Affordable Alternatives for Creative and Productivity Tools
The likes of Microsoft 365, enable web-based productivity and creativity tools for individuals who can afford or justify having a digital solution for their personal and professional work. The problem is that their subscription-based monetization models often create significant financial challenges, in particular for freelancers, students, and small businesses. Fortunately, there are many free apps in the same category that can do you just as much good without having to pay out regularly. From word processors and spreadsheet tools to powerful design software, here are the top free alternatives to Microsoft 365 and Adobe that you can easily replace using daily use apps.
Free Alternatives to Microsoft 365
Many businesses and individuals rely on Microsoft 365 a suite of popular tools ranging from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to plenty of others. Yet free alternatives offer close to the same tools at a fraction of the price, especially for users with modest needs.
1. Google Workspace (Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides)
Also one of the free alternatives, such as Microsoft 365 is Google Workspace (Formerly G Suite). This package contains Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides which are the same as MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint respectively. All of them, I should note, are web-based and free since you can read this as an alternative free productivity suite.
Google Docs enables users to write and edit their pitch using a simple, familiar interface (similar to Microsoft Word) with real-time collaboration features. With basic formatting options, customization in style, and voice typing too it serves better for writing as well as editing documents. Some of the advanced functions you get with Word are gone, but for most users, this is more than enough.
Google Sheets Excel is the most known powerful spreadsheet program that does complex data calculations, charts, and formulas. Sheets may not provide the advanced macros and data modeling features that are supported in Excel but is a good option for small to mid-sized uses.
Google Slides enables users to make professionally looking presentations that can compete with PowerPoint It includes lots of features, templates, animations, and collaborative functionalities while missing out on some of the more advanced customization offerings found in PowerPoint.
The cloud-based advantages of Google Workspace are one of the reasons why it has distinguished itself so well from the crowd. This is another one of the better features that will prevent you from using offline office suites because all your docs, sheets, and presentations live on Google Drive ready to be accessed by any device with internet access. Multiple users can edit this document at the same time, with changes made appearing in real time when they are saved. For those who find the MS Office suite too expensive, it is a great (cloud-based) alternative to Microsoft 365.
2. LibreOffice
LibreOffice (Free): A full-featured Microsoft Office alternative on a budget. This is a fully downloadable package such you do not need to be online before using it. The main components present in the basic version of LibreOffice are Writer (Word replacement), Calc (Excel replacement), and Impress (presentation editor at PowerPoint).
It can be compared to Microsoft Word and has some of the same functionalities such as advanced formatting options, mail merge support, and export your work in DOCX output. It has a learning curve similar to Word, therefore most users can switch without much hassle.
LibreOffice Calc is a nice spreadsheet app and has decent support for complex formulae, pivot tables, and charts. Although it does lack some of the more basic Excel features, Calc should be sufficient for most purposes that do not require advanced data analysis capabilities.
LibreOffice Impress is Function-rich presentation software with assistance for templates, animations, and transitions LibreOffice Impress is a feature-rich presentation software program that boasts compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint. It does lack the advanced effects and integrations of PowerPoint, but it is a good substitute for making effective presentations.
Given Picture: File Processing With LibreOffice [ Source ] So it’s exposed for a while, that how you may rekindle ten kinds (3 graphics ) at nearly no compromise compared to 1 variety is employed. LibreOffice is also the best free and open-source option for users.
3. OnlyOffice
OnlyOffice, working as the spirit of the Linux world, provides a web-based version and offline package that merges functionality from both GoogleWorkspace and Microsoft365 (but still has some space to go public). In a nutshell, you get word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation tools – all with an interface that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has ever touched Microsoft Office.
OnlyOffice is highlighted for compatibility with Microsoft file formats, meaning your DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files will all open smoothly. It also has real-time collaboration features in the same vein as Google Workspace and should be equally suitable for teams who need to write together on documents.
Free Alternatives to Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe / Photo editing, video creation, and graphic design tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, or Premiere Pro are industry-standard. Yet, their high costs for a subscription does turn it into a deal breaker for many. Thankfully, there are free alternatives out there that can do the same thing.
1. GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program)
Alternative to Adobe Photoshop and Other Commercial Software: GIMP Opensource Image Editor ( UTW ) Another Free and open-source Image Editor for Photo Retouching, Image Composition, and Graphic Design. Because GIMP has layers, masks, filters, and dozens of plugins you can make its functionality very similar to Photoshop which makes it the best photo editing software for digital artists.
GIMP is harder to learn than Photoshop, has a not quite as pretty interface, and some of the tools aren’t justified or as intuitive to use. But for those who object to Adobe’s typical subscription scheme, you can perform edits from simple to detailed graphic design with the kinds of tools available in GIMP.
2. Inkscape
Inkscape (freebie)- It’s a freedom to illustrator, ideal for vector graphic designing. Draw SVG is a web-based free tool that supports creating vector-based artwork like illustrations, icons, or logos. Tools within Inkscape range from pen tools to draw new paths, and advanced text and shape editing facilities, making it a possible professional-level option for design work like logos, marketing materials, or web graphics.
The only real learning curve is simply getting used to Inkscape, as any Illustrator users will adapt quickly. It is a very lightweight program and works well on just about any machine since it may not require the hardware to run Adobe-style enterprise programs.
3. DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is another fully capable free alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing. Even though the full version has professional features, it ships with professional-level video editing, color correction, and audio post-production tools that are superior when compared to what other major paid-for video editing suites offer in their trial versions.
DaVinci Resolve is pretty much good at that work, meanwhile, it’s free as well and it can feature richer paid software like Premiere Pro. Is widely used in the film industry for color grading and has a complex interface when it comes to editing videos which makes it perfect for content creators, filmmakers, and hobbyists.
Conclusion
By using free alternatives, you can replace the expensive Microsoft 365 and Adobe subscriptions at no expense of functionality. Whether considering office productivity tools or creative software, Google Workspace, LibreOffice GIMP, Inkscape, and DaVinci Resolve offer much in the way of features for most users. Turning to these free apps, you can stay productive and creative without spending money.
