Cutting Costs with LibreOffice: Ditching Microsoft 365 for a Free Alternative

A consumer writer explains switching from Microsoft 365 to the free, open-source LibreOffice to save money. LibreOffice runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, includes familiar apps (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math), stores documents locally with optional encryption, and emphasizes privacy, but lacks native cloud collaboration and a polished mobile app, can face compatibility quirks with complex documents shared with Microsoft 365, and offers extensive customization via extensions. Overall, it’s a strong value for personal use and budgeting, with trade-offs for work or cloud-based workflows.