LibreOffice

What is LibreOffice?

LibreOffice is a mature office suite that has been around since 2010, forked from OpenOffice.org. It is developed by The Document Foundation and is available for most Linux distributions. The suite is feature‑rich, supports a wide range of file formats and is actively maintained.

It targets users who need a full‑featured office solution without paying for Microsoft Office. It works well for students, professionals and small businesses.

Compared to Windows tools, LibreOffice feels more lightweight and consistent across platforms. The interface is clean, and keyboard shortcuts are similar to MS Office, but some advanced features may be missing or implemented differently.

Best for: Users who need a comprehensive, free office suite that works well on Linux and can open and save Microsoft Office files.

Key features of LibreOffice

• Writer – word processor with extensive formatting
• Calc – spreadsheet with advanced formulas
• Impress – presentation builder
• Draw – vector graphics and flowcharts
• Base – database front‑end
• Math – formula editor
• OpenDocument format support
• Compatibility with MS Office files

Tips for Windows users

When moving from Microsoft Office, keep in mind that LibreOffice uses the OpenDocument format by default, but you can open and save .docx, .xlsx, .pptx files directly. Keyboard shortcuts are largely similar (Ctrl+S, Ctrl+Z, etc.), but some shortcuts differ (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+N for a new document in Writer). The workflow is straightforward: open the file, edit, then save. For complex documents, check compatibility by opening the file and reviewing the formatting.

Recent releases

• 26.8.1.1 — September 24, 2026