Head-to-head · 2026

ONLYOFFICE vs Microsoft Word

ONLYOFFICE is a European alternative to Microsoft Word — same office & collaboration use case, built under EU data-protection law.

By the EU Alternatives team Last updated

European alternative
ONLYOFFICE
Latvia

Open-source online editor for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs. Features real-time collaboration, AI integration, and accessibility tools.

Jurisdiction
EU / EEA
GDPR by default
Yes
US CLOUD Act exposure
No
Open source
No
Free tier
No
See full ONLYOFFICE profile
Non-EU
Microsoft Word logo
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word · US

A curated collection of the best European alternatives to Microsoft Word.

Jurisdiction
US
GDPR by default
Requires DPA + TIA
US CLOUD Act exposure
Yes
All European alternatives to Microsoft Word

Why choose ONLYOFFICE over Microsoft Word?

The decisive argument is data jurisdiction. Microsoft Word is headquartered in US, which means personal data processed through it can be subject to non-EU legal regimes — the US CLOUD Act, FISA 702, or similar laws depending on the provider. After the 2020 Schrems II ruling, EU organisations must carry out a transfer impact assessment for every such data flow.

ONLYOFFICE removes that overhead. As a Latvia-based provider, it operates natively under GDPR, and data stays inside the EU/EEA by default. For regulated sectors — health, public administration, finance — that's not a nice-to-have but a requirement. For everyone else, it's concentration-risk insurance: you avoid depending on a single non-EU jurisdiction that can change the rules without warning.

Frequently asked questions

Is ONLYOFFICE a good alternative to Microsoft Word?
Yes — ONLYOFFICE is one of the top-ranked European alternatives to Microsoft Word in our directory, covering the same office & collaboration use case. It is headquartered in Latvia, keeping your data under EU law by default.
What's the main difference between ONLYOFFICE and Microsoft Word?
The biggest difference is jurisdiction: ONLYOFFICE is based in Latvia and operates under GDPR and EU data-protection law, while Microsoft Word is headquartered in US and may transfer data outside the EU. For regulated industries or organisations following Schrems II guidance, this difference is decisive.
Is ONLYOFFICE GDPR-compliant?
ONLYOFFICE is a European company based in Latvia, so GDPR compliance is the default operating model — not a bolt-on. No transfer impact assessment is required for EU customers, unlike when using Microsoft Word.
How do I migrate from Microsoft Word to ONLYOFFICE?
Start by exporting your data from Microsoft Word (most providers offer an export in their settings). Then import into ONLYOFFICE using its native import tool or migration guide. Running both in parallel for a week catches any feature or workflow gaps before you fully switch.

Other European alternatives to Microsoft Word

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