Microsoft Word is the most widely used text file editor on the market, part of the Office suite and certainly the most complete compared to other solutions.
However, not everyone needs all of these features and its price is a bit steep for someone who won't use it to a great extent.
We have compiled 5 alternative free solutions for various operating systems, as well as online services, to create and edit text files from your browser on all operating systems.
1. LibreOffice (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)
LibreOffice is the best replacement for Microsoft Office , and the Writer app will cover most Microsoft Word users in most functions.
Aesthetically it is a bit old-fashioned, while it comes with all the features that the user is going to need, such as autosave, change location and commenting. Especially those who use older versions of Word, will not face any problem.
2. Google Drive (Web)
Google Drive is constantly improving, and has noticeable similarities to Microsoft Word, as well as the online Office Online.
Google's effort began as an online replacement for Word, but then evolved into an online storage space with the appropriate capabilities for online collaboration and simultaneous editing of files by multiple users.
It is compatible with Microsoft Office files, it is free and works seamlessly with other Google services.
3. AbiWord (Windows, Linux)
AbiWord is one of the few word processors that is not integrated into an office suite, but is a standalone. Aesthetically, it lags far behind, but when it comes to editing text files, it does a great job .
Also recently added is an online component called AbiCollab to make it easier to store documents on the Web for collaboration with other users.
AbiWord supports spelling and grammar checking, templates, footnotes and generally everything the user needs, while the minimal environment makes it suitable for older computers.
4. Zoho Docs (Web)
Zoho Docs may not be as well-known as Google's online office suite, but it is actually one of the first offerings in the space and more comprehensive in some areas.
It has a better word processor than Google Docs, along with better customer support tools, making it an all-in-one solution that can be run through a browser. Also, as the zeitgeist suggests, the user gets 5GB of free storage.
Zoho Docs also has a clean and friendly interface, managed through a Word-style menu with tabs along the top of the screen, more like a desktop program, but it lacks the extensive collection of Google Web Fonts.
5. Scribus (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)
Scribus , once you get the hang of it, will reward you with its capabilities.
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Source: e-pcmag.gr
