Office for Mac offers the same features as its Windows counterpart but in a Mac OS X platform. So whether you’re a Mac user looking for a simple word processor or a business looking for a suite of apps, an Office product is right for you.
SoftMaker Office
SoftMaker Office for Mac is a Mac version of Microsoft Office. It aims to compete with MS Office and includes many features and tools. However, it is not as comprehensive as Microsoft’s office suite.
In addition to standard office tools, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations, it has a few extra functions. For instance, it has an email client called Thunderbird. Additionally, it comes with a mobile app that makes it easy to access your documents from your iOS or Android device.
One of the most notable features of SoftMaker Office is its compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats. You can save your files in various forms, including DOCX and PPTX. You can even export your files to Adobe PDF if you prefer.
The software also includes a spell checker that supports over 75 languages. This software will do it for you if you need to convert a dBASE database to SQLite.
Another key feature is the ability to create portable slide shows. These can be played back on PCs without SoftMaker Office installed. Aside from the fact that they can be saved in any format, these slideshows can be edited in the native Windows version of Microsoft Office.
SoftMaker’s word processor, TextMaker, is similar to MS Word. However, it includes several features not found in Microsoft’s version, such as a thesaurus and a word counter.
Microsoft Office 365
The new version of Microsoft Office for Mac comes with various upgrades. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Additionally, it offers OneDrive Files on Demand and Continuity Camera support on the MacBook Pro.
While these new features are great, they aren’t the only things that come with the latest version of Microsoft Office for Mac. Users also get a full install of Outlook and a redesigned Mac App Store.
Office 365 for Mac is available as a one-time purchase, or you can subscribe to a yearly plan. In addition, you can get a free month’s trial to try it out. Once you sign up, you’ll be asked to create a new Microsoft account. After registering, you can download the latest versions of all your favorite Microsoft apps.
If you’re not a fan of Microsoft, you can use alternative software. For example, Google Docs is a great free alternative for writing documents and spreadsheets.
Another option is to try LibreOffice. This open-source office suite works on various platforms, including macOS and Windows. It’s arguably the most comprehensive option available.
Although many people use Office for Mac daily, they may not know. Luckily, this suite is designed to work in both virtual and offline modes.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite with many powerful features. It can edit documents, create spreadsheets, and build dynamic 3D illustrations. You can also create presentations using Impress.
If you want to get the full benefit of LibreOffice, you might consider getting it from the Mac App Store. The Mac App Store version costs $8.99, but you can download the entire suite for free. However, the App Store version does not include Java. Alternatively, you can download it from the official website.
Before installing LibreOffice on your Mac, you must prepare your hard drive. This may include formatting it. In addition, you will need to change the Security & Privacy page in System Preferences. Changing the security and privacy settings can be tricky because it is a hidden window.
Another thing to know is that LibreOffice can be downloaded with a language pack. Some of the applications are included, such as the word processor Writer. There is also a database application called Base.
If you want something to help you make a presentation, LibreOffice for Mac has a Presentation engine that supports Apple’s Pages format. And it is compatible with several document formats, including PDFs.
