The Ultimate 2025 Guide to Productivity Suites

Note: This article links to the Microsoft website throughout. We do not control any of the content provided from those links.

So you've got your new refurbished laptop, and you're ready to get to work. But what about an office suite? Your device doesn't come with one pre-installed, but that puts you in control of choosing the perfect tools for your needs and budget.

The "best" suite depends on how you work. For many, free and powerful options like the cloud-based Google Workspace, the Apple-exclusive iWork, or the full-featured desktop software LibreOffice are more than enough for daily tasks. For those who need the most advanced features and industry-standard compatibility, the premium Microsoft Office suite is a powerful alternative. This guide will help you compare the top options to make the right choice. *Information/prices correct as of 17/09/2025.

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At a Glance: Office Suite Showdown

This table provides a quick comparison of the key features to help you decide which platform best fits your priorities.

Office suite feature comparison
Feature	Google Workspace (Free)	Apple iWork	LibreOffice	Microsoft 365 (Subscription)	Microsoft Office 2024 (Perpetual)
Pricing (UK)	Free	Free with Apple devices	Completely Free	Subscription (from £8.49/month)	One-time purchase (from £119.99)
Primary Model	Cloud-native, browser-based	Desktop and mobile apps with cloud sync	Fully offline, desktop-based	Desktop-first with deep cloud integration	Fully offline, desktop-based
Best For	Teams, students, and anyone prioritizing collaboration and accessibility.	Apple users who value design, ease of use, and ecosystem integration.	Budget-conscious users needing a powerful offline suite without any cost.	Users wanting the latest features, cloud storage, and multi-device access.	Users wanting to pay once for a classic, offline experience without needing updates.
Real-time Collaboration	Best-in-class, seamless	Excellent (via iCloud)	Very limited / requires server setup	Excellent (requires OneDrive)	Not available
Offline Access	Limited (requires Chrome extension and setup)	Full-featured by default on Apple devices	Full-featured by default	Full-featured desktop applications by default	Full-featured by default
File Compatibility	Very good, but complex formatting can be an issue	Good, but conversion from MS Office can cause formatting issues	Excellent and improving, especially with .docx	The industry standard; perfect fidelity	The industry standard; perfect fidelity
Cloud Storage	15 GB shared across Google services	5 GB free with iCloud (upgrades available)	N/A (uses your local storage)	1 TB+ per user	N/A (uses your local storage)
Feature Updates	Continuous updates included	Regular updates included	Regular updates (manual install)	Continuous updates included	None (security updates only)

The Free Cloud Collaborator: Google Workspace

Google's suite of productivity apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides) is "cloud-native," meaning it runs entirely in your web browser and saves all your work automatically to Google Drive.7 All you need is a free Google Account to get started.

Key strengths:

Unbeatable Collaboration: This is Google's killer feature. Multiple people can edit a document at the same time, seeing changes as they happen. It's perfect for teamwork and group projects.
Accessibility: Access your files from any device with an internet connection, anywhere in the world.
Completely Free: The entire suite is free for personal use and includes 15 GB of cloud storage.

Potential Downsides:

Limited Offline Use: While an offline mode exists, it requires setup in advance using the Chrome browser and a specific extension.
Fewer Advanced Features: For highly complex tasks like advanced financial modelling, it lacks the depth of desktop software like Microsoft Excel.
Compatibility Issues: While it handles Microsoft Office files well, complex formatting can sometimes break during conversion.

The Apple Ecosystem Choice: iWork

If you use a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you already have a powerful and elegant office suite ready to go. Apple's iWork—consisting of Pages (word processor), Numbers (spreadsheet), and Keynote (presentation)—is free for all Apple device owners.

Key strengths:

Seamless Apple Integration: iWork is designed to work perfectly across all your Apple devices. Start a presentation on your Mac and finish it on your iPad; it's a smooth and intuitive experience.
Beautiful Design and Interface: The apps are known for their clean, user-friendly interfaces and powerful design tools, making it easy to create visually stunning documents and presentations.
Excellent Collaboration: Like Google, iWork offers excellent real-time collaboration tools, allowing multiple users to edit a document simultaneously through iCloud.

Potential Downsides:

Apple Exclusive: The full desktop and mobile apps are only available on Apple hardware. While non-Apple users can collaborate via a web browser on iCloud.com, it's not a native solution for Windows users.
Microsoft Office Compatibility: This is the biggest hurdle. While you can import and export Microsoft Office files, the conversion process can lead to lost or altered formatting, which is a major issue when working with PC users.

The Free Desktop Powerhouse: LibreOffice

For those who want a traditional, full-featured office suite installed on their computer without the price tag, LibreOffice is the best choice. It's Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS), developed by a global community and is completely free to use, share, and modify.

While you might also see Apache OpenOffice mentioned, LibreOffice is the clear winner for modern users. It was created from the same original code but has benefited from years of active development, while OpenOffice has largely stagnated.

Why Choose LibreOffice?

Active Development: LibreOffice receives major updates every six months, bringing new features, security patches, and performance improvements.3 OpenOffice, by contrast, is updated very infrequently.
Superior Compatibility: It has far better support for modern Microsoft Office file formats (.docx,.xlsx,.pptx), making it easier to share work with others.
Modern Features: It includes a more modern interface (including a Microsoft-style ribbon option), more templates, and hundreds of features not found in OpenOffice.

LibreOffice provides nearly all the functionality of a paid suite at zero cost, making it an excellent, no-compromise choice for most users.

The Premium Alternative: Microsoft Office

If free alternatives don't meet your needs, Microsoft Office remains the industry standard for a reason. It offers the most powerful applications, guaranteed file compatibility, and a deeply integrated ecosystem. It's the best choice for professionals and power users who require the absolute maximum in features and performance. You can get it in two ways: as a subscription or a one-time purchase.

Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that provides the classic Office apps plus continuous updates, 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage, and use across multiple devices. Some of the features include:

Works on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android phones and tablets
Productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot
Designer AI-powered image creator and editor
Clipchamp video editor with premium filters and effects
Microsoft Defender advanced security for your personal data and devices
OneDrive ransomware protection for your photos and files
Ongoing support for help when you need it

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Subscription Model: Microsoft 365

Plan	Price monthly	Price yearly	Key features
Microsoft 365 Personal	£8.49 (£101.88 a year)	£84.99	For one person Use on up to five devices simultaneously 1 TB secure cloud storage
Microsoft 365 Family	£10.49 (£125.88 a year)	£104.99	For one to six people Each person can use on up to five devices simultaneously Up to 6 TB secure cloud storage 1 TB per person
Microsoft 365 Business Basic	Annual only	£55.20 (£4.60 user per month paid yearly)	Web and mobile versions of Office apps only Includes Teams and business class email 50 GB 1 TB cloud storage
Microsoft 365 Business Standard	Annual only	£115.20 (£9.60 user per month paid yearly)	Everything in Basic Full downloadable desktop versions of Office apps
Microsoft 365 Business Premium	Annual only	£202.80 (£16.90 user per month paid yearly)	More than ten additional apps for business needs Includes Microsoft Loop, Clipchamp, Bookings, Planner, and Forms

One Time Purchase: Office 2024

Plan	Price one time	Included apps	Use case
Office Home 2024	£119.99	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote	For students and families for non commercial use on one PC or Mac
Office Home and Business 2024	£249.99	Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook	For families and small businesses, licensed for commercial use on one PC or Mac

Office can be purchased directly from Microsoft from the following links:

Microsoft Office 365 Family or Personal

Microsoft Office Business

Microsoft Office Home 2024

Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Choosing the right office suite is about matching the tool to your tasks.

Start with Google Workspace if: Your work is highly collaborative, or you need to access your files from many different devices. Its real-time editing and free price tag are hard to beat.
Choose Apple iWork if: You are fully invested in the Apple ecosystem, value a clean design and ease of use, and your collaboration is primarily with other Apple users.
Choose LibreOffice if: You want a powerful, traditional desktop suite without any recurring fees. It's a full-featured and free alternative that's perfect for offline work.
Upgrade to Microsoft Office if: You are a professional, power user, or business that needs the most advanced features, perfect file fidelity, and a deeply integrated cloud and desktop experience.

Whatever you choose, the right software can unlock your productivity. We hope this guide has made your decision easier, so you can spend less time choosing your tools and more time using them.