Review: LibreOffice 24.8 vs Microsoft Office on Ubuntu

LibreOffice 24.8 is one of the strongest office suites available to Ubuntu users who want a complete desktop productivity package without a subscription. It includes Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base and Math, supports common Microsoft file formats, and runs locally without requiring an internet connection. Microsoft Office remains the reference point for compatibility and business collaboration, but its desktop applications do not have a native Linux version.

That makes this comparison slightly different from a standard software review. On Ubuntu, Microsoft Office usually means Microsoft 365 in a web browser, a Windows installation inside a virtual machine, or an unofficial compatibility layer such as Wine or CrossOver. LibreOffice, by contrast, is a genuine Linux application designed to integrate with the desktop.

For students, home users, sole traders and small teams in Australia, the best choice depends on the documents they receive, the cloud services they use and how heavily they rely on advanced Excel or Word features. LibreOffice 24.8 offers excellent value and privacy, while Microsoft Office still has the smoother experience for organisations built around OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams and complex Office templates.

What The Comparison Really Means

LibreOffice 24.8 is a traditional desktop office suite. Writer handles word processing, Calc covers spreadsheets, and Impress is used for presentations. The applications open quickly, work offline and save files in OpenDocument formats by default. They can also read and write DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files, which makes the suite practical for exchanging documents with Microsoft Office users.

Microsoft Office on Ubuntu is more complicated. Microsoft 365 in a browser provides Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive access, but the web versions are lighter than their Windows and macOS counterparts. A virtual machine can run the full desktop suite, although it consumes additional memory and storage. Wine-based solutions may work for selected Office releases, but they can require troubleshooting after updates and are not ideal for a business-critical setup.

This distinction matters for an Ubuntu user in Melbourne, Perth or regional New South Wales. LibreOffice gives you a native application that behaves like the rest of the Linux desktop. Microsoft 365 gives you the strongest connection to Microsoft’s online ecosystem, but you will generally be working through a browser or managing a second operating system.

Documents And File Compatibility

Writer is very capable for letters, reports, assignments and basic publishing. Its styles, headers, footers, footnotes, tables and export-to-PDF tools are mature. It also opens most ordinary Word documents with little effort. For a résumé, school newsletter or household letter, the visual difference between Writer and Word is usually minor.

The trouble starts with documents that contain elaborate templates, embedded objects, unusual fonts or intricate tracked changes. A DOCX file may open correctly while shifting a line break, changing table spacing or moving an image to another page. These issues are less common with simple documents and more noticeable in legal, government or corporate templates that have been edited repeatedly.

Australian workplaces often exchange files with councils, property managers, schools and government departments using Microsoft formats. A form prepared in Sydney may look perfect in Writer, then move slightly when opened on a colleague’s Windows PC using a corporate template. Installing the same fonts on Ubuntu can reduce these differences, but it cannot reproduce every Microsoft rendering detail.

For dependable sharing, save a working copy in ODT and export a final, fixed version as PDF when the recipient does not need to edit it. If the recipient specifically requires DOCX, open the exported file once in a recent Microsoft Office installation or Microsoft 365 browser session before sending it. This small check catches layout problems before they become embarrassing.

Spreadsheets Presentations And Advanced Features

Calc is a strong alternative to Excel for budgets, lists, calculations and many small-business tasks. It supports formulas, filters, charts, conditional formatting, named ranges and pivot-style analysis. Its interface is familiar enough for people moving from older versions of Excel, and its local performance is excellent on modest Ubuntu hardware.

Compatibility becomes more sensitive with complex workbooks. Excel users may rely on VBA macros, Power Query, specialised add-ins, external data connections or newer functions that Calc handles differently or does not support fully. Spreadsheet formatting can also change when a workbook uses fonts, chart behaviours or features specific to Excel. A simple household budget is a safe use case; an accountant’s interconnected reporting model is not.

This matters for Australian small businesses using Xero, MYOB or custom Excel templates for GST calculations and BAS preparation. LibreOffice can be useful for exporting data, checking figures and maintaining straightforward records, but it should not be treated as a drop-in replacement for every finance workflow. Keep the original workbook untouched and test calculations against the software your accountant or bookkeeper uses.

Impress is suitable for lectures, community meetings and ordinary business presentations. It supports slide layouts, speaker notes, transitions and common media formats. PowerPoint files generally open well, although complex animations, embedded video and branded corporate themes may need adjustment. Presenters heading to a conference in Brisbane or a meeting in Canberra should export a PDF backup and test the presentation on the actual venue equipment.

Cloud Workflows And Collaboration

Microsoft Office has a clear advantage when several people edit the same file in real time. Microsoft 365 connects Word, Excel and PowerPoint with OneDrive and SharePoint, while Teams provides a familiar hub for messages, meetings and shared documents. Browser-based collaboration is polished, and file versioning is easy to understand for users already working in that environment.

LibreOffice has collaboration options, but the experience depends on the server behind it. A file stored on Nextcloud, ownCloud or another WebDAV service can be opened and synchronised, yet simultaneous editing is not as seamless as Microsoft 365’s browser workflow. LibreOffice Online and related hosted products exist, although they are separate services rather than features included automatically with the desktop suite.

That difference is important for distributed Australian teams working across Adelaide, Darwin and the Gold Coast, where internet quality and company infrastructure can vary. Microsoft 365 is convenient when a business has already paid for licences and built its processes around Teams. LibreOffice is more attractive when staff need local control, offline access or a low-cost setup that does not depend on a particular vendor.

Ubuntu users comparing wider Linux software choices can also browse independent software coverage alongside documentation and community reviews. The useful question is whether a tool supports the way a team already stores, shares and approves files, rather than whether it simply includes the same number of buttons as Office.

Installation Performance And Cost

Installing LibreOffice on Ubuntu is straightforward. Most Ubuntu releases include it in the standard software repositories, though the available version can vary according to the release and update policy. Users who specifically need the 24.8 branch can consider an official LibreOffice package or a supported distribution format, but mixing packages from several sources can create maintenance problems.

Once installed, LibreOffice starts quickly on ordinary laptops and works without an account, activation prompt or subscription. It is comfortable on older hardware with a solid-state drive and adequate memory. Large spreadsheets and image-heavy documents still require resources, but there is no browser tab, cloud session or Windows virtual machine competing for them.

Microsoft 365 can be economical for people who already subscribe through work or family plans. Its browser applications require less local setup and keep documents available from different devices. However, an Ubuntu user who wants the full desktop experience may need a separate Windows licence, a virtual machine and enough hardware to run both systems smoothly. CrossOver can simplify some Windows application installations, but it adds another paid layer and cannot guarantee perfect Office compatibility.

For an Australian household, the price calculation includes more than the advertised subscription. Consider Australian-dollar pricing, GST, whether several family members need access, and whether OneDrive storage is already part of the plan. LibreOffice has no licence fee, which is especially appealing for a refurbished laptop, a community group or a student trying to keep ongoing costs down.

Which Ubuntu Users Should Choose

LibreOffice 24.8 is the better choice for everyday offline work, privacy-conscious users and people who mainly create documents, budgets and presentations. It is also a good fit for schools, clubs and small organisations that need a capable office suite without recurring fees. Its PDF export, broad format support and native Linux performance make it much more than a basic substitute.

Microsoft Office remains the safer choice when document fidelity is essential. Users who exchange sophisticated spreadsheets, depend on VBA macros, collaborate constantly in SharePoint or need exact compatibility with a company’s Word templates will spend less time troubleshooting inside Microsoft’s ecosystem. On Ubuntu, the most reliable route is usually Microsoft 365 in a browser or Windows in a virtual machine, rather than an unsupported desktop installation through Wine.

There is also a practical middle ground. Use LibreOffice for local writing, calculations and PDF creation, then access Microsoft 365 for a shared workbook or a document that must retain Office-specific formatting. This approach avoids installing a full Windows environment while preserving access to the services a workplace may require.

LibreOffice 24.8 earns a strong recommendation as the default office suite for Ubuntu. It is fast, free, capable and respectful of local files. Microsoft Office still wins the compatibility and collaboration contest, but that advantage is most valuable to users already tied to Microsoft formats and cloud services. For everyone else, LibreOffice delivers the more natural Linux experience.

A sensible next step is to install LibreOffice 24.8, open three real files you use regularly—a DOCX document, an XLSX workbook and a PPTX presentation—and check their layout and formulas before moving your daily work across.