It didn’t happen overnight. Microsoft Office didn’t burst onto the scene fully formed, polished, and ready to dominate. In fact, it was pretty clunky in the beginning. But that’s part of what made its rise so inevitable — and, ultimately, so dangerous.
The Rise: Publish Imperfect, Improve Relentlessly
Back in the 1980s and early 90s, the world of productivity software was fragmented. WordPerfect was the king of word processors, Lotus 1-2-3 ruled spreadsheets, and Harvard Graphics was a go-to for presentations. There was no universal standard.
Then came Microsoft.
Instead of perfecting one product at a time, Microsoft bundled its somewhat mediocre Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into a single suite — Microsoft Office. It wasn’t better than the competition, not at first. But it was good enough, cheaper as a bundle, and most importantly — integrated. You could copy and paste between programs, use similar commands, and save everything with the same file format.
Microsoft didn’t wait to get it perfect. They put the suite in users’ hands and watched how it was used. They listened (somewhat), improved it steadily, and kept releasing updates that made everything smoother, more powerful, and harder to live without.
And for a while, it felt like a win for everyone. Finally, you didn’t have to juggle a Frankenstein mix of software. One company, one package, one standard.
But then the tides turned.
Once Microsoft Office became the default — the industry standard for schools, businesses, and government agencies — things changed.
Gone were the days of one-time purchases. No more buying a CD and using it for the next 5-10 years. Instead, Microsoft ushered in the subscription model with Office 365 (now Microsoft 365). What used to be a one-time $120 software suite turned into a perpetual $6.99–$12.99 per month per user payment — forever.
Need to open a DOCX file? Better have Office. Need to use Excel macros? Better have Office. Collaborating with a business partner? Better be using Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive — all tightly locked into the Microsoft ecosystem.
Even schools, nonprofits, and small businesses find themselves tied into the web. Why? Because everyone else is using it. Compatibility is the new control. Microsoft doesn’t need to force anyone; inertia does it for them.
And just like that, we’ve become productivity software renters, not owners.
The Cost of Dependence
The problem isn’t just the price — though that stings too. It’s the lack of freedom. The way Microsoft can push updates you didn’t ask for. The way files saved in their formats become proprietary puzzles for other software to solve. The way they’ve embedded themselves into every corner of business and government infrastructure.
The end result? We’re all dependent on a software suite controlled by a company that no longer needs to compete.
So… What Can We Do?
You can break the cycle. Alternatives exist — and many of them are surprisingly powerful, especially for personal or small business use. Here are a few to consider:
🧩 LibreOffice (Free, Open Source)
A fantastic replacement for most Office tasks. LibreOffice includes Writer (Word), Calc (Excel), Impress (PowerPoint), and more. It’s open-source, offline, and completely free. Great for those who want full control of their data.
🧠 OnlyOffice
A modern-looking, cloud-based alternative that plays well with Microsoft file formats. Offers collaborative tools and self-hosted options for privacy-focused users.
🧾 Google Workspace (Free/Paid)
If you’re comfortable in the cloud, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are strong alternatives — with seamless collaboration features. Basic use is free with a Google account. (I have my concerns about Google Workspace as well…. we’ll talk more about that later….)
📝 WPS Office
A sleek, freemium option that closely mimics Microsoft Office in design and function. Includes Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools — great for users who want something familiar.
💡 SoftMaker FreeOffice
Another solid desktop-based suite that opens and saves Microsoft Office formats with ease. Lightweight, fast, and perfect for everyday tasks.
Microsoft Office’s rise was a case study in smart, strategic business decisions. They published early, improved often, and offered integration that competitors couldn’t match.
But once they dominated, they locked the gates behind them.
We don’t have to stay in the castle.
Alternatives have come a long way, and the time has come to rethink our relationship with productivity software. Whether for cost savings, privacy, or independence — moving away from Microsoft Office isn’t just possible. It might be one of the most empowering digital decisions you make.