After a month of using this open-source Microsoft 365 alternative, I only missed one thing

Beginning his professional journey in the tech industry in 2018, Yash spent over three years as a Software Engineer. After that, he shifted his focus to empowering readers through informative and engaging content on his tech blog – DiGiTAL BiRYANi. He has also published tech articles for MakeTechEasier. He loves to explore new tech gadgets and platforms.  When he is not writing, you’ll find him exploring food. He is known as Digital Chef Yash among his readers because of his love for Technology and Food.

Microsoft 365 has been my go-to office suite for years, but I started wondering if I really needed it all. With so many alternatives, I decided to give OnlyOffice a month to see if I couldswitch without disrupting my workflow. I wasn't expecting a perfect replacement, but I wanted to find out how much I would actually miss. After 30 days, one familiar app stood out for a reason I didn't expect.

Switching from Microsoft 365 to OnlyOffice was easy

A new office suite, familiar workflow

The first thing I noticed about OnlyOffice was how familiar everything felt. The interface uses a ribbon layout similar to Microsoft Office, so I didn't have to spend hours figuring out where the basic tools were. Most options were where I expected them to be, which made it much easier to get started.

I downloaded OnlyOffice, installed it on my Windows PC, and started using it for my regular work. The setup was straightforward, and I didn't need to change much about my existing workflow. I could open the apps, create new files, and get back to work without constantly searching for tutorials.

The best part was that OnlyOffice didn't feel like a completely different way of working. After a few days, using it started to feel natural. I expected the switch to require more adjustments, but the initial experience was surprisingly smooth.

Excel and PowerPoint were easier to leave behind

OnlyOffice handled my everyday office work

Excel was one of the apps I expected to miss, but OnlyOffice handled my everyday spreadsheet work well enough that I rarely thought about switching back. I could organize data, use formulas, sort and filter information, and manage my usual spreadsheets without much trouble. For the kind of work I do regularly, it covered most of what I needed.

PowerPoint was a similar story. I could create presentations, arrange text and images, adjust layouts, and make slides look the way I wanted. OnlyOffice's presentation editor felt straightforward, and I didn't find myself missing PowerPoint's interface or workflow as much as I expected.

Of course, I didn't test every advanced feature or push either application to its limits. Some specialized workflows may still work better in Microsoft's apps, especially when file compatibility matters. But for my regular tasks, the differences weren't significant enough to disrupt my work.

After using both editors for a few weeks, I realized I didn't need to recreate my entire Microsoft Office experience. OnlyOffice already did enough, and I was comfortable sticking with it for spreadsheets and presentations.

OnlyOffice handled my writing

But Word still felt more polished

Writing is where I spent the most time comparing OnlyOffice with Microsoft 365. As a blogger, I work with documents almost every day, so I wanted an editor that wouldn't slow me down. OnlyOffice handled my regular writing tasks well. I could draft articles, format paragraphs, adjust headings, insert links, and organize longer documents without much trouble.

But Word still felt more polished. Its familiar workflow, small conveniences, and well-established features made everyday editing feel smoother. These differences weren't always obvious on short documents, but I noticed them more with longer drafts.

I also care about how documents look when I share them with editors or open them in another office suite. Even when OnlyOffice handled a document well, I felt more confident using Word for certain formatting-heavy files. That doesn't mean OnlyOffice is bad at writing. It just means Word has a few advantages that become easier to appreciate after years of use. Still, missing those conveniences hasn't made me want to switch back. OnlyOffice does the job, and I'm getting used to the small differences.

After a month, I'm sticking with OnlyOffice

Word has its perks, but I'm staying

After spending a month with OnlyOffice, I don't feel the need to return to Microsoft 365. The experiment showed me I relied on fewer Microsoft apps than I thought. Most of my daily work continued without major changes, and that's what matters to me.

Another reason I'm happy to stick with OnlyOffice is its open-source nature. I like having access to software that isn't locked entirely behind a proprietary ecosystem. It gives me more freedom to explore how the software works, customize it where possible, and choose how I want to use it. I also appreciate having an office suite I can use without depending on a Microsoft 365 subscription for the core experience.

Of course, OnlyOffice isn't perfect, and I still miss some of Word's conveniences. But an alternative doesn't have to match every feature of the original to be useful. It just needs to handle my work well enough.

The best replacement is the one you don't want to replace

My month with OnlyOffice changed how I think about office software. Sometimes, we hold on to familiar tools simply because we've used them for years. Trying an alternative helped me see that a different app can fit just as well into my routine. Word may still have the edge, but OnlyOffice has earned its place on my desktop, and that's enough for me.