
Select ribbons and toolbars were removed from the online version to help it load and run faster. Though Word Online boasts enough features for casual users, it is not the full version of Word by any means. It wasn’t until 2010 that Microsoft finally launched Word Online as part of its Microsoft 365 package.

So if you install Word on your desktop, you’ll need to bump up your plan to get a copy for your laptop, which can get pricey. Once you purchase this suite, you can only install Word on a select number of computers, depending on the plan level you choose.

It comes as part of the Microsoft 365 package (formerly called Office 365), which includes other programs like Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. You cannot purchase Microsoft Word as a standalone program. You can then edit the document, collaborate on it with other Word users, and download a modified copy to local storage.How to use and access Microsoft Word and Google Docs Just create a free Microsoft Account (if you already don’t have one), upload the DOCX file to OneDrive, and double-click to open it in Word Online. The best thing is that you don’t have to pay anything to use it! Microsoft offers a stripped-down version of the Office suite in web app form, and it includes Word. But if you want a long-term (free) solution to opening and editing Word documents on a desktop device, either word processor should cut it. LibreOffice does take the edge over OpenOffice with better features and a faster update cycle.

To make matters better, the OpenOffice Writer and LibreOffice Writer programs in each suite support the DOC and DOCX formats, so you can open and edit any Word document easily.

OpenOffice or LibreOfficeīoth OpenOffice and LibreOffice are two free open-source alternatives to Microsoft Office. However, if all you want is to read through a DOCX file with zero formatting errors, then installing Word Mobile is an excellent choice. The app also lets you edit files as long as you pay for an Office 365 subscription.
