This page compares the features of LibreOffice 7.0.1 (download) and Microsoft Office 2019 / 365. It separates major and minor feature differences and also includes notes on LibreOffice extensions. The comparison highlights differences and therefore does not display any features which are present in both office suites.

The feature comparison table is continuously being updated and is work in progress. It is a compilation by users and not an official document by the Document Foundation. Please feel free to improve this page. Last update to this table was made at 15.08.2020

Major Feature Differences LibreOffice 7.0 MS Office 2019 / 365

Cross-platform availability (desktop) Yes. Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Haiku. (based on the same code base). ChromeOS via Collabora Office Partial. Windows and macOS. Windows and macOS versions have some document format compatibility problems, somewhat different feature sets and differences in the user interface; macOS version does not include the database application MS Access, does not include MS Publisher, and also lacks a number of other features (see below). Feature inconsistencies/differences in Windows versions, between "MS Office 2019" sales version and the "Office 365" rental version: some features are being subsequently included only in the rental version (newly added features also differ between macOS and MS Windows) leading to inconsistencies in the feature set (see below).

Supported versions of MS Windows Yes. Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2008, Server 2012, Server 2016. ([1]). Versions until LibreOffice 5.4 still also support Windows XP SP3, Vista. Yes. MS Office 2019 sales version: Windows 10; Server 2019. MS Office 365 rental version: Windows 7 SP1, 8.1, 10, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server 2016 ([2]).

Supported versions of macOS Yes. 10.10+ (Yosemite). ([3]). Yes. The newest three versions. ([4])

Portable version that runs on USB flash disks (without installation) Yes (download) No

Open Source Yes, licensed under MPLv2 and others. No, proprietary and closed-source

Full integration of all office components Yes. From within each office component, files of all other components can be opened and be newly created. Central StartCenter with access to office modules, recently used files and templates. No

Availability free of charge Yes (download, donate) No, proprietary software to purchase or rent. When subscription for the rental version ends, applications enter read-only mode (view or print) and no new documents can be created. The purchase-version is a perpetual license. One-month trial version available for the rental version (but not for the one-time purchase version).

Extension availability Yes. Complex ecosystem of extensions (over 390 on extensions.libreoffice.org and over 800 on extensions.openoffice.org), including automatic updates. Partial. Partly, no centralized extension system for add-ons and macros. Microsoft AppSource for Office 365. [5] Office Apps not supported on macOS.

Support of (RTL) languages (e.g. Arabic) and other complex scripts Yes. Comprehensive support, based on text shaping library Yes. Supported on Windows, mobile and online versions and macOS.

Support of complex languages and special smart-font features (ligatures, true small caps, old style numbers, proportional or mono-spaced numbers, capital spacing, and true superscript/subscript) Partial. Full support of SIL Graphite font technology ([14],[15]) and full support of OpenType optional features ([16],[17],[18]) by syntax and UI (tdf#58941). See also LibreOffice Smart Font HowTo. Support for Apple Advanced Typography (AAT) available on all platforms. Interoperability: No support for optional OpenType features in OOXML, and ODF 1.2 doesn’t provide OpenType optional features support (support scheduled for ODF later) Partial. Limited via OpenType supporting ligatures, stylistic sets, number spacing options, number forms, and contextual alternates. [19] Support for optional OpenType features in OOXML.

Support of font variation Partial. Limited support for font rendering on screen, no support for printing and PDF export. tdf#108497 Partial. Limited support for font rendering on screen, no support for printing and PDF export.

Easy access to vector clip art Yes via LO Gallery (clipart extensions ([20] or [21])). Extension for the integration of clipart from OpenClipart.org. Additional toolbar control to insert Emojis (experimental: tdf#100100) Partial. Selection of clip art is asking for search with Bing in Online Pictures. Extended selection of "icons". Access to stock photos (Not available in MS Office 2019 sales versions)

Macro scripting languages Yes. Multiple languages, support for wide variety of languages (LibreOffice Basic, JavaScript, BeanShell, and Python). Import and export of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), see ([22] and the release notes). Partial. Single language, support for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Indirectly also Visual Basic or Visual C# by using automation.

CMIS protocol support to access Document Management Systems Yes. Support for Alfresco, Google GDrive, Nuxeo, MS SharePoint, MS OneDrive, IBM FileNet Lotus Live Files, Lotus Quickr Domino, OpenDataSpace, and OpenText ELS. (tdf#62437) Partial. Inbuilt support only for MS SharePoint and MS OneDrive

Support of ISO standards Yes. Advanced support, ODF v1.3 extended Partial. Limited support in MS Windows version, and online version, ODF v1.2. Support of ODF in macOS version and mobile versions (Android, iOS, Windows 10 Mobile) are limited and require the use of an online file format conversion service. [23] [24] [25]

PDF export extended options Yes. Multiple options (Additional options: Tagged PDF, , detailed image settings, Hybrid PDF, transition effects, extended security and permission options, PDF forms, initial view settings, extended handling of URLs, digital signatures, and PDF signatures according to standard). Support for font embedding of all font types (incl. OpenType CFF fonts (.otf)). Support for PDF/A-2 standard. Support for PDF/UA (universal accessibility) standard (experimental in 7.0). Partial. High or low quality PDF, page and markup to print in Access, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint [26]; pictures resolution and non-printing informations in Publisher. No support for font embedding of OpenType CFF fonts in PDF export [27].

Document classification Yes. Document classification in Writer, Calc, and Impress according to TSCP-standards (also with multiple policies). See: [28] and [29]. Partial. No inbuilt document classification system, but Information Rights Management (IRM) supported

Import of SVG vector graphics (.svg, .svgz) Yes Yes, .svg files supported

Import of Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) vector graphics (.eps) Yes (with some rendering issues: tdf#81497, tdf#67464) No. Support for .eps images entirely removed in Office 2019 and rental version ([30]. In Office 2016 sales version, it was [31]) turned off by default due to security issues, but could be manually enabled via Windows registry. There were general rendering issues of .eps files in PDF export ([32]).

Insert PDF as an image into documents Yes ([33]) No

Creation of Hybrid PDFs (ODF file embedded in PDF for full editing) Yes No

Import from raster graphics software: Adobe Photoshop (.psd) Yes No

Import from vector graphics / DTP software: CorelDraw (v1-X7), Corel Presentation Exchange, Adobe/Macromedia Freehand (v3-11), Adobe PageMaker, Zoner/Callisto Draw (.zmf), QuarkXPress 3.1 to 4.1 Yes No

Import of MS Visio files Yes. Supported (Visio 2000-2013) No (only via MS Visio which is not part of MS Office)

Import of video and audio formats FLAC Audio (.flac), Flash Video (.flv), Matroska Media (.mkv), OGG Audio, Ogg Video, Quicktime Video, WebM Video, Real Audio (.ra), Real Media (.rm), Digital Video (.dv), Audio Codec (.ac3), and Ogg Opus (.opus) Yes No

Drawing and vector graphics software Yes. LibreOffice Draw, drawing and vector graphics software that supports pages (up to 300cm x 300cm), layers, numerous drawing tools and DTP features. Partial. MS Powerpoint provides some features of a drawing software.

PIM and email software No. Not part of LibreOffice, referring to alternative PIM software such as Mozilla Thunderbird. See the comparison on this wiki: Mozilla Thunderbird vs. Microsoft Outlook. Mail Merge Wizard sends out emails directly from LibreOffice without email software. LibreOffice-wide access to address books via Base. Yes. MS Outlook

Desktop publishing (DTP) software Partial. Writer supports many advanced DTP features (see section on Writer in this comparison table). Draw supports frame-based DTP features. Import of MS Publisher files (and from other DTP software) in Draw. Yes. MS Publisher

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) feature set Partial. The BASIC Integrated Development Environment (IDE) does not have: 1. Refactoring facilities (Renaming affects dependencies/Extract Method/Extract interface etc.) (tdf#92251, tdf#94524, tdf#94526, tdf#94527, tdf#94528, tdf#94529, tdf#94530); 2. Intellisense (or any other code completion functionality) such as auto-code-completion and showing the properties and methods of an object (tdf#66185); 3. Error checking (the IDE actually knows its symbols). Yes. Supported with Visual Basic for Applications and/or additional purchase of Office Developer Tools for Visual Studio (Windows-only). macOS version only supports a simplified Visual Basic Editor.

Import & Export of Microsoft OOXML files Partial. Good and extended support of real life OOXML files (e.g. .xlsx, .docx, .pptx), standardized (transitional) OOXML files, as well as import of OOXML-strict files. [34] Yes. Advanced support of transitional (default) and strict OOXML files

PDF Import Partial, into Draw and Writer with the limitation that text is imported line-based (tdf#32249). Yes, into MS Word

Synchronous collaborative editing Partial. Collaborative editing in LibreOffice online version (Writer, Calc and Impress). Not available in the desktop applications (tdf#133984), see development information: Collaborative Editing and Track changes. Yes. Supported in online versions of MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Support in desktop applications via OneDrive or MS Sharepoint. Support in desktop applications varies: Real-time "co-authoring" in MS Word, Powerpoint, and MS Excel (only via AutoSave) (not supported in MS Powerpoint and MS Excel in MS Office 2019 sales version; MS Powerpoint 2019 sales version only allows for co-authoring (syncing after saving file). Simplified "sharing" of office documents in MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint via OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint. AutoSave feature, which automatically saves every few seconds, is supported in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint, if files are stored on OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online (Not available in MS Office 2019 sales versions on macOS and Windows. Real-time collaboration for MS Word supported in MS Office 2019 sales version on Windows).

User interface improved to enable use on touch screen devices on desktop operating systems. No (tdf#102015) Partial. Slightly adjusted user interface for touch screen devices, but no redesign.

Keyboard driven menu system (search function to better find features in office suite). No. Only via help system. On Ubuntu Unity support for Head-Up-Display (HUD) system. (tdf#91874) Yes. Tell Me search bar.

Accessibility checker No. Accessibility checker and support for PDF/UA (as experimental feature in 7.0) ReleaseNotes/7.0#Accessibility_improvements [52]. Extension for text documents: AccessODF. Yes [53], [54]

Chat with other authors (collaborative editing) No. Yes. In-app chat with co-authors for shared files on SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business. Not supported for OneDrive Consumer or any other storage location. Non-persistent chat (history not preserved; new users see only newly incoming messages). (Not supported in MS Office 2019 sales version; not supported on Android and iOS). [55].

Integration of instant Messaging (IM), voice, video, or screen sharing. No. Yes. Skype integration (not supported in macOS version).

Dictation / speech recognition No Yes in MS Word, MS Powerpoint, MS Outlook. Voice audio is sent to Microsoft cloud servers and returned as text. (Not supported in MS Office 2019 sales versions)

Inserting and editing 3D models No (previous support in Impress for glTF (.dae/.kmz) 3D models removed in version 6.0) Yes in Powerpoint, Word, and Excel. Insert animated 3D graphics in Powerpoint, Word, and Excel (Supported in Windows rental version, not supported in MS Office sales versions.)

Support of color fonts No Yes [56]

Support of math fonts No (tdf#103680), workaround using TexMaths extension with XeLaTeX compiler. [57] Yes

Minor Feature Differences LibreOffice 7.0 MS Office 2019 / 365

Generation of QR codes Yes. In Impress, Draw, Writer and Calc No

Import of graphics formats DXF, MET, PBM, PCD, PCX, PGM, PPM, PPM, RAS, SGF, SVM, TGA, XBM, XPM Yes No

Import of Classic Mac OS legacy vector and bitmap graphics formats: BeagleWorks, ClarisWorks, GreatWorks, MacPaint, MacWorks, SuperPaint, MacDraw, MacDraw II, RagTime for Mac 2-3, ClarisDraw, MacDraft Yes No

Import of additional video and audio formats: CD Audio, Vivo Video. Yes No

Drawing features: Arrow endings Yes. Substantially wider selection, including Crow’s feet notation No. Less supported arrow endings

Document converter wizard Yes No

Euro currency converter wizard Yes No

Expert config to access a multitude of settings from UI Yes No

Support for multiple color palette formats: Gimp (.gpl), Adobe Swatch Exchange (.ase), LibreOffice/Apache OpenOffice (.soc) Yes (note: tdf#92354) No

Import MathML formula from clipboard Yes No

Import of StarOffice binary file formats .sdc, .sda, .sdw Partial. Basic support No

Digital signatures / Signature Line Yes. Multiple signatures, including OOXML signatures. Round-trip with MS Office problematic (tdf#58442, tdf#58476). Import/export of PDF signatures. Support of standard (XML Advanced Electronic Signatures) and OpenPGP keys. Additional support of ECDSA keys (on Linux and macOS). Additional (experimental) support for OpenPGP-based document encryption. Yes (OOXML/XML-DSig and XAdES signatures)

Convert SVG image to shapes / polygon Yes. Conversion supported in LO Draw. Additionally opening SVG files directly as shapes is supported in LO Draw. (tdf#115571) Yes

Enhanced list of recent files and folders Partial (tdf#61174, tdf#60743). Option to clear list of recent documents. Selectively delete Recent Documents (in StartCenter) Yes (option to set recent files as permanent)

Custom colours in formula editor Yes. Set of 16 colours and RGB personalized colors (tdf#40436) Yes

Shortcut keys for accented Latin characters No (tdf#71176), workaround using Unicode conversion, see Unicode character input with Alt+X Partial. Limited support

Inserting audio / video / pictures from online sources No (tdf#42246). Work-around: Download of online video and embed it in presentation (incl. Flash videos) Partial [58] Insert online pictures in Word, Excel, Powerpoint.

Collaboration with @mentions in comments No Yes, in PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook. Supported in rental version, not supported in MS Office sales versions.[59]

Quick access to email attachments No Yes, "Shared with me" feature in PowerPoint, Excel, Word.

Streaming of office applications/office on demand No (possible via third party services) Yes ([60])

Ink drawings / annotations (e.g. on touch- and pen-enabled devices) No (tdf#35092), (only support for import of existing ink annotations from MS Word file format) Yes. Several pens, highlighters, colors and color effects, and pencils for inking to draw/annotate/highlight. Lasso Select (free-form tool for selecting ink). Ink replay feature (Not supported in macOS version)

Recognition of shapes from ink drawings No Yes. [61] supported in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint

Recognition of text from ink drawings No Yes. [62] Conversion of ink to shapes in MS Powerpoint and MS Word (Not supported in MS Office 2019 sales version and only available on Windows 10; not supported in macOS sales version)

Automatic background removal of a picture No (tdf#103424) Yes. Supported in MS Windows version (not supported in macOS version)

Live preview while formatting No (tdf#37048) Yes

Inserting a screenshot from within applications No Yes

Import of graphics formats: MEZ, EMZ, WMZ, PCZ No (tdf#103954) Yes

Export to No Yes