Microsoft Word is a wildly popular word processor, but there are plenty of people who don't love it. Whether this is because of cost, access, or preference, not everyone is a Word fan.

There are many other options if you know where to look. Here are several alternatives to Microsoft Word that you might not know about.

1. Jarte

Screenshot of Jarte--- an alternative to Microsoft Word

Jarte offers a neat and clean interface; working with documents in this app is extremely simple.

You can have multiple documents open in one window, using the tabs at the top to see everything at a glance. You also have the option to customize the application's button labels, automatic detection of links, and word wrapping.

Features:

  • Edit with basic tools like copy, paste, find, and spell check, as well as a dictionary and thesaurus.
  • Insert images, hyperlinks, tables, equations, and objects.
  • Format fonts with bold, italic, underline, color, size, and style.
  • Adjust paragraphs using alignment, indent, line spacing, and tab stops.
  • Multiple views, counts for words, pages, and characters, zoom in or out, and a built-in screen capture feature.

You can download and use Jarte for free. If you are interested in bonus features such as custom keyboard shortcuts, scripting, and autocorrect, you can take a look at Jarte Plus.

Download: Jarte (Free)

2. AbleWord

AbleWord---an alternative to Microsoft Word

For an application with the same familiar appearance as Microsoft Word, check out AbleWord.

You've got a standard menu at the top for tools like File, Edit, and View, quick button actions right below for things like undo, redo, and spell check, and the font formatting bar beneath.

Features:

  • Save documents as DOC, DOCX, PDF, HTML, or TXT.
  • Insert images, text frames, tables, and page numbers.
  • Format fonts, paragraphs, styles, columns, bullets, and numbering.
  • Use tables by inserting, selecting, or deleting along with merging and splitting cells.
  • PDF file importing, print or draft layout views, word count, zoom in or out, and page layout options.

AbleWord is available for download at no charge, with all features included. If you need help getting started, just click the Help button from the toolbar or visit AbleWord Online Help.

Download: AbleWord (Free)

3. WordGraph

WordGraph---an alternative to Microsoft Word

SSuite Office provides a host of applications like word processors, spreadsheets, and editors. One of these products is called WordGraph; it's a terrific alternative to Microsoft Word.

Just like in AbleWord, you have a standard menu at the top, action buttons, and a formatting toolbar. Each new document resides in its own tab.

Features:

  • Select views from full width, centered outline, or full height along with thumbnail views along the side.
  • Insert objects, images, tables, links, emoticons, equations, automatic text, and character art.
  • Format fonts, paragraphs, and visual text effects.
  • Use tools for spell check, word count, to track changes
  • Online dictionaries, thesaurus, and translations.
  • Tiled windows, document exporting, history, and statistics, keyboard shortcuts, and cloud storage integration.

You can download WordGraph for free on its website, as well as other products from SSuite.

Download: WordGraph (Free)

4. FocusWriter

FocusWriter---an alternative to microsoft word

FocusWriter is ideal for those who want a distraction-free writing experience. When you open FocusWriter, the document area is backed by a wooden background texture.

You can change this to one of a myriad of zen options and see all of your hidden toolbar options by directing your mouse to the top of the window.

Features:

  • Edit with basic undo, redo, cut, copy, and paste features.
  • Format fonts, paragraphs, indents, and headings.
  • Use tools to find, replace, spell check, and add symbols.
  • Adjust settings for focused text, themes, and focus preferences.
  • Hide tools away on all four edges, focus timer, daily progress statistics, goal setting, toolbar customizations, and keyboard shortcuts.

FocusWriter is free and available on multiple platforms. If you like the features of word processors but prefer a more focused writing tool, this is the writing application for you.

Download: FocusWriter (Free)

5. Page Four

Page Four---an alternative to microsoft word

While it's intended for creative writers, Page Four is a fantastic word processor for master organizers, too. Its Notebook feature provides a structured hierarchy for your items. You can create new notebooks, add folders and subfolders, and insert pages easily.

Features:

  • Navigate to each page with tabs at the bottom of the window.
  • Format fonts, paragraphs, and lists.
  • Use tools to import or export notebooks, word count, and document locking via password.
  • Click Smart-Edit to scan your document for overused words and phrases.
  • Search for text on pages or in notebooks.
  • Customizable view for full-screen writing, snapshot feature with list display, ability to insert dates, characters, links, or email addresses.

The free version of this application will not receive future updates, just a fair warning. If you like the idea of a free tool that keeps your work organized, however, this one might be the one for you.

Download: Page Four (Free)

Related: The Best Free Alternatives for Microsoft Office 365

6. Shaxpir 4

Shaxpir 4, pronounced like Shakespeare, is another word processor that is ideal for creative writers. Don’t let that stop you from trying it for papers, essays, and even for brainstorming ideas, though. You can organize your documents by type, all within an attractive, intuitive interface.

Features:

  • Navigate to content using the sidebar.
  • Format fonts, paragraphs, styles, and lists.
  • Insert images, connections, and block quotes.
  • Export items as DOCX or HTML.
  • Version history (Paid feature), word count, spell check, color-coded display for sentiment, vividness, and spelling, and content creation by type and folder.

Shaxpir 4 is available at no charge and comes with a free trial for Shaxpir 4: Pro. With this upgrade, you'll have access to features like EPUB exporting, custom themes, and version history.

Download: Shaxpir 4 (Free)

7. LyX

LyX---an alternative to microsoft word

LyX is a fully-fledged word processor with tons of extras. You might be surprised at the number of buttons that you see beneath the menu when you open the app up, but the tips as you mouse over them will help you immensely as you get your bearings.

Select File > New and you're on your way. The handy tabbed interface makes keeping track of multiple documents simultaneously easy.

Features:

  • Format fonts, lists, paragraphs, and sections.
  • View outline, source, and message panes, all within one window.
  • Insert everything from images, links, and tables to math formulas, citations, and comments.
  • Use tools for spell check, thesaurus, statistics, and file comparisons.
  • Import and export with dozens of file types, math macros, margin notes and footnotes, labels, cross-references, and index entries.

LyX is free, open-source, and available across multiple platforms. The website offers a lot of helpful information regarding releases, bug-tracking, and development statuses.

Download: LyX (Free)

8. Hancom Office 2020

If you would rather not download a word processor, Hancom Office 2020 is an excellent in-browser option.

To begin, either click the New Document plus sign on the main page or select Word from the New Document dropdown box at the top. When the editor opens, you will see the standard slew of menu items and buttons.

Features:

  • Download documents as DOCX or PDF files.
  • Format fonts and paragraphs.
  • Add headers, footers, endnotes, page numbers, or page breaks.
  • Insert shapes, images, tables, text boxes, symbols, bookmarks, or links.
  • Selection tools, ruler, and task pane views, zoom in or out, page setup options like size, orientation, color, and margins.

Website: Hancom Office 2020 (Free)

Download: Hancom Office 2020 (Trial)

Related: How to Edit PDFs In-Browser

9. Hemingway

Hemingway---an alternative to microsoft word

Another great online word processor is Hemingway. You can click Write from the top to start and then Edit to access a suite of helpful tools. While this editor does not offer specific features for images, tables, or downloads, it gives you a good writing experience, even if only in the copy itself.

Features:

  • Format fonts with bold or italic.
  • Add H1, H2, or H3 headers.
  • Create quotes with a single click.
  • Insert links and lists with bullets or numbers
  • Readability tools, color-coded display for active voice, adverbs, and hard-to-read sentences, and counts for words, characters, letters, and more.

Hemingway is one of the simplest free online writing tools, but it's still the most useful overall. In addition to accessing it in-browser, you can check out the Hemingway Editor 3 desktop app, as well. It offers many of the same awesome features.

Website: Hemingway (Free)

Download: Hemingway Editor 3 for Windows | Mac ($19.99)

10. Draft

Draft---an alternative to microsoft word

One final Microsoft Word alternative: Draft. This very simple tool has all of the features you need to create, edit, and save your documents. Like Hemingway, you can write directly into the app (Once you create a free account, of course). One of the standout features that we love here is version control.

Features:

  • Format fonts with bold or italic.
  • Insert comments, to-dos, images, snippets, and footnotes.
  • Export documents as TXT, HTML, DOC, or PDF.
  • Ask for help with your documents from coworkers or fellow students.
  • Organize files in folders, preview them in Hemingway mode, import files, and customize interface settings.

Draft is a useful tool for many types of writers. From business needs to personal writing and education, this word processor will have you more than covered.

Website: Draft (Free)

Related: More Unique Document Editors You Might Want to Check Out

The Best Alternatives to Microsoft Word

Whether it’s cost, access, or features, there are many word processors that can give you what you need.

Sometimes, it's a matter of finding something more specialized. For others, the bare necessities will be more than enough. In either case, we hope that you give at least one of these free word processors a spin the next time you need a little change of scenery.