# Apache OpenOffice review (2026): is it any good? > Free open-source office suite with the Writer word processor Checked Nov 13, 2026 ยท graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA. Apache OpenOffice is a free, open-source office suite from the Apache Software Foundation. Writer, its word processor, covers letters, long documents with tables of contents and indexes, and simple page layout. The suite also includes Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math, and uses OpenDocument as its native file format. - **Category:** Writing Tools - **Made by:** The Apache Software Foundation - **Website:** https://www.openoffice.org - **Runs on:** Windows, macOS, Linux - **Who should skip it:** Skip it if you want a web or phone version, since the download page lists neither. - **Facts last checked:** Nov 13, 2026 ## Pricing As of Nov 13, 2026, Apache OpenOffice is free to use. - **Pricing model:** Free - **Free plan:** The whole suite is free to download and use for any purpose, private or commercial, on as many PCs as you like. - **Free trial:** None listed. | Plan | Price | What you get | | --- | --- | --- | | Apache OpenOffice | $0 | Full suite (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math) with no license fee; the project accepts donations. | Read from https://www.openoffice.org/product/index.html on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Apache OpenOffice before buying. ## Key features - **Writer word processor:** Handles anything from a short memo to a book, with styles, text frames, mail-merge wizards and multi-page display while editing. - **Tables of contents and references:** Generates tables of contents, indexes, bibliographic references and lists of illustrations or tables for long documents. - **AutoCorrect and AutoComplete:** Corrects typing mistakes and checks spelling as you type, supports several languages in one document, and suggests common words and phrases. - **PDF, HTML and MediaWiki export:** Exports to PDF, HTML and MediaWiki format; the PDF export offers a large set of formatting and security settings. - **Comments in the margin:** Notes show beside the text, with different colors for different users and the date and time of each edit. - **Extensions and templates:** A public library of user-made extensions, dictionaries and templates adds functions and starting layouts. ## Good for - Anyone who wants a no-cost desktop word processor with no account - Schools and offices that need many installs without license fees - People who write letters and reports offline ## Worth knowing - The download page lists only Windows, Linux and macOS installers; no web version or mobile app is listed. - The Windows installer listed is 32-bit, and macOS versions below 10.7 have a separate download. - Support comes from a volunteer community rather than a paid helpdesk. ## ToolGPA grades **GPA: 3.2 out of 4**, graded Nov 13, 2026. Apache OpenOffice is a no-cost office suite whose Writer handles letters, reports and long documents on Windows, Mac and Linux. The download page lists no web or mobile version, the Windows installer is 32-bit, and support comes from volunteers. - **Value for money: A.** $0 for the whole suite with no licence fee, commercial use included. Against a category with $9.75 in the middle, that's as cheap as it gets. - **Free plan and trial: A.** Free to download and use on as many PCs as you like, with no caps listed. - **Features: B.** Writer with contents tables, references, AutoCorrect, margin comments, and PDF, HTML and MediaWiki export, plus Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the core work. - **Ease of use: B.** No store rating on record, but you download, install and start typing with nothing to set up. - **Platforms and integrations: C.** Windows, Mac and Linux installers only: a program for computers alone. These are ToolGPA's own grades. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apache OpenOffice's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. ## Where it stands among writing tools - Apache OpenOffice's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 136 other writing tools we grade, and level with 5. - It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 108 of 136) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 7). - Apache OpenOffice has no paid plan. - On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price. The category's chart of price against score: https://toolgpa.com/charts/writing ## Keep it, or make your own? **Keep it.** Apache OpenOffice is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 136 other writing tools we grade. - You could make: Documents and templates: an app builder makes these well. - You could not: A spreadsheet engine with its formulas. - You could not: A slide editor. - You could not: Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other. - You could not: The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job. A judgement by ToolGPA from this listing, by rules that are the same for every tool. Nothing was built to test it. **Tags:** Documents, Open source, Works offline, Templates, Spreadsheets, Presentations ## Alternatives - [LibreOffice Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/libreoffice-writer): Free, open-source word processor for Windows, macOS and Linux. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apache-openoffice-vs-libreoffice-writer) - [WPS Writer](https://toolgpa.com/tools/wps-writer): Word-compatible word processor in the WPS Office suite. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apache-openoffice-vs-wps-writer) - [FreeOffice TextMaker](https://toolgpa.com/tools/freeoffice-textmaker): Free word processor that opens and saves Microsoft Word files. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apache-openoffice-vs-freeoffice-textmaker) - [ONLYOFFICE](https://toolgpa.com/tools/onlyoffice): Open-source office suite for documents, sheets, slides and PDFs. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apache-openoffice-vs-onlyoffice) - [Microsoft Word](https://toolgpa.com/tools/microsoft-word): Word processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apache-openoffice-vs-microsoft-word) ## Sources The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026: - https://www.openoffice.org/ - https://www.openoffice.org/product/index.html - https://www.openoffice.org/product/writer.html - https://www.openoffice.org/download/ Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/apache-openoffice Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).