There is also Office Home & Business 2021. If you're looking for a very easy to use Office replacement that is ideal for working with others in real-time, you'll be pleased with Google Docs.ĭo you use a Microsoft Office alternative you'd recommend to our readers that are new to Mac or just want to switch from Microsoft? Put your suggestion in the comments below and tell us why its the one you chose. The latest version of Office for Mac for home users is Office Home & Student 2021 (149.99/119.99). I am able to see where everyone is within the documents and can see exactly when changes are made. I've worked alongside a dozen other people in one document. Both have the ability to export files as Word and Excel if you need to send files to other people who dont have Macs. The thing that makes Google Docs so useful, however, is it's real-time collaboration, which works seamlessly with multiple users.

Google Docs doesn't look at all like Microsoft Office, and has a very different user interface, but it does have many of the same, familiar features you know from Office. Then it goes away and then Word or Excel work again.

The changes will be made when your Mac is back online. When swapping between Word and Excel or an Office program with another window (like Firefox, for example), the cursor turns into a spinning wheel for like a second or two. There is a Google Drive app you can download onto Mac so you can work offline. Just visit the web-based app from your browser and you can create word processor documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. If you have a Gmail account, or a Google Hangouts account, or a YouTube account, you have Google Docs. Google Docs is the easiest replacement for Microsoft office because it's so accessible.

Word and excel for mac