Candidates use office programs to help them create eye-catching resumes, cover letters, and other relevant documentary work. For a long time, Microsoft Office has been the standard, but the most recent price increases and free ad-supported versions have caused many to search for alternatives. Luckily, the tools that were previously mentioned by free office software are more than enough.
Microsoft’s pricing is a problem for many people, and, of course, the reaction from the community has been diverse. In this post, I will cover the best free office suites that include WPS Office and will make the job-hunting process easier and far less expensive.
Microsoft’s Price Increase: What You Need to Know
Due to the added Copilot AI features with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Microsoft announced that Microsoft 365 plans will be more expensive starting in 2025. Although these features do enhance productivity, they do come with a cost.
New Microsoft 365 Pricing (2025)
– Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99/month or $99.99/year (previously $6.99/month)
– Microsoft 365 Family: $12.99/month or $129.99/year (previously $6.99/month each)
– Copilot Pro Subscription (for full AI access): $30/month
Along with these changes, standard users of Microsoft 365 will only be granted 60 copilot credits per month, which is a very low and unreasonable number. To add fuel to the fire, these credits are non-transferrable which means you cannot use them if you are under a family plan. What’s worse, rollovers do not exist.
Microsoft Free Version: Ads and Limitations
Microsoft provides a free web-based suite for users who are not willing to pay, But it comes with non-stop advertisements and does not offer high-end features such as offline use access and comprehensive editing support.
User Reactions to Microsoft’s Pricing
Several users appeared to complain about the cost increase pleading that the AI enhancements should be an optional feature rather than a default expensive inclusion. Complaints may be found on Microsoft’s official forums or Consumer NZ forums, and there would still be users looking for costless solutions that enable the creation of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Best Free Office Software for Job Applications
If you require free Microsoft Office alternatives, below is a freely available suite that will allow you to apply for jobs.
1. WPS Office- Best Overall Alternative
WPS Office is one of the most feature-rich free office suites available, making it a top choice for job seekers.
Features to Look For
- Craft resumes and cover letters using WPS Writer (substitute MS Word).
- Track job applications and interviews with WPS spreadsheets.
- Demonstrate professional portfolios with WPS presentations.
- Supports all MS Office formats (docx, xlsx, pptx).
- Cloud storage and PDF editors for free.
Why Go For WPS Office?
WPS Office has easily accessible free versions without working ads which is more user-friendly than Microsoft’s free version. For those looking to utilize premium features like advanced PDF editing, upgrading options are also available.
2. Best For Use Without Internet: LibreOffice
An advanced office suite that is open source and has everything readily available for use offline.
Key Features:
- Writer, Calc, and Impress (substitutes for Word, excel, and PowerPoint).
- No advertising and no subscriptions.
- Sculpting and reformatting to a higher degree.
Why Go For LibreOffice?
For people looking for everything to work without an internet connection, this option is good. However, the user interface can be a bit outdated compared to Microsoft and WPS Office.
3. Best For Group Work: Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
They are file-based office tools that work with Google Drive and not just Docs.
Main highlights:
- Collaboration from different locations for job applications being processed in real-time.
- Saving and sharing files is straightforward.
- Requires internet access, but works completely online.
What Makes Google Docs Stand Out?
Google Docs is excellent at collaborative editing, though it isn’t the best in terms of offline options. It also lacks advanced formatting compared to WPS Office or LibreOffice.
4. OnlyOffice – Great For The Proficient User
OnlyOffice is a free office suite aimed at users who require particular attention to formatting.
Main highlights:
- Modern design using ribbon-style menus.
- Works with Microsoft Office documents.
- Best fitted for users with some level of technical proficiency.
What Makes OnlyOffice Stand Out?
Microsoft 365 users will greatly appreciate the advanced options OnlyOffice provides, though these come at a cost of ease as the interface is more advanced, making it difficult for those new to WPS Office and Google Docs.
Final Thoughts: The Best Free Office Suite For You
As Microsoft raises their prices while putting advertisements in the free version, there are more users looking for alternatives that allow full functionality without the hidden costs.
WPS Office is the standout free alternative for job seekers, allowing for use in a professional setting without the advertisements and full functionality of Microsoft Office.
In case you need an offline option, you can use LibreOffice. Google Docs is best suited for those who need to work collaboratively on a document. OnlyOffice works best for power users.
By moving to a free office suite, a user looking for a job can cut costs while still being able to make good applications without the financial strain from the most recent Microsoft price hikes.
