Just the term, “Word Processor,” conjures up images of antiquated machines with tiny screens and extremely limited features. However, Microsoft Word and many other programs are nothing but advanced word processing programs.
And you no longer need to spend money on these programs. Instead, you can use the online versions for free.
Here are 8 of the best Word Processors for you to consider:
Microsoft’s Word Online
Have you got a free Microsoft account? Then you can use Word Online. The app interface is very similar to the desktop version of Word, making it easy to switch from one to the other. Sharing and working on the go is easier, and the online app also supports real-time collaboration among other features.
Because Microsoft Word Online is a lighter version of the desktop client, you won’t have every feature you might be accustomed to, such as split views and style creation. And while you can view and edit documents in all Office file formats, you can save files only to the default MS Office file format, DOCX.
Google Docs
As you’ve likely experienced for yourself, Google Docs works anywhere and for everyone. You get the expected basic tools you need for creating and editing stylish documents, plus templates that make beautiful documents.
You can use older file versions and share documents easily. The collaboration tools bring in comments and real-time editing options. Perhaps best of all, the autosaving feature means you don’t have to worry about saving your writing manually.
And with Google Docs add-ons, you can sign documents, create charts and mind maps, insert text snippets, and so forth.
Compared to Word Online, Google Docs has a cleaner interface, better collaboration tools, and free voice typing.
Pages for iCloud.
If you’re a Mac user, Pages for iCloud is the perfect solution for word processing. It’s the cloud-synced version of Pages, which is part of iWork.
And you don’t need a Mac to use Pages for iCloud. If you sign up for an iCloud account, you can use Pages anytime, anywhere.
The app has a clean and easy-to-use setup, so you’ll probably be able to use it immediately without any instruction. It also supports real-time collaboration, with fellow iCloud account holders.
Dropbox Paper
Dropbox Paper is tightly integrated with Dropbox, and Paper documents don’t count toward your Dropbox storage.
Only Office Document Editor
OnlyOffice is open source. While it’s one of the lesser-known online word processors, it’s just as capable as the other apps on this list. And in terms of layout and features, it will remind you of Microsoft Word.
You can upload documents from your computer or bring them in from other cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. And you can collaborate in real time with anyone – not just OnlyOffice users.
Writer
Unlike the other rich text processors on this list, Writer is a plain-text writing software.
Writer shows no toolbars and icons unless you want them, but you can change the look and feel of the editor to suit your tastes. It includes autosaving, offline support, unlimited documents, word counter, and storage.
And you can not only download your documents to TXT, PDF, and HTML formats but also publish them directly to platforms like WordPress and Tumblr.
Zoho Writer
Zoho Writer is thought by some to be even better than Word Online and Google Docs.
Besides the usual document editing and collaboration tools, the app has a minimalist interface, showing you only the tools you need at each stage of the creation process.
Zoho lets you save your documents to other cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. But by default, it saves your documents to its own cloud storage, Zoho Docs.
Quip
Quip’s structure and functionality is a little different from the others, but the minimalist interface helps to quickly orient you. Start off with one of the built-in templates to save time. Formatting options show up in place when you select text.
Keep in mind that Quip is free only for personal use (and comes with unlimited documents). If you plan on collaborating with others, you’ll need the paid version.