Top Office Suites for Linux in 2025: LibreOffice, SoftMaker, ONLYOFFICE & More

While Linux users enjoy unmatched flexibility and control over their systems, finding a full-featured, compatible office suite has historically been more challenging than on Windows or macOS. Fortunately, 2025 offers a rich selection of both open source and proprietary office suites that cater to diverse needs — from home users and students to enterprise professionals.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the best office suites for Linux, examining their features, strengths, limitations, and ideal use cases.

Why You Need a Good Office Suite on Linux

An office suite typically includes:

• A word processor (like Microsoft Word)
• A spreadsheet tool (like Excel)
• A presentation editor (like PowerPoint)
• Often, tools for drawing, database management, and collaboration

Linux users often seek Microsoft Office compatibility, cloud sync options, or native performance without wine or emulation. Let’s explore the top contenders that deliver just that.

1. LibreOffice – The Open Source Standard

LibreOffice is the most popular and widely used open source office suite available for Linux. Developed by The Document Foundation, it’s pre-installed in many Linux distributions and offers powerful features without licensing fees.

Key Features:

• Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math
• Excellent support for OpenDocument Format (ODF)
• Good — though not perfect — compatibility with Microsoft Office formats
• Regular updates and strong community backing

Pros:

• Completely free and open source
• Active development community
• No vendor lock-in
• Runs natively on most Linux distributions

Cons:

• User interface feels dated
• Occasional formatting issues with .docx or .pptx files
• Lacks built-in real-time collaboration

Best For: Students, writers, open-source advocates, and users needing reliable offline editing.

2. ONLYOFFICE – Modern, Collaborative, and MS-Friendly

ONLYOFFICE is a powerful suite developed by Ascensio System SIA. It offers both local desktop editors and collaborative web tools, with an interface very similar to Microsoft Office.

Key Features:

• Strong compatibility with MS Office formats
• Available as desktop and online editors
• Clean, modern UI
• Real-time collaboration through ONLYOFFICE Document Server

Pros:

• Smooth editing experience
• Ideal for collaborative work
• Self-hosted or cloud deployment available

Cons:

• Setup of collaboration server may require technical skills
• Slightly fewer formatting tools compared to LibreOffice

Best For: Teams, startups, and professionals needing document collaboration and Microsoft file support.

3. SoftMaker Office – Lightweight Commercial Powerhouse

SoftMaker Office is a fast, polished alternative developed in Germany. It’s commercial software, but often praised for its speed and excellent compatibility with Microsoft Office.

Key Features:

• Includes TextMaker, PlanMaker, Presentations
• Supports both ribbon and classic UI
• Saves directly to .docx, .xlsx, .pptx formats
• Works on Linux, Windows, and macOS

Pros:

• Fast performance even on older machines
• Near-perfect Microsoft Office compatibility
• Multiple UI layout options

Cons:

• Paid license required for full version
• Minimal support for open formats like ODF

Best For: Professionals seeking a quick, MS-compatible office suite with a familiar feel.

4. WPS Office – Sleek and User-Friendly

WPS Office is a stylish, free-to-use office suite developed by Kingsoft. It mirrors Microsoft Office’s design closely, which helps ease the learning curve for new users.

Key Features:

• Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentation tools
• PDF converter and viewer
• Cloud storage support
• Mobile and desktop versions available

Pros:

• High-quality user interface
• Good compatibility with MS Office formats
• Regular updates and cross-platform support

Cons:

• Closed-source software
• Ad-supported in free version
• Privacy concerns for some users

Best For: Former Windows users and those who want a visually polished experience.

5. Calligra Suite – KDE’s Native Solution

Calligra is developed by the KDE community. While not as well-known as others, it offers an integrated experience for KDE desktop users with tools for productivity and creativity.

Key Features:

• Includes Words, Sheets, Stage, Flow, Karbon, and more
• Designed to blend into KDE Plasma
• Lightweight and modular

Pros:

• Free and open source
• Integrated creative tools (vector drawing, mind mapping)
• Runs well on lightweight systems

Cons:

• Not ideal for Microsoft Office users
• Interface may feel unintuitive for some

Best For: KDE enthusiasts and creative users looking for an all-in-one suite.

Quick Comparison Table

Conclusion

There’s no shortage of quality office suites available for Linux users today. Whether you need open-source freedom, seamless Microsoft compatibility, or a collaborative workspace for your team — Linux has the tools to match your productivity goals.

Before you choose, ask yourself:

• Do I need to share files with MS Office users?
• Will I be editing documents collaboratively?
• Do I prefer a familiar or minimalistic UI?
• Am I looking for free, open-source software or am I open to paid options?

Whichever direction you go, rest assured: Linux has evolved into a capable desktop productivity environment with powerful office tools to match.