Here we’re looking at the very best word processors that can be used offline (particularly useful for distraction-free writing), but there are also several excellent browser-based tools to consider if you'd rather do your writing online. However, while there are some good, free word processing programs out there, they tend to not have so many features as paid-for software.Įven when they do, there can be compatibility issues with moving document formats between software platforms, especially when importing to Microsoft Word. You might be able to manage without a spreadsheet tool or something for making slideshows, but text documents are unavoidable. The Pages application can open Word documents.Click the links below to go to the provider's website: Mac users can also use Apple’s free iWork suite. Get Word for Android or Word for iPhone and iPad. On Android, iPhone, and iPad, you can also download Microsoft’s free Word application to view Word documents without purchasing or subscribing to Office.

RELATED: How to Get Microsoft Office for Free

Get a free month-long trial of Office 365 to get full access to Microsoft Word and the rest of Microsoft Office for free-for a limited time.

Upload the document to Google Drive and open it in Google Docs, Google’s free web-based office suite.

LibreOffice Writer, which is included, can open and edit Microsoft Word documents in DOC and DOCX format. This is an alternative to Microsoft Office.

Install LibreOffice, a free and open-source office suite.

You can even edit documents in Word Online-no purchase necessary. It will open in Microsoft Word Online, a free web-based version of Word.

Upload the document to Microsoft OneDrive and open it from the OneDrive website.

It’s intended for tablets but runs in a Window on a Windows 10 desktop PC. The mobile version of Word lets you view (but not edit) Word documents.

Download Word Mobile from the Store on Windows 10.

Here are some other ways you can view Word documents on a Windows PC: Microsoft once offered a free “Word Viewer” application that would let you view Word documents, but discontinued it back in November 2017. If you’re using a computer without Word installed, there are other ways to view that DOCX or DOC file.

Microsoft Word is part of Microsoft Office and requires an up-front purchase or a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Word program for free