Microsoft Word Reviews (2024)

Catherine

Pros

Microsoft Word is very intuitive to use and if you should struggle with any aspect of it use, the help function is comprehensive and easy to use. The huge range of templates available and the thorough spelling/grammar checks mean that anyone can produce professional looking documents. Mail merge is very easy to use and very useful for large scale communications. Frequent updates mean that functions and user experience are continually improving.

Cons

Microsoft office is quite expensive, yet you do get good value for money. The interface is a bit dated - but if it ain't broke, why fix it?

Alternatives Considered

WPS Office

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft Word

Additional functionality

Switched From

LibreOffice

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

Additional functionality and unrivalled reputation for reliability.

Przemek

Pros

Modern versions of Microsoft Word are simply amazing. They feel light and clean. There is a plethora of options and functions neatly organised and easily accessible.
there are a lot of resources to browse when you need help.

Cons

I do not really like Microsoft support system. Whenever you speak to the agents they always tell you the same thing, sometimes completely irrelevant and it is much easier to find support on your own online.

Verified Reviewer

Pros

Word outshines Google Docs or other alternatives in many ways. My favorites include being able to jointly review a document using Track Changes and comments, being able to save and re-use phrases/paragraphs in Quick Parts, being able to copy and paste font style using Format Painter, using the Find and Replace tool to quickly update multiple spots throughout a document, and being able to paste an excel list into Word to replace paragraph marks with a comma to create a comma separated list (or vice versa by pasting a blob of email addresses from Outlook into Word and replacing semi-colons with paragraph markers so I can plop it into Excel and have a clean, list that I can now sort and filter.

Cons

While I appreciate the great perks of Word, some of its features can be quite frustrating and finicky. When trying to train other users on Word it's hard to explain "sometimes it does this, but sometimes it doesn't"; I almost have to train with contingency plans. For example, when Word decides you want an extra blank page at the end of your document and despite removing paragraph marks and pressing delete a hundred times and changing the font size to point 1 you end up having to remove a whole line of text from your table just to get it to go away. Or for another example, when you paste text in from outside of Word and it refuses to strip formatting or integrate into your automated numbering despite choosing those options. Or last example, when you're trying to indent just one line and Word refuses to not send the surrounding lines over as well like a little brother who won't stay put. So overall, Word has some great features, but the ones that don't work as they should can be quite annoying.

Pros

The best feature for myself is the commenting feature which allows me to track updates within projects and make changes and tick them off as completed

Cons

I find drawing within documents quite tricky to keep the pens in a straight line

Pros

The text editing is my favorite feature with Word. I've written books using Word, which is much better than Pages for that type of thing. I make most of my text-based documents from Word.

Cons

The templates for creative projects are pretty limited--Pages and Canva are better there.

Pros

You can write, make tables, graphs, diagrams, greeting cards. The program is very simple to use, it is intuitive

Cons

To keep it updated and use it with other tools, the full version must be purchased

Pros

I like the ease and countless document templates

Cons

The only thing that could be better is the price we paid

Verified Reviewer

Pros

Microsoft word is one of the most user friendly apps you'll ever come across.

Cons

The cost of maintaining and updating the app is quite high.

Pros

Good ol fashion Microsoft Word. I have been using it since highschool and have continued using it throughout my career. So simple and user friendly. And a great place to keep everything organized.

Cons

Never had anything bad to say about Microsoft

Pros

I like it as it is good in creating documents and easy to use and produce huge documents

Cons

I have no complaints using this program and I use it often

Pros

Over time, the interface has improved a lot, making it much easier to write documents professionally. In addition to the customization capacity that it has, it helps a lot to have it as needed. A very useful functionality that it has is the generation of content such as indexes or bibliographies.

Cons

The management of space between lines or within the fields of a table is sometimes not clear, preventing one from modifying it, since you do not know what element is causing the space to be different with other lines. The checker is not as efficient when it comes to omitting terms.

Alternatives Considered

LibreOffice

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft Word

The handling of documents in Word is much more complete than in Open Office. In addition, it has more features.

Switched From

LibreOffice

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

The presentations and functionality with which it counts.

Pros

This is my preferred product. It has advanced features and can keep up with our growing needs, especially when integrated with other Microsoft products (which are all great).
Microsoft word has so many available features and options. I've yet to need something that Word did not offer.
It has been around for a long time. I'm very familiar with it, infact I've been using it since elementary school.

Cons

Price... There are so many great products that integrate with MS word, however all of them can be expensive.
Word isn't really complete without these other products. For example you need a place to store the documents you create with Word. You'll then need to pay for one drive. If you want to make a presentation using these documents or files you've stored, you'll need to pay for PowerPoint..
I also wish that the offline accessibility was better.

Alternatives Considered

Google Docs

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

Better product by far. The only reason I ever use a word alternative is cost.

Karla Brigitte

Pros

There are many benefits to using Microsoft Word. First off, it offers a complete collection of capabilities for producing, formatting, and editing documents, making it the preferred word processing program for private users, companies, and academic institutions. Users can navigate and operate effectively because to the user interface's intuitive design and well-known functionality. With the many formatting options available, it is possible to create documents with advanced layout and design elements. Features like Track Changes and Comments make collaboration easy by enabling several people to review and update the same document simultaneously. Workflows are streamlined and efficiency is further increased through integration with other Microsoft Office programs like Excel and PowerPoint. Additionally, Microsoft Word's compatibility with a variety of file types makes it simple to share and collaborate with users of other office products.

Cons

Despite all of its benefits, Microsoft Word has certain drawbacks. First off, the program is not free; it must be purchased separately or as part of the Microsoft Office package. Additionally, new users may find the vast array of functions and settings daunting and may need some time and training to fully operate the software. Opening documents written in other word processing programs occasionally results in formatting issues that may need to be manually corrected. Additionally, working with huge documents or intricate layouts may have an impact on the software's speed, resulting in sporadic latency or slowdowns.

MIRANDA

Pros

The most impactful feature for me was the ability to work offline and have basically total access to my past and current projects and documents. Another vital feature to my business as well as just everyday life are all of the extra templates, themes, fonts, designs and tutorials available online that are easily and seamlessly integrated into the app. You literally click one button or link, search for what you need or browse, download and voila! Start creating your new resume or cover letter or even product labels to print out ! This app works just as great on my laptop as my tablet. The smartphone version is simpler but they are all totally in sync and definitely they must have for any kind of business person or student or anyone with kids anything like that I don't know what I would do without Microsoft word .

Cons

I feel like there could definitely be MORE fonts and design like features. Even with the linked online database there's a need for more design aspect especially if you're not familiar with how do you do things from scratch using Microsoft word. Otherwise there's not a whole lot I just like about word I wish it was cheaper or that the free version was as fully accessible as the paid version that can be frustrating.

Alternatives Considered

Apache OpenOffice and WPS Office

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

I chose Microsoft word over these other products because I am very familiar with Microsoft word and it's software I have been using it for 20 something years. It's what I learned how to use a computer on basically and I have taken a few classes about how to use the features. While the other products to my understanding are basically quite similar just cheaper, I was not able to figure out everything on them and there's something about you know quality and what you pay for that.

Tureen Punit

Pros

Microsoft Word is undoubtedly the best software for creating and managing documents with ease. It comes with a number of different customizable templates that can help a user create birthday party invitations, bookmarks, traditional newspapers, and newsletters in a jiffy. Microsoft Word lets a user create documents quickly without any hassle, store them in one place, collaborate with others, and edit them offline.

Cons

I love using Microsoft Word for creating newsletters, reports, etc very conveniently. It can however be overwhelming at times because of the features present in it. Plus there is always a fear of losing data unless you save it. But overall it is great software for the purpose of document management.

Verified Reviewer

Pros

Ease and familiarity of use and the assurance that everyone in professional circles who receives a document made on MS Word will be able to access it and edit it with the right permissions.

Cons

If the computer crashes or shuts down by mistake the files not saved as per process always get lost and the recovery options are not always suggested even in professional paid versions of MS Word.

Alternatives Considered

WPS Office

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft Word

The formatting of documents edited in WP office changes drastically in MS office.

Switched From

WPS Office

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

My office recommends using MS Office.

Pros

Microsoft Word is a creative format to create, store, and export important documents such as client notes, classwork, or materials being shared with other professional colleagues. It easily allows users to transport their documents through sharing and email capabilities. It assists students in checking over their documents before they are reviewed by professors.

Cons

I believe Microsoft Word could improve by having immediate saving such as Google Docs or easily being able to share documents with another Microsoft user with a sharing tab/button.

Alternatives Considered

Google Docs

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is adaptable across all various brands of computers. Also, the majority of students have been trained and are familiar with Microsoft Word.

Rafał

Pros

+ first mover advantage: they created a market, so everything that other alternatives implemented is some kind of copy/inspiration of "good old Word"
+ well known interface
+ no compatibility issues even between older .doc versions
+ great functions that can connect other apps from MS Office (like connecting to Excel to print envelopes with mail merge functions)
+ great online library of doc templates
+ commenting and editor functions
+ vocabularies

Cons

- price, especially that for most of functions you may use a free alternatives like Google Docs, OpenOffice, LibreOffice etc.
- current layout is very hard to use comparing to MS Word 97
- who need a WordArt in the world of Canva?
- consumes a lot of resources, especially if document contains some pasted images (it should have something like lazy load in websites)

Alternatives Considered

Google Docs, Apache OpenOffice and LibreOffice

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

Because I didnt want to convert all DOC files to their open formats. Unfortunatly, few years ago it was a must and didnt work properly in most cases. But now it works like a charm.

Tiaan

Pros

Easy to use
Help function always available and detailed
Easy to share and collab even if on multiple platforms
Easy to integrate on MS Office products.

Cons

MS Word tries to force you into using other products from MS Office
Yearly licensing can become expensive

Alternatives Considered

WPS Office

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft Word

The integration of the office suite

Switched From

WPS Office

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

The integration and the ease of use was the main focus

Pros

A lot of training materials, examples, training tasks are available, both online (videos, PDFs, descriptions) and "offline", I mean books, leaflets, notes) to get the potential out of MS Word.
You can have it for free, if you are a student, can buy even genuine key for a very low price, MS "World" and some sw. are available with an MS account for free, with great functionality.
Word and MS Office package is introduced in Hungary a nation-level. In the governmental offices, employees use Office daily, in the school Office package is being taught to the kids from elementary school to uni.
Companies from every sector are using Word daily to have they matters solved, it is indeed a leader in doc. handling.
The arsenal what Word so as now the other Office family members are having, a little too much for one single user, you simply do not use "every" function, like web interfaces, that are also supported in some level.
Easy to install, a little complex to customise due to the lot of options, can work with databases, can insert files to docs. is a great function, having a password to
After you get to know to sw. and its its UI, you will get along, but needs practice, patience.
Lot of 3rd party developers are there, creating toolkits, add-ons to Word making it even better.

Cons

There is an option to share a document and simultaneously edit it, this function needs polishing so as the online version and the Professional / O365 versions.
Developing a program to use Word's resources may be not that easy at first, its programming language could be better.
Having a password to protect you doc. is not the best, not that hard to crack it sometimes.
Sometimes bugs may appear, like reseting a font to the "inherited" one, sometimes crashes, slow loading. Consuming RAM, hard drive could be better.
On the mobile apps world, Word maybe not the best or the leader, but the sw. get better over time
Conversion between other text file types, reading, opening, editing PDFs sometimes not the good..
When moving from one network or VPN to another, it tends to not be able to save your work.
Creating an e-mailing list, or reading out data from Ms Excel and have them printed for envelopes are a good feature so as having forms and can be combined with databases.

Pros

1. MS Word is the first option that comes to mind and is synonymous with "Document." From the old days of the MS-DOS operating system with WordStar, MS-Word has been the first choice for countless users globally.
2. There are so many features that you may discover something new every time you delve deeper to learn more. Features like Mail Merge, Macros, Smart Art, Design Templates, Tracking Changes, Citations, and so on are revolutionary.
3. With access to uninterrupted internet with cloud storage, features like autosave have become a reality. You can switch it off if you want.
4. When you consider MS word for writing, editing, printing, or any document management activity, customization is the keyword.
5. It is well integrated with other components of MS office suite, aka office 365, letting you take full benefits of uniform features available across the board.
6. It is suitable for individuals or large teams alike. You can customize the features to suit small or large groups using ribbon or quick access toolbar or changing the options and settings. Compatibility mode ensures that it also works for people who cannot or don't want to upgrade to the latest.
7. The help tool is super exhaustive, with endless possibilities for finding out how to use a specific feature or how to troubleshoot. You can get help online or offline with detailed instructions.
8. Different features and commands are neatly organized into sections and subsections with convenient shortcuts and right-clic

Cons

1. Of late, MS Word is getting intense competition from Google docs. Most of the available features in MS Word are for free on the Google Docs platform. But for office 365, you need to pay a hefty amount. Bundling ensures that you cannot buy only MS Word. Even if you can, it will be expensive, especially when Google gives everything free.
2. Similarly, several open-source projects offer free service vis-a-vis paid features of MS Word. It needs to become more affordable, keeping in mind the intense competition.
3. There are several things MS Word cannot provide that Adobe PDF offers. Some features of MS Word need an overhaul.
4. It isn't easy to learn some advanced features and needs specialized training. The help section needs to work extra hours to improve on that aspect.
5. There are some backward compatibility issues.
6. Most sites offer easy ways to create websites, but one needs to struggle to do so on MS Word.
7. At times, it crashes without saving your stuff.
8. Translation, grammar, and spelling features are way behind compared to online free tools like Google and Grammarly.
9. Macros are prone to viruses.
10. Some Free Online templates are lousy.

Brent

Pros

- Collaboration tools shared internally & externally and integrated with Windows task bar, OneDrive (local synch of shared filestore), @mention comments to assign internal tasks
- Simple to use with available powerful tools such as form fields, excellent table support, even mail merge to Outlook email
- Powerful track changes & review
- Send as PDF email: Simple & use it all the time (instead of saving as PDF, then sending PDF).

Cons

There is some obvious innovation that is long overdue.
- Tables that can easily perform functions like Excel (the feature exists, it's just clunky to implement)
- Mail merge to Outlook email is incredibly powerful & could be streamlined to be a must use feature for individualized, but "mass" emailing small groups.
- Templates (.dot) files & sharing of templates within an organization needs a UX & feature revamp
- Built in easy Document Signing features

Alternatives Considered

Google Docs

Switched From

WordPerfect Office

Pros

MS Word is by far the leading software in the text processing software it serves. Equipped with incomparable integration, simplicity, flexibility and special tools. From the first version to the current version, it has maintained a principle of simplicity, simplicity and user-friendliness. While realizing all these, he did not neglect professionalism and development. It made all processes manageable, easy and simple, from document processing and application. Moreover, time management has been maximized. It enabled much faster action and resource savings in all processes. It is one step ahead of similar word processing programs thanks to its graphics, picture, watermark, table processing features.Transferring data written in other programs can act as an assistant in transformations and all office processes.

Cons

You will not find a missing feature in this program. If MS Word does not have a feature, it does not exist in any other program.

Rudolph

Pros

It's hard to name all my favorite features. I've been using this for almost 20 years. I have used so many of it's functions it's nuts. SO many templates, like legitimately almost too many. You can also download more! It's has helped me be more productive, Spell check and grammar check got me through college. I also use the automatic editing too. It just helps you write faster. So you communicate faster. You get through life faster.

Cons

At one time I would say because I have to pay for it. After all these years I can tell you it's worth it. Hell I would pay more if I had to at this point.

Stephanie

Pros

Microsoft Word is one of the absolute best programs out there. I was able to integrate third-party apps for in-app pay. It was extremely convenient. Also, my calendar synced up with my task lists and vice versa. I didn't have to remember to do it or let my assistant know.

Cons

This software is a little more confusing on the general interface than what the average consumer is used to seeing. However, I do have faith. People do move with the times and I'm certain it will be a memory when grandmas didn't know how to text. It's also very expensive for what you get. I do love the additional features but, to be honest, Google Workspace may have its issues, but I'd much rather deal with it than pay the cost of Word.

Alternatives Considered

Google Workspace

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft Word

I didn't choose Word