and mobile suite | Yes (basic PDF tools, 1 GB cloud) | $5.83/mo (WPS Pro+) | Spell check, rewrite, summarize, generate content, chat with PDF |

Table 1: Free word processors compared on what they are best for, what the free plan is, the cheapest paid option, and what their AI can do (on free or paid plans).

“Free” means different things for different tools. Some are completely free, some are the free tier of a paid product, and several charge extra for AI.

| Tool | Free version | AI in the free version | What costs extra |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revise | Full editor | AI agent with a daily limit, on GPT-6 Luna | No daily limit and more models, with a monthly limit (Plus) |
| Google Docs | Full editor with a Google account | No, Gemini in Docs needs a paid plan | Gemini in Docs (Business Standard or Google AI Pro) |
| LibreOffice Writer | Everything | None built in | Nothing |
| Word for the web | Word in the browser with a Microsoft account | No, Copilot needs Microsoft 365 | Desktop apps and Copilot (Microsoft 365) |
| Zoho Writer | All editing features | Zia, on Zoho's model or your OpenAI key | Team storage (Zoho WorkDrive plans) and document automation credits beyond the free monthly allowance |
| OnlyOffice | Desktop editors, self-hosted Docs Community, and DocSpace Startup cloud | AI plugin that you connect to a provider | Cloud DocSpace Business and Docs Enterprise |
| Apple Pages | Full app on Apple devices and iCloud.com | Writing Tools on devices with Apple Intelligence | Premium templates and image tools (Creator Studio) |
| WPS Office | Standard edition with basic PDF tools and 1 GB cloud storage | WPS AI is listed with Pro+ | WPS AI and more features (Pro+) |

Table 2: What the free version of each word processor includes, whether it has AI, and what costs extra.

Where they run matters as much as price. LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, Pages, and WPS work offline as desktop apps, and Zoho Writer has desktop apps too. Google Docs can also work offline in a browser after you turn on offline access. Revise and the free Word for the web need an internet connection.

| Tool | Offline in the free version | Platforms | Open source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revise | No | Web | No |
| Google Docs | Yes, after you turn on offline access | Web, iOS, Android | No |
| LibreOffice Writer | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes |
| Word for the web | No, offline editing is in the paid desktop apps | Web | No |
| Zoho Writer | Yes | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | No |
| OnlyOffice | Yes, in the desktop apps | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | Yes |
| Apple Pages | Yes | Mac, iPhone, iPad, Web (iCloud) | No |
| WPS Office | Yes, in the desktop apps | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | No |

Table 3: Offline use, platforms, and open-source licensing for the free version of each word processor.

## What we compared

This comparison is based on each vendor’s current documentation and plans, and we did not test the same file in each tool. We compared five things:

1. Whether the free version is permanent or a trial, and what is held back for paid plans.
2. Whether it can open and save `.docx` so you can exchange files with Word users.
3. Whether the free version has built-in AI, and what that AI can do.
4. Whether you can work on a document with someone else.
5. Where it runs (browser, desktop, or mobile), and whether it needs an account.

The order is our editorial judgment. All eight open and save `.docx`, so the free versions differ most in whether they include AI, and we gave that the most weight. If AI does not matter to you, Google Docs is a stronger pick for shared work and LibreOffice is a stronger pick for a private desktop app. In that case the fit table further down is a better guide than the order of the list.

## The 8 best free word processors

### 1. Revise: Best free word processor with AI

- Free plan: Yes, daily AI limit
- Paid from: $8/mo
- Built-in AI: Revise Agent

[Revise](https://revise.io/) is a browser word processor with an AI agent built in. The free plan includes the full editor and a daily AI allowance on GPT-6 Luna. The agent proposes text and formatting edits as tracked changes that you accept or reject.

It opens and saves `.docx` and preserves the Word features it documents. Plus costs $8 a month and adds more models, with a monthly usage limit in place of the daily one.

Pick it if you want reviewable AI editing on a free plan, subject to its daily limit. Skip it if you want a desktop app rather than a browser editor.

### 2. Google Docs: Best free collaboration

- Free plan: Yes, with a Google account
- Paid from: $7/mo
- Built-in AI: Gemini

[Google Docs](https://workspace.google.com/products/docs/) is free with a Google account and runs in any browser and on iOS and Android. It has real-time co-editing, comments, suggestions, and version history, and it imports and exports `.docx`.

Its AI, Gemini, is not in the free version. To get Gemini in Docs, you need at least Workspace Business Standard ($14 per user per month) or Google AI Pro ($19.99 per month).

Pick it if you write with other people. Skip it if you do not want a Google account.

### 3. LibreOffice Writer: Best free desktop app

- Free plan: Free and open source
- Paid from: Free
- Built-in AI: None

[LibreOffice Writer](https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/writer/) costs nothing, is open source under the MPL 2.0, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux without an account. It opens `.doc` and `.docx` files and saves to Word formats.

The current release has no generative AI, and the project says documents are not transmitted to remote services. Optional extensions can connect a local model.

Pick it if you want a private desktop app with no account and no paid tier. Skip it if you want built-in AI without extension setup.

### 4. Word for the web: Best for native Word files

- Free plan: Yes, Word for the web
- Paid from: $9.99/mo
- Built-in AI: Copilot

[Word for the web](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web) is the free browser version of Microsoft Word, and you can use it with a Microsoft account. Because `.docx` is Word’s own format, files from Word users open without conversion.

The desktop apps and Copilot come with Microsoft 365, which starts at $9.99 a month for Personal. Copilot is not part of the free web version.

Pick it if you mostly open files that Word users send you. Skip it if you want AI without a subscription.

### 5. Zoho Writer: Best full online editor at no cost

- Free plan: Yes, editing is free
- Paid from: Free
- Built-in AI: Zia

[Zoho Writer](https://www.zoho.com/writer/) is free with all of its editing features, including real-time co-editing, comments, `.docx` import and export, and apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. Zoho’s paid plans are WorkDrive plans for teams. Document automation (merge, fillable forms, and e-signatures) includes free monthly credits, and more credits cost extra.

Its assistant, Zia, can generate text, proofread, and suggest style changes, working on selected content or the whole document. It uses Zoho’s own model or your OpenAI key.

Pick it if you want a Google Docs-style editor from a different company. Skip it if you want an agent that proposes whole-document revisions as individually reviewable changes.

### 6. OnlyOffice: Best free editors for Microsoft formats

- Free plan: Yes, desktop, self-hosted, and cloud
- Paid from: $20/mo
- Built-in AI: AI plugin (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, local models)

[OnlyOffice Desktop Editors](https://www.onlyoffice.com/desktop.aspx) are free and open source on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and there are also mobile apps. The editors work in Microsoft’s formats natively, and the vendor claims high compatibility with them. Teams can also self-host the free Docs Community edition, which is recommended for up to 20 connections.

Its AI plugin requires you to connect a provider, and supported local models are an option, so the setup and cost depend on which provider you choose. Its inline agent edits and formats text and keeps a conversation history, although broader agent features depend on the edition and setup.

Pick it if you want free desktop editors built around Word’s formats. Skip it if you want AI that works without setup.

### 7. Apple Pages: Best free pick on Apple devices

- Free plan: Yes, on Apple devices
- Paid from: $12.99/mo
- Built-in AI: Apple Intelligence Writing Tools

[Pages](https://support.apple.com/pages) is free for Mac, iPhone, and iPad and is also available through iCloud.com. It imports and exports Word files. Real-time collaboration on current versions supports up to 100 people, and Windows users can join through iCloud.com.

Apple Intelligence Writing Tools can proofread, rewrite, and summarize text at no cost on supported devices. Creator Studio ($12.99 a month) is optional and adds premium templates and image tools.

Pick it if you already use a Mac or iPad. Skip it if you need a native Windows or Android app.

### 8. WPS Office: Best free suite on desktop and mobile

- Free plan: Yes, WPS Standard
- Paid from: $5.83/mo
- Built-in AI: WPS AI

[WPS Office](https://www.wps.com) has apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, and Android. Its free Standard edition includes basic PDF tools, a limited set of templates, and 1 GB of cloud storage, and the vendor describes it as fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats.

WPS AI (spell check, rewriting, summaries, content generation, and chat with a PDF) is listed with Pro+, which costs $69.99 a year, has a daily AI limit, and is priced for PC and Android.

Pick it if you want one free suite across desktop and phone. Skip it if you want an open-source suite.

We also considered [SoftMaker FreeOffice](https://www.freeoffice.com/en/), which is free for personal and business use on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, and it opens and saves `.doc` and `.docx`. Its pages do not advertise built-in AI. We ranked LibreOffice for the free desktop slot instead because it is open source.

## Which free word processor fits your job?

For schoolwork and shared projects, a browser editor is usually the easiest choice, and for private writing on one computer a desktop app is usually easier. If you want AI help without paying, look at Revise, Zoho Writer, Pages on supported devices, or OnlyOffice with a provider you connect.

| The job | Best free fit | When paying for Word is worth it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Edit a draft with AI and review each change | Revise | You want Copilot inside Word itself. |
| Group project or shared document | Google Docs | Your school or employer runs on Microsoft 365. |
| Private writing on your own computer | LibreOffice Writer | You exchange complex Word files that must look the same in Word. |
| Open Word files someone sent you | Word for the web | You edit those files every day. |
| Online editor without Google or Microsoft | Zoho Writer | You need Word's desktop apps. |
| Documents on your own server | OnlyOffice | You would rather not run a server. |
| Writing on a Mac or iPad | Apple Pages | Collaborators need native Windows or Android apps. |
| One free suite on desktop and phone | WPS Office | Your school or employer provides Microsoft 365. |

Table 4: Common jobs for a free word processor, the best free fit, and when a paid Microsoft 365 plan is worth it instead.

## What paying for Word still gets you

We use Microsoft 365 as the paid baseline for this comparison. For $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, Personal adds the following:

- The Word desktop apps for Windows and Mac.
- Copilot in Word, with usage limits.
- The same apps on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, all working in `.docx` natively.

If you don’t need those, try the free options with one of your real documents before you decide.

## What each costs if you upgrade

You can use every tool here for free. The table lists each product’s nearest paid option where one exists, and some of these are optional companion products or team plans rather than upgrades to the free editor. LibreOffice has no paid option, and Zoho Writer charges only for WorkDrive team plans and extra document automation credits.

| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Monthly | Per year | AI on that plan |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Revise | Plus (or $72/yr billed annually) | $8/mo | $72 | Monthly AI limit, no daily limit. GPT-6 Sol, GPT-6 Astra, and Claude Opus 5.5 need Pro |
| Google Docs | Workspace Business Starter (per user, annual plan) | $7/mo | $84 | Not on Starter, Gemini in Docs starts with Business Standard ($14/user/mo with annual commitment) or Google AI Pro ($19.99/mo) |
| LibreOffice Writer | None, completely free | Free | Free | None built in |
| Microsoft Word | Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99/mo | $99.99 | Eligible Microsoft 365 plans, with limits. Personal/Family AI benefits are for the owner |
| Zoho Writer | None for editing (WorkDrive team plans, automation credits) | Free | Free | Zia, on Zoho's model or your own OpenAI key |
| OnlyOffice | DocSpace Business (cloud, per admin) (per admin, promotional (normally $30)) | $20/mo | - | Plugin, connect your own provider |
| Apple Pages | Apple Creator Studio (optional) | $12.99/mo | $129 | Creator Studio adds image tools, Writing Tools are free on supported devices |
| WPS Office | WPS Pro+ (billed $69.99 yearly, PC and Android pricing) | $5.83/mo | $69.99 | Included with a daily usage limit |

Table 5: Nearest paid option for each tool, monthly and per year, and what AI it includes. OnlyOffice's cloud plan is priced per admin. US dollars before tax.

## How to switch

1. Choose a browser editor if you switch between devices or share documents, and a desktop app if you work on one computer.
2. Every tool here opens `.docx`, so save old `.doc` files as `.docx` if your new editor needs it.
3. After conversion, check one real document and look at the page breaks, headers and footers, and numbered lists.

Tip

When you send a document to someone on a different editor, export it as `.docx` or PDF rather than sharing the app’s own format.

## The bottom line

Start by deciding whether you want a browser editor or a desktop app, and then decide whether you need AI in the free version. That usually narrows the list to one or two options.

If you are replacing a paid Word subscription, see [Microsoft Word alternatives](https://revise.io/blog/microsoft-word-alternatives).

Sources

Prices and plan details were checked against each vendor’s own pages on October 4, 2026. Prices are in US dollars as each vendor lists them, and some include local tax. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the linked page before you buy.

- Revise: [Pricing](https://revise.io/pricing), [Supported models](https://revise.io/articles/supported-ai-models), [Agent capabilities](https://revise.io/articles/agent-capabilities), [Word compatibility](https://revise.io/articles/docx-compatibility), [Import and export](https://revise.io/articles/import-export), [MCP server](https://revise.io/articles/mcp-server), [Suggesting mode](https://revise.io/articles/suggesting-mode), [AI usage limits](https://revise.io/articles/ai-usage-limits)
- Google Docs: [Edit Office files](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9406611), [Version history](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/190843), [Suggest edits](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6033474), [Workspace pricing](https://workspace.google.com/pricing), [Google AI plans](https://one.google.com/about/google-ai-plans/), [Gemini in Docs](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/14206696), [Gemini features by plan](https://support.google.com/docs/answer/13952129), [Gemini usage limits in Google apps](https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/14796585), [Edit Office files in Google Drive](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/9276408)
- LibreOffice Writer: [Writer guide: advanced text](https://books.libreoffice.org/en/WG262/WG26203-TextAdvanced.html), [Writer guide](https://books.libreoffice.org/en/WG76/WG7601-IntroducingWriter.html), [LibreOffice 26.8 release](https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/08/26/libreoffice-26-8/), [Download](https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice/), [Track changes](https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/shared/guide/redlining.html), [LibreOffice](https://www.libreoffice.org), [System requirements](https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/system-requirements/), [Using Microsoft Office files](https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/en-US/text/shared/guide/ms_user.html)
- Microsoft Word: [AI capabilities and access](https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/word/welcome-to-copilot-in-word), [Previous versions](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/collab-files/view-previous-versions-of-office-files), [Track Changes](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/track-changes-in-word-197ba630-0f5f-4a8e-9a77-3712475e806a), [Navigation pane](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-the-navigation-pane-in-word-394787be-bca7-459b-894e-3f8511515e55), [Real-time co-authoring](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/collaborate-on-word-documents-with-real-time-co-authoring-7dd3040c-3f30-4fdd-bab0-8586492a1f1d), [Save as PDF](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/save-or-convert-to-pdf-or-xps-in-office-desktop-apps-d85416c5-7d77-4fd6-a216-6f4bf7c7c110), [Compare documents (legal blackline)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/compare-document-differences-using-the-legal-blackline-option-dbfc7351-4022-43a2-a0c4-54d1898702a0), [Microsoft 365 plans](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products), [Word for the web](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web), [Revise's AI review test](https://revise.io/blog/ai-document-review-tools-compared#copilot), [Copilot in Word](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/welcome-to-copilot-in-word-2135e85f-a467-463b-b2f0-c51a46d625d1), [Track Changes in Word for the web](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/can-i-use-track-changes-in-word-for-the-web), [Word options: General](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/word-options-general), [Print a document](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/Word/print-a-document-in-word), [Office for the web in OneDrive](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/using-office-for-the-web-in-onedrive), [Microsoft 365 mobile apps](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/microsoft-365-mobile-apps-0ffcba82-380f-43dd-ab96-dbac0894b542), [Removed Windows features (WordPad)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/removed-features), [Word for the web service description](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/office-online-service-description/word-online), [Similarity checking](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/word/check-your-document-for-similarity-to-online-sources), [Editing with Copilot and Track Changes (Microsoft 365 Copilot)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/copilot/transcript-for-copilot-with-word-with-screen-reader), [Copilot and document length](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/how-reference-and-document-lengths-affect-copilot-responses), [When you need a Microsoft 365 subscription](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-activation-licensing/when-do-i-need-a-microsoft-365-subscription)
- Zoho Writer: [AI capabilities and access](https://help.zoho.com/portal/en/kb/writer/creating-managing/zia-ai/articles/zoho-writer-s-zia-ai), [Writer pricing](https://www.zoho.com/writer/pricing.html), [WorkDrive pricing](https://www.zoho.com/workdrive/pricing.html)
- OnlyOffice: [AI capabilities and access](https://www.onlyoffice.com/blog/2026/07/onlyoffice-made-friends-with-ai), [Compare editions](https://www.onlyoffice.com/compare-editions), [Document editor](https://www.onlyoffice.com/document-editor.aspx), [DocSpace pricing](https://www.onlyoffice.com/docspace-prices.aspx), [AI assistants](https://www.onlyoffice.com/ai-assistants.aspx), [Desktop editors](https://www.onlyoffice.com/desktop.aspx)
- Apple Pages: [App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pages-create-documents/id361309726), [Collaborate in Pages](https://support.apple.com/en-us/105052), [Word files in Pages](https://support.apple.com/en-us/105050), [Pages](https://support.apple.com/pages), [Creator Studio in Pages](https://support.apple.com/guide/pages/apple-creator-studio-features-in-pages-tan6c34b6bfc/mac), [Writing Tools](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/mchldcd6c260/mac)
- WPS Office: [Pricing](https://www.wps.com/pricing/), [Download](https://www.wps.com/download/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best free word processor?

It depends on how you write. Revise is our pick for AI edits you review as tracked changes, subject to a daily limit on its free plan. Google Docs is best for free collaboration, LibreOffice Writer is the best free desktop app, and Word for the web is best for opening Word files.

### Is there a free version of Microsoft Word?

Yes. Word for the web is free with a Microsoft account. Microsoft 365 Personal, at $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, includes the desktop apps and Copilot in Word, and Copilot is not part of the free web version.

### Which free word processor has AI?

Revise includes an AI agent on its free plan, with a daily limit. Zoho Writer includes its Zia assistant, and Apple Pages can use Apple Intelligence Writing Tools on supported devices. OnlyOffice's AI plugin needs a provider that you connect. Google Docs and Word for the web have no AI in their free versions, and LibreOffice has none built in.

### Is LibreOffice really free?

Yes. LibreOffice is available at no cost under the open-source MPL 2.0 license on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it has no account and no paid tier.

### What is the best free word processor for Mac?

Apple Pages is free for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. LibreOffice, OnlyOffice, and WPS Office also have free Mac apps, and Revise, Google Docs, Zoho Writer, and Word for the web run in a browser on a Mac.

### Can a free word processor open Word documents?

Yes. Every word processor in this guide can import and export .docx files, though conversion fidelity varies. LibreOffice also opens the older .doc format.