Filezilla also supports Secure file transfer protocol, ie SFTP, and is available as in both client and server versions. If you need to collaborate with others on those files, though, there are other office alternatives that make it much easier.The free FTP ( Free Transfer protocol) solution, FileZilla is open-source software that helps transfer files from a local computer to a remote one. If you just need to work with Microsoft Office formats, and you don’t mind what some would consider a dated interface, Open Office has all the comprehensive formatting and functionality you need.

Excellent Microsoft Office compatibility.

It does, however, offer an extension that lets you connect to dozens of third-party cloud storage providers including Box and Google Drive, and the Open Office programs can be configured to work with select open source email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird.

Open Office supports document review features like commenting and track-changes, but it has no native cloud storage or email program. MS Office’s tight integration with OneDrive and Outlook allows you to easily share and work on files with others without leaving the respective program. Where Open Office diverges from Microsoft’s productivity suite is in collaboration. You can also export files to PDF from all three programs. But those instances usually only require minor tweaks to correct. Occasionally, it will hiccup as when it removed all the embedded images from a Word doc I had open. It does so flawlessly most of the time, even with complexly formatted documents like resumes and multi-column newsletters. Open Office has excellent compatibility with Office formats and can export to PDF from all three apps.īy default, Open Office uses the Open Document standard for native files, but you can change it to save to Microsoft formats, and it can read and write existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

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