Version 4.2.5 is the current version, so PowerPC users aren’t too far behind the curve. LibreOffice 4.0.x supports PowerPC and OS X 10.4 Tiger and newer, so even they have an option, although finding the download is a challenge. It’s not as pretty as the commercial apps, and the current version (5.1.3) requires OS X 10.6 or later, so it only works on Intel-based Macs, but that’s the vast majority of Macs in use today.Ībout 15% of Mac users visiting Low End Mac are still running G3, G4, and G5 Macs with older versions of OS X. LibreOffice is a competent replacement for Microsoft Office, AppleWorks, and other office suites. If you use Windows or Linux, LibreOffice gives you the same capabilities and open document formats, making it easy to work with the same file on any of the major platforms. (I don’t use Windows, but I have read user reports that AppleWorks for Windows is incompatible with Window 8.) Broad Hardware Support AppleWorks development ended in 2007, and the software only runs in XP compatibility mode on Windows 7 and later – if it runs on Windows 8 at all.

LibreOffice can open Microsoft Office files as well as AppleWorks word processing documents, and after I export my spreadsheets into Excel format, LibreOffice can open them as well.īy the way, despite its name, AppleWorks was also available for Microsoft Windows.

Likewise, I can’t run AppleWorks in Mavericks, so if I want to be able to work with my spreadsheets, I have to export them from AppleWorks (still running on my 2007 Mac mini with Snow Leopard). Problem is, I’m using Mavericks on my MacBook, so Office 2004 is not an option – nor do I want to spend the money to buy a newer version. I rarely use Microsoft Office, although I do have Office 2004 on my OS X 10.4 Tiger, 10.5 Leopard, and 10.6 Snow Leopard Macs. Unfortunately, AppleWorks is incompatible with OS X 10.7 Lion and later, so I’ve had to find an alternative since installing OS X 10.9 Mavericks on my Late 2008 Aluminum MacBook. I’m using it to replace AppleWorks, which I’ve been using since ClarisWorks 1.0 shipped back in the System 7.0 era. LibreOffice is a free alternative to the not-inexpensive Microsoft Office suite.

Libreoffice vs openoffice mac