I’ve recently switched to Linux (Debian Bookworm) because I was tired of all the bullshits I had to deal with when using Windows, especially when developing software.

Now I really have to use MS Office applications for my school. Libreoffice is good but not completely compatible with MSOffice, like I can’t use the log graph in the template provided. And their web apps are nearly unusable (especially with Firefox and its variants) , so I need desktop versions.

I can use VM maybe but I don’t want to pay for the Windows license.

How do you guys manage to open MS files appropriately?

  • Vittelius
    21·
    20 hours ago

    I never had a problem with LibreOffice. But I also never encountered a situation at school where “advanced” MS office features where required. So, pure luck, I guess.

    That being said, LO is not the only the only office suite for Linux. All of these have better MS Office support than LO:

    • OnlyOffice: for the most part web based, but there is also a desktop app that wraps the web app into a local container. Free & open source, integrates with nextcloud.
    • SoftMaker Office: Proprietary, paid solution, that advertises with having the best MS compatibility on the market. Based in Germany. Usually €99, currently €70 (or a €30 annual subscription)
    • FreeOffice: Free but proprietary. Feature reduced version of SoftMaker Office (Comparison)
    • WPS Office: Free but proprietary. Chinese, I had some problems with it when I last tried it to install years ago. Maybe they fixed them since, IDK