Office Software Review

We open and close so many emails, documents and spreadsheets in our daily lives that we often don’t pay much attention to the programs we’re using. Even if they often go underappreciated, word processors, spreadsheet programs, presentation software and email clients are central components of our professional and personal lives. Office software is more than a set of handy tools for creating a document; it helps us organize our crowded lives, express ourselves, communicate and realize ideas. We have found that the best products suited to these needs are Microsoft Office, WordPerfect Office and Kingsoft Office. For more information on understanding your software needs, take a look at our articles on office software.

From the effective training of new recruits to balancing a budget, office software is critical in the modern business environment. Creating and sharing content is easier and faster than ever with word processing tools. Office suites include software for creating and delivering professional presentations to groups. Calculating interest on loans, monitoring payroll and organizing numerical data are largely automated with the help of spreadsheet software. The utility of a secure and effective email client is as necessary for a small business with 10 clients as it is for multinational firms.

From a business point of view, advanced office software offers a wealth of features that streamline routine tasks and enable greater efficiency. Publishing platforms, program management tools, security software and data transfer utilities are useful tools you’ll find in professional-level office suites.

What to Look for in Office Software

Office software helps address the needs of today’s office and home settings. These needs are numerous and not easily addressed. While intended to enhance your productivity, if an application is lacking in certain features or capabilities then it could potentially detract from your goal. To help you optimize your productivity, we have located the best software in the industry. Each application is broken down by feature on our side-by-side matrix that will help you decide which software will best suit your needs.
We have narrowed down the topics of concern regarding office software to four main points:

Included Software
Effective office software should operate as the nerve center of a modern office and will include a word processor, spreadsheet program, slideshow program and email client. The needs of the office and home settings cannot be exclusively relegated to a single software program, instead consisting of a professional suite of applications. Each of these plays an important part in the needs of the modern computer user.

Word Processor & Spreadsheet Features
Word processors and spreadsheet utilities are the heart of the workplace. We ranked products according to the overall efficacy, usability and stability of their basic productivity tools. Further, we favored products that can read and convert a wide range of file formats. We took other important factors into account such as basic word processing needs like formatting and change tracking in addition to spreadsheet needs like formula editors.

Ease of Use
Superior office software should be provided in an easy-to-use package. When users are able to quickly create professional-looking documents, office software becomes a valuable investment to the home and office setting.

Customer & Community Support
Using a new program of any type for the first time is daunting. Good office software suites include thorough documentation, help files, FAQs and an active online community. In addition to these, we factor in regular updates to address bugs and security issues.

Before you decide to purchase an office software suite, be sure to assess your needs and find the product ideal for you. You're likely familiar with some of the products we’ve ranked above, whereas others you’ve never heard of before. We encourage you to read each of the reviews we have performed on the best office software applications as each will address your needs in a different light.

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