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Microsoft 365 vs ONLYOFFICE
Microsoft 365 vs ONLYOFFICE
A side-by-side look at Microsoft 365 (the paid SaaS) and ONLYOFFICE (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Microsoft 365 | ONLYOFFICE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Office suite in the cloud — Word, Excel, PowerPoint. | Open source office suite with excellent MS Office compatibility. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Personal from $6.99/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 3/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Drop-in office suite with strong Word/Excel/PowerPoint compatibility.
ONLYOFFICE strengths
- Best-in-class Word/Excel/PowerPoint rendering fidelity.
- Integrates with Nextcloud, Seafile, WordPress, and more.
- Both desktop app and server editor available.
ONLYOFFICE weaknesses
- Document Server install is heavier than Collabora Online.
- Some advanced features require enterprise licence.
- Concurrent edit conflicts still occur occasionally.
What's the catch with Microsoft 365?
- Subscription-only model for full features.
- Heavy client, frequent updates.
- Cloud storage quota included but limited.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Microsoft 365: see Microsoft 365 alternatives, or learn more about ONLYOFFICE on its project page.