In 2019, Microsoft Word is as much of a household name as Verizon FiOS, Sony PlayStation, or Colgate toothpaste. Everyone writes with Word, and it’s a staple for practically everyone with a computer.
Mar 12, 2019 - The best writing app for Mac, iPad, and iPhone is Ulysses. It's powerful and simple, with features that provide great support for any writing.
Advertisement
Unless you use a Mac.
Is it possible to get Microsoft Office on a Mac? It is, but it’s probably not worth it since it’s really the only enticing program in the suite. Office is expensive, and it takes up 2.5 GB of space. Luckily, there is a selection of free and highly accomplished alternative word processing apps for Mac, some of which not only handle Word documents but that you may even find improve on Word itself.
5 free alternatives to Word on Mac
5. Celtx
Celtx is a free writing tool that’s geared mostly towards screenwriting, storyboarding, and organizing call sheets. Making an account is 100% free and all your work is saved on a cloud until you decide to download it (at which point it’s a .pdf). Available on Mac here, Celtx allows you to create properly formatted video scripts and screenplays, stageplays, audioplays, and comics. Not only that, it’ll sync up with your online studio so you can write anywhere, anytime and even share scripts with collaborators.
Celtx Script for Mac
How to start screenwriting for free with Celtx
4. Blogo
Blogo is a clever app which allows users to blog right from your Mac desktop. It’s simple, distraction-free, and allows you to write even when not connected to the internet. You can use Blogo with self-hosted or WordPress blogs and the platform supports writing, editing, and rich text, but still allows for inline HTML. Blogo has a paid version which includes extra features such as Multiple blog management, integration with Evernote, enhanced social sharing functionality, and comment moderation, but odds are all you’ll really need is the free version.
Blogo for Mac
3. Pages
Pages is another free word processor for Mac that lets you create really beautiful documents. On top of that, the more recent versions have improved the typographical tools and are more integrated than ever with iOS and the iCloud. Users are even able to use Apple Pencil to add comments via iPad, or pen in illustrations – something that’s always been wonky on Microsoft Word. As always, Pages does a spectacular job of providing templates for easy document creation, and Placeholders also provide seamless integration with the Photos app for adding images.
Pages for Mac
6 best Apple Pencil apps for 2019
2. Google Docs
Google Docs are a professional option for virtually anybody in the world. All you need is a computer (Windows and Mac both work equally well) and you’re good to go.
You don’t even need a Google account to be able to access another person’s doc; you’ll simply appear as an anonymous author with a hovering cursor. That’s one of the coolest things about Google Docs – multiple users can work on the same piece at once, meaning that it’s both a collaborative document and a chat at the same time.
You can also add comments, embed media, insert hyperlinks, and alter the settings to allow for other readers to view, comment, or edit.
Google Docs
Tips and tricks for writing a novel in Google Docs
1. LibreOffice Writer
If you’re trying to mimic the experience of Microsoft Word then your best bet is LibreOffice Writer. It’s a 100% free office suite that looks and feels about as close to Word as you can get, and supports multiple formats, covering all the basics and then some.
Wizards allow for easy set-up of memos, letters, and even mail-merge documents, and the suite comes with a variety of useful tools for formatting and styling.
LibreOffice Writer also has additional tools for creating tables of contents and indexes for longer documents, with more available for download on their website.
LibreOffice
Agree with our list? Let us know in the comments below, and if you’re looking for more methods to open Word Documents on Mac, check out this simple way to do it.
More Mac tricks
Create and collaborate on documents that are beautiful beyond words.
Pages is a powerful word processor that lets you create stunning documents. You can even use Apple Pencil on your iPad to add comments and illustrations by hand. And with real-time collaboration, your team can work together, whether they’re on Mac, iPad, or iPhone, or using a PC.
Download Pages for Mac from the Mac App StoreDownload Pages for iOS from the iOS App StorePreview Pages for iOS in the iOS App StorePreview Pages for Mac in the Mac App StoreStart using Pages at iCloud.com
A canvas
for creativity.
From the start, Pages places you in the perfect creative environment. It puts all the right tools in all the right places, so it’s easy to choose a look, customize fonts, personalize text styles, and add beautiful graphics. And everyone collaborating on a document has access to the same powerful features.
Start with a great‑looking template.
Choose from over 70 beautiful Apple‑designed templates, and customize your document any way you like.
See your progress.
Track changes, add highlights, and have threaded conversations with your team. Your edits are saved automatically.
Find and organize chapters easily.
Pages automatically creates a table of contents for you based on paragraph styles and updates it as you make edits. Just tap or click to find the content you want.
Communicate beautifully.
Liven up your text by filling it with color gradients or images. And take the entire page to the next level by adding photos, galleries, math equations, charts, or more than 700 customizable shapes.
Record and edit audio clips.
Add and adjust narration, notes, and sounds for people to play in your documents on iOS and Mac.
Create a book.
From travel books to fairy tales, it’s easy to make beautiful, interactive books with image galleries, audio clips, and videos right inside Pages. Built‑in tools let you copy and paste into different projects, create links to jump to other pages, and collaborate with friends, editors, colleagues, or classmates. And when you’re done, easily share them with others or publish them to Apple Books for download or purchase.
Turn your device into a teleprompter.
Now public speaking is nothing to be afraid of. With Presenter Mode, Pages turns your document into a ready-to-read speech with just a tap. You can then set it to scroll automatically at your pace.
Pages and
Apple Pencil.
Sketch, illustrate, and create documents to express your ideas with Apple Pencil on your iPad.
Draw and modify
Sketch your idea, then press play to watch each stroke animate onto the page.
BetaEdits that stick.
With Smart Annotation, your edits stay with the marked-up text, making it easy for you and your team to incorporate changes.
Collaborate with anyone.
Anywhere.
Work together in the same document, from across town or across the world. You can see your team’s edits as they make them — and they can watch as you make yours, too. Just select a name on the collaborator list to jump to anyone’s cursor.
Work on any document. On any device.
You don’t work in one place on just one device. The same goes for Pages. So the documents your team creates using a Mac or iPad look the same on an iPhone or web browser — and vice versa.
Work together in real time on documents stored on iCloud or Box.
Everyone can collaborate — whether they’re on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or a PC web browser.
Unlock documents with a touch or a glance.
Open password-protected files in a snap with Touch ID or Face ID on compatible devices.
Microsoft Word friendly.
Teaming up with someone who uses Microsoft Word? Pages makes it simple. You can save Pages documents as Word files. Or import and edit Word documents right in Pages. Most popular Word features are supported, too. Now it’s no problem to work on the same project. Even if you use different apps.
Learn more about Microsoft Word compatibilityLearn more about Microsoft Word compatibility
More ways to do stunning work.
Numbers
Create great-looking spreadsheets. Together.
Keynote
Easily build stunning, memorable presentations.