OnlyOffice Desktop Editors
Desktop office editors with a modern interface and strong Office compatibility.
Quick facts
- Price model
- Freemium
- Starting price
- Free desktop app
- Best for
- Opening Word and Excel files without a subscription · Homework and household documents · A familiar office-style layout
- Replaces
- Microsoft 365, Google Docs offline
- Platforms
- MacWindowsLinux
- Last verified
- 2026-06-22
Why it's listed
Free desktop editors that open complex Office files more reliably than many alternatives.
OnlyOffice Desktop Editors handle documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with a ribbon-style UI that feels closer to Microsoft Office. The desktop app is free; paid tiers exist for server and cloud deployments.
The catch
Jump to setup guide ↓Enterprise and self-hosted features are separate products with their own pricing.
How to set up OnlyOffice Desktop Editors
Ribbon-style Office replacement—strong .docx/.xlsx compatibility without Microsoft 365.
- Time
- 15–25 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Verified
- 2026-06-22
Before you start
- Sample Word/Excel files to test
- macOS, Windows, or Linux
- Uninstall or disable old Office trial to avoid default-app fights
Install desktop suite
Download OnlyOffice Desktop Editors from onlyoffice.com. Install Documents, Sheets, Slides.
Open test Office files
Open complex .docx and .xlsx from work/school. Check charts, tables, track changes if you use them.
Set default apps
OS settings → default apps for .docx, .xlsx, .pptx to OnlyOffice where desired.
Save format policy
Save new work as Office XML (.docx) if sharing with others, or ODF if household-only.
Optional — cloud collab
Desktop is free; real-time collab needs self-hosted OnlyOffice Document Server—heavy. Most families email PDFs instead.
Troubleshooting
- Macro-heavy Excel breaks
- Keep one Excel install for macro sheets; OnlyOffice for daily docs.
- Fonts wrong
- Install missing fonts or embed on PDF export.
- Want fully open source
- LibreOffice guide covers ODF-first path.
Keep it working
- Update when app prompts
- PDF export for external sharing
- Backup Documents folder regardless of editor
Official docs: helpcenter.onlyoffice.com/desktop/
Good fit for
- Office migrants
- Small businesses avoiding subscriptions
Not ideal for
- People who only need lightweight writing
- Full open-source purists
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