OpenOffice vs MobiOffice: Which Productivity Suite Reigns Supreme?

Two popular choices stand out in your endless list of Microsoft Office alternatives: OpenOffice and MobiOffice. Both promise robust productivity, but which one best fits your needs?

We've decided to save you some time, with this guide we'll break down each suite's word processor, spreadsheet, presentation maker, PDF reader, and premium features.

What makes a good office software?

So, what are the key aspects to consider, whether you’re comparing OpenOffice, MobiOffice, or any other suite?

Grab a pen, and let’s dive in:

User experience

Are you after a feature-rich tool like Microsoft Office or a lightweight alternative?

The software you select should offer a seamless experience (ideally mimicking Microsoft Office) with intuitive, easy-to-navigate interfaces.

Features

A basic word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation maker are essential, but options like intelligent document search or real-time edits can elevate your productivity.

Collaboration

Cloud-based options are ideal for real-time co-editing, document sharing, and integrated communication systems, enabling teams to work from different locations.

Format and device compatibility

Whether you're using Windows, Mac, or mobile, cross-device support ensures seamless document access, editing, and sharing across your organization’s devices and file types.

Privacy

Choose a program that prioritizes data protection with encryption, access controls, and secure cloud storage.

Is Microsoft Office the best you can get?

Yes, we know that Microsoft Office has dominated the productivity suite landscape, ever since forever.

But there are plenty of alternatives that may be worthwhile if you're looking for a:

• More cost-friendly solution: Microsoft Office can be pricey for individuals or small businesses.

• Less complex ecosystem: Microsoft Office’s features can be too complicated for some.

• Better compatibility: While Microsoft Office is widely used, some need a more compatible choice (looking at you, Mac and Linux users).

Who is open source software for?

The open-source software is community-driven, designed, and maintained through open collaboration.

Apache OpenOffice, for example, is a popular open-source suite, ideal for home, school, government, or business needs. It is used across the government, education, nonprofit, and business sectors.

OpenOffice vs MobiOffice head to head

Get ready for the ultimate showdown between OpenOffice and MobiOffice. Let’s jump right in!

Word processor

OpenOffice Writer is a full-featured word processor that makes all your documents look polished with:

• Wizards: Simplifies creating templates for standard documents like letters or faxes, while customizable templates are available in the Templates repository.

• Styles and Formatting: Makes professional style sheets accessible, allowing you to easily set and change styles.

• AutoCorrect: Catches typos instantly, supports different languages, and even offers AutoComplete suggestions for frequently used words and phrases.

• Multi-page Display: When you're working on large documents; its notes feature color-coded comments from different users, showing when each edit was made.

Publish documents directly to HTML, PDF, and MediaWiki formats, and save files in OpenDocument (.odt), Google Docs, or Microsoft Office Word formats.

MobiDocs offers an intuitive, cross-platform word processor, designed to streamline your work.

• User-friendly interface: Advanced formatting and editing options make creating and sharing professional documents a breeze.

• Collaboration: MobiDocs enables real-time commenting, tracks changes from multiple accounts, and generates download links for seamless file sharing.

• Cross-platform design: Switch between your PC (Windows, Mac, etc.) and mobile devices effortlessly, with secure cloud storage (up to 50GB) ensuring you can view your documents anywhere, anytime.

• Powerful features: Including spell check, PDF exporting, advanced printing options, and more, making it a versatile choice for both individual and team-based work.

With MobiDocs, you can easily work with Microsoft Word, iWork Pages, Google Docs, and more.

Presentation software

OpenOffice Impress is a robust presentation tool that brings your ideas to life with eye-catching multimedia features.

• Create memorable presentations: With 2D and 3D clip art, drawing tools, Fontworks for 3D text effects, dynamic special effects, and animations.

• Master pages: Simplify the design process, prepare materials quickly, and download ready-made templates from the OpenOffice Templates repository.

• Multiple views: Presenter Screen helps you keep track of notes, timing, and upcoming slides while presenting.

Impress supports a range of formats, from OpenDocument (.odp), Google Slides to Microsoft Office PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), and even Flash (.swf).

MobiSlides is an intuitive platform designed to help you create your professional and engaging presentation with ease.

• Customization: Jump into the editor to add media and effects or customize layouts.

• Slide master feature: Format multiple slides at once, keeping your presentation visually consistent and polished.

• Smooth presentation delivery: With MobiSlides, you can confidently add transitions, rehearse timings, and utilize the presenter view.

• Free cloud storage: Save and present on the go, even casting directly from Android or iOS devices.

MobiSlides works seamlessly with PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, etc.

Spreadsheets

OpenOffice Calc is a user-friendly spreadsheet tool. Its intuitive layout makes it easy for newcomers to get started, while experts will find a robust suite of functions at their fingertips.

• DataPilot feature: Pull data from corporate databases, cross-tabulate, and transform raw information into meaningful insights.

• Natural language formulas: Write expressions using everyday terms (e.g., “sales - costs”).

Calc supports OpenDocument format (.ods) and can also handle Excel (.xls, .xlsx) files, and is compatible with Microsoft Office.

MobiSheets is a versatile spreadsheet application. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced analyst, MobiSheets empowers you to explore data effortlessly with pivot tables, data validation, and over 280 built-in formulas.

• Pivot tables: An efficient way to summarize and present data, making MobiSheets a great choice for business users who rely on data-driven decisions.

• Visualization options: From conditional formatting to over 30 chart designs and customizable styles, MobiSheets helps make numbers more accessible.

• Free cloud storage: Your files are safely stored and can be accessed online or offline, offering flexibility and security.

MobiSheets supports various formats including Excel and CSV, so you can share, comment, and secure your work from unauthorized edits.

PDF files

OpenOffice offers PDF export functionality across its suite, even though it doesn’t have a dedicated PDF reader.

Its Writer tool allows you to create PDFs directly from documents. Export options include a range of customization and security settings, enabling you to tailor PDFs for various uses.

In Calc, the PDF export feature makes secure data-sharing quick and easy.

MobiPDF provides a complete PDF suite, designed for smooth editing, creation, and conversion. The all-in-one PDF tool's interface is optimized for efficiency and ease of use.

• Built-in preview mode: To merge multiple PDFs and images into one file, split and rearrange pages, or extract sections.

• Available on desktop and mobile: For mobile productivity, the MobiPDF app allows you to scan, sign, and share PDF files directly from your phone.

• Conversions: Exporting PDFs to other formats, such as Word or images, is simple and retains original quality.

Advanced features

OpenOffice includes two powerful tools:

• Math: a dedicated tool to create mathematical equations.

• Base: a database management system, designed for personal use to corporate-level reporting.

MobiDrive, MobiOffice’s cloud service, offers 20GB of free storage and is compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Box.

Conclusion

When choosing between OpenOffice and MobiOffice, the best office software for you ultimately depends on your unique needs – whether you prioritize open-source flexibility or prefer a suite with mobile-friendly features and cloud integration.

OpenOffice offers robust tools for those seeking a cost-effective, open-source option, while MobiOffice provides advanced features like real-time collaboration and cross-platform compatibility.

Try MobiOffice today to see how it can enhance your productivity!