Alternatives · Docs & Wikis
Zoho Writer alternatives
Zoho Writer compared with 6 alternatives: Google Docs, Microsoft Word, ONLYOFFICE, Proton Docs, Collabora Online and 1 more.
Zoho Writer has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter). All 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho WriterThis tool | Free plan · from $2.50/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Google Docs | Free plan · from $7/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Microsoft Word | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| ONLYOFFICE | Free plan · from $20/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Proton Docs | Free plan · from $3.99/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Collabora Online | Free plan · from $3.40/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| WPS Writer | Free plan · from $5.83/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Zoho Writer
- Free plan · from $7/mo
Google Docs
Browser-based word processor, free with a Google Account
- Google Docs starts at $7 per user / month with a 1-year commitment (Workspace Business Starter). Zoho Writer starts at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter).
- Only Zoho Writer lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Zoho Writer also covers grammar & style.
Suits: People and teams who draft and review documents together in a browser
- Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Microsoft Word
Word processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser
- Microsoft Word starts at $9.99 / month, or $99.99 / year (Microsoft 365 Personal). Zoho Writer starts at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter).
- Only Zoho Writer lists a Linux app.
- Only Zoho Writer lists a browser extension.
- Microsoft Word also covers dictation.
Suits: People who want a full desktop word processor on Windows or Mac
- Free plan · from $20/mo
ONLYOFFICE
Open-source office suite for documents, sheets, slides and PDFs
- ONLYOFFICE starts at $20 per admin / month for the DocSpace Business cloud plan. Zoho Writer starts at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter).
- Only Zoho Writer lists a browser extension.
- ONLYOFFICE is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- ONLYOFFICE also covers spreadsheets and presentations.
- Zoho Writer also covers templates and grammar & style.
Suits: Organizations that want to host their own office suite
- Free plan · from $3.99/mo
Proton Docs
End-to-end encrypted collaborative documents inside Proton Drive
- Proton Docs starts at $3.99 per month, billed yearly (Drive Plus). Zoho Writer starts at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter).
- Only Zoho Writer lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only Zoho Writer lists a browser extension.
- Proton Docs is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Zoho Writer also covers templates and grammar & style.
Suits: People who want documents the provider itself cannot read
- Free plan · from $3.40/mo
Collabora Online
Self-hosted, open-source office suite based on LibreOffice
- Collabora Online starts at $3.40 per user / month on a yearly subscription (up to 99 users). Zoho Writer starts at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter).
- Only Zoho Writer lists a browser extension.
- Collabora Online is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Collabora Online also covers spreadsheets and presentations.
- Zoho Writer also covers templates and grammar & style.
Suits: Organizations that must keep documents on their own servers
- Free plan · from $5.83/mo
WPS Writer
Word-compatible word processor in the WPS Office suite
- WPS Writer starts at $5.83 per month, billed $69.99 per year (WPS Pro+). Zoho Writer starts at $2.50 per user / month, billed annually (Zoho WorkDrive Starter).
- Only Zoho Writer lists a browser extension.
Suits: People who want a free word processor that opens and saves Word files
Limits worth knowing in Zoho Writer
- There is no standalone paid Writer plan; the pricing page sends businesses to a Zoho WorkDrive subscription for the paid edition.
- Document automation is metered: 200 free credits a month per organization (1,000 on the paid edition), then $0.05 a credit, falling to $0.01 at high volume.
- WorkDrive plans start at 3 users; buying 1 or 2 seats means contacting Zoho's sales team.
- Zia's grammar, spelling and style checks cover English, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Zoho Writer?
The alternatives to Zoho Writer in this directory are Google Docs, Microsoft Word, ONLYOFFICE, Proton Docs, Collabora Online and WPS Writer. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Zoho Writer.
Is there a free alternative to Zoho Writer?
Yes. Google Docs, Microsoft Word, ONLYOFFICE, Proton Docs, Collabora Online and WPS Writer have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to Zoho Writer?
ONLYOFFICE and Collabora Online are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.