It’s almost impossible for a writer or text content creator to work without word processors. Yes, you can make do without adding slideshows and spreadsheets to your document, but word processors are needed for making the texts which are the foundation of your content.
Electric Pencil was the first word processor developed for microcomputers in 1976. However, Microsoft’s Word (initially launched in 1983) has grown to be the application synonymous with word processing. Over the years, Microsoft’s Word has maintained its dominance as the best word processing tool – the only problem is that it’s a premium tool.
As common with most professional premium applications on computers, it’s quite expensive and digs a hole in a buyer’s pocket. Of course, there’s a free version, but this in no way gives you all the functionalities you’d get from being a paid user.
Top 10 Free Online Word Processors for 2022
There are a lot of great free online word processors out there today. Still, the main issue is compatibility when moving files between different platforms, especially when it has to do with documents from Microsoft Word.
However, there are still a couple of them that can do a pretty good job in word processing. What’s even great is that these online processors are free, which means you can save a few bucks while creating your document.
Google Docs
Google Docs is arguably the best choice for anyone looking to adopt a free online word processor. While it’s equally the most popular of all the choices in this list, it does its job pretty nicely to earn it the top spot. Being a tool developed by Google, it’s hard to expect any less regarding functionality and accessibility. The only blemish is that the number of templates is very limited – for a cloud service, you’d expect something better.
Features
- Convert and send documents in multiple file types
- Great for collaborative work
- Integrated with G-Suite, which allows you to work with other Google document tools like Google Sheets and Google Slides
WPS Office
WPS Office (previously called Kingsoft Office) is a free office suite developed by Kingsoft, a Chinese software development company. It has an interface almost identical to Microsoft Word, making it a great alternative for people who can’t afford to pay for Microsoft 365. While that’s the case, the free version of this application also contains ads – something that’s not present in Google Docs.
Features
- Free cloud storage
- Multiple file format support
LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice is a free open-source Office Suit developed by a collaboration between The Document Foundation, Collabora, and IceWarp. Since launched in 2011, it’s been the go-to Office Suite for document creators who love open-source software. Although it’s relatively new, it has all the standard apps you need to work effectively with its word processor.
Features
- Multiple file format support
- Customizable user interface
- Compatible with obscure OSs like FreeBSD, NetBSD, Haiku, Solaris, and AmigaOS
FreeOffice TextMaker
TextMaker is the word processing tool of SoftMaker’s Free Office. Although it doesn’t have a plethora of features as some on this list, it does a pretty good job as a free word processor. The only downside is that you can’t create and save in *.DOCX format even though you can edit files with the extension.
Features
- Creation of encrypted files
- Can export to EPUB format
- Slick User Interface
Writemonkey
Writemonkey is a basic word processing tool that programmers predominantly use to write codes in document format. Most users refer to it as a stripped-down version of MS Word – which we can’t argue much as it’s really lightweight and uses plugins for users who want added functionalities.
Features
- Superfast and lightweight
- UTF-8, ANSI, and Unicode support
- Customizable UI
FocusWriter
FocusWriter is a word processor that streamlines everything down to the bras tax of document creation. Often seen as a major step up from Microsoft’s built-in notepad app, it’s equipped with tools to ensure effective word document creation. Much like writemoney, the interface doesn’t have many moving parts, allowing users to concentrate fully on the text they’re working on.
Features
- Built-in timer and alarms for Pomodoro technique
- Simplistic UI, which emphasizes the text
- Auto-save
Zoho Writer
Although not as common as other options above, Zoho Writer is a pretty decent free online word processor. Like most completely free writing tools, its interface and features are streamlined for strictly writing and document editing – you won’t get all the extras you’d find in a complete office suite. Outside its limitations of being unable to handle broad tasks, it can handle the basics like *.DOCX conversion while retaining the original document format.
Features
- Simplistic UI
- Available for Web and Desktop
- Multiple file support
Apache OpenOffice
Up next is Apache OpenOffice – another open-source office suite with many features enough to rival what’s available on Microsoft365. Being an open-source tool, you get the privilege of receiving frequent updates. There’s really not much to complain about as everything seems to be on point – the perks of having an active development team.
Features
- Multiple file support
- Integrated with other office tools
- High-end features available for free
Etherpaad
Etherpad is an open-source online editor created for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. It’s one of the few free tools out there that actually supports real-time collaborative editing. Its simple-to-use interface is arguably the best option for casual writers who write simple texts like novels and listicles.
Features
- Extensive features
- Optimal for collaborative work
- Simplistic UI
OnlyOffice
OnlyOffice is a free online word processor that looks almost identical to MS Word – some users even argue that it’s a better alternative. Like other advanced free word processors above, it’s compatible with various file formats, including RTF, ODT, and HTML.
Features
- Autosave and last memory
- Intuitive user interface
- Extensive features and functionalities
- Supports public collaboration.
Final Takeout
There are many online editors out there today; however, very few can serve up to the standards of MS Word in the Microsoft 365 office suite. While that’s the case, MS Word also has a free online version that does a little more than the basics – which is quite nice for something that’s supposed to be a paid tool. At any rate, opting for a word processor that comes with a full office suite isn’t necessary if all you want to create are text documents.
