The best free word processor 2017

[sincity]

You might be able to manage without a spreadsheet application or a tool for making slideshows, but everyone needs a good word processor. Thankfully, there’s no need to pay for this essential software – there are excellent tools available to download and use completely free

Here we’re looking at word processors that can be used offline (particularly useful for distraction-free writing), but there are also several browser-based tools to consider. Google Docs is the most obvious choice, and has the advantage of saving your work automatically so you don’t have to worry about losing large amounts if your connection fails. It’s also a good choice for collaborative working, and means you don’t have to upload work to a separate cloud storage service to access it from different devices. However, it has a limited selection of templates, there’s no way to import content from other Google applications, and any online tool is going to be surrounded by tempting distractions like social media.

With that in mind, here’s our pick of the best word processors for Windows.

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WyheCFY6FEf6avu3uv6Jgi.jpg

1. WPS Office Writer

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png

We can’t believe it’s not Word – WPS Office Writer is the ultimate free word processor

If you’ve used a modern version of Microsoft Word, there’ll be no learning curve at all when you switch to WPS Office Writer. This free word processor looks and behaves almost exactly like its premium counterpart, and even has its own equivalent of OneDrive, offering 1GB free cloud storage.

Its selection of pre-installed templates gives you everything you need for common document types, and you can easily create your own for bespoke tasks. It’s compatible with every text file format you can think of, including current and legacy versions of Microsoft Word dating back to Office 97.

WPS Office Writer is supported by discrete ads, which can be removed by upgrading to the premium version, but they’re barely noticeable and no features are locked behind a paywall. Overall, WPS Writer is very impressive, and in our opinion it’s the best free word processor available to download today.

WPS has just launched a free PDF to Word converter as well, which is a great companion for its word processor.

Download here: WPS Office Free

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dBtDAsVz6Ce3DtBBY6z2iJ.jpg

 2. LibreOffice Writer or Apache OpenOffice Writer 

All-singing, all-dancing word processors for any kind of text-based work

LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice, and although there are some differences between the two suites (LibreOffice receives more frequent updates, for example, and has a more lively userbase), their word processing components are so similar, we’re listing them together.

Both versions of Writer are feature-packed analogs of Microsoft Word, packed with all the features you could possibly need for any kind of text-based work. 

The two versions of Writer include wizards and templates for common document types, such as invoices and letters, and it’s easy to create your own templates for future use as well. The word processors also work together with the other office software in their respective suites – so you can use Base to create a bibliography, for example.

Both word processors support all the most popular file formats, and can export documents to PDF without the need for additional software. If you’re looking for a word processor that can stand in for Microsoft Word, either of these two will be a perfect candidate.

Download here: LibreOffice

Download here: Apache OpenOffice

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QEkR6xYMV7AcAZR5ixQRAX.jpg

3. FocusWriter

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png

The ideal word processor for first drafts, with no distractions or fussy formatting

If you simply want to hammer out some words without worrying about formatting, you could just use Windows’ built-in Notepad app, but FocusWriter is full of clever tools that will help you maximise productivity without ever getting in the way.

As the name implies, FocusWriter’s goal is to block out all distractions so you can give that all-important first draft your full attention. In normal use, all you see is a blank page – toolbars are only visible if you move your mouse pointer to the edge of the screen – but there’s a killer feature in Focused Text, which fades everything into the background except the paragraph or sentence youn’re currently writing.

FocusWriter also features alerts that are triggered at certain times, or when you’ve reached a predefined word count, so you don’t need to worry about watching a counter (as you would in Microsoft Word). This also makes FocusWriter a good tool to use in tandem with the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working hard for a period of time that’s long enough for you to work productively, but not so long that you become fatigued, then taking a timed break.

It’s not suitable for editing, but for productivity, FocusWriter is hard to beat.

Download here: FocusWriter

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7EGpx8CwTBfXBgCNpj3kR9.jpg

4. FreeOffice TextMaker

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png

Another great looking and feature-filled word processor, but it can't save in DOCX format

TextMaker – the word processing element of SoftMaker FreeOffice – is good looking, and comes with several handy templates for creating letters and other everyday documents. The selection isn’t as extensive as some of its rivals’, but you can also make new designs for future use and save them in TMV format.

All the features you’d expect from a modern word processor are present and correct, including advanced formatting, databases for bibliographies and footnotes, and the ability to track changes in collaborative projects.

The only real drawback of FreeOffice TextMaker is its inability to save your work in DOCX format (though you can open and edit these files with no difficulty). This feature is limited to the premium version of SoftMaker Office, which retails for £48.20 (about US$60, AU$75). 

Download here: SoftMaker FreeOffice

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c6BCvNcLyivijUB3sBUsnW.jpg

5. WriteMonkey

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png

Productivity-focused word processing with quick keyboard shortcuts for all the essentials

WriteMonkey is another no-frills word processor designed to help you maximize your output without fussing with editing and formatting. It’s not intended for documents like letters or CVs, but is great for committing early ideas to paper (or screen) so you have the raw material to develop later.

Unlike FocusWriter, which is compatible with all the most common text formats (including Microsoft’s DOC and DOCX), WriteMonkey only works with TXT files, so you’ll have to convert any works in progress before opening them. WriteMonkey’s hidden controls are tricker to navigate, too – everything is accessed via a large right-click menu, or a vast collection of keyboard shortcuts.

That said, if you’re happy to commit those shortcuts to memory, you’ll find WriteMonkey faster to use than toolbar-based alternatives.

We also like the ability to look words up in Wikipedia, Google Images, Poetry.com, Answers.com, and many others without opening a browser winder manually and leaving yourself open to the temptations of Twitter and Facebook.

WriteMonkey is a portable app, so there’s no need to install it – just extract all the downloaded files to a removable drive or cloud storage service, and you can use it on any PC by opening the file WriteMonkey.exe.

Download here: WriteMonkey

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/efH4RY4w8C8

[Fiona]

Get the best test EX294 dumps at a wonderful limited cost. Purchase your Red Hat Certified Engineer RedHat EX294 Dumps Questions and Answers now with Coupon Code SAVE20 and you will get a 20% limit and get ready EX294 questions best for the RedHat EX294 Dumps Questions and Answers. By purchasing different wellsprings of RedHat EX294 practice questions status material, they never guarantee the most recent EX294 questions updates to be spoken to on schedule