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ONLYOFFICE’s closest listed replacements are Word for the web and WPS Office; the rest of this shortlist are PDF tools, not full office suites. Reddit discussions point to three reasons people reconsider ONLYOFFICE: concerns raised about Russian ownership and sanctions, disputes over openness and licensing, and complaints about its interface. Those are user reports, not a verdict on every deployment. If self-hosting matters, verify it directly: the published information does not confirm deployment options for these alternatives.
01Why people leave ONLYOFFICE
Trust and ownership concerns
Some Reddit commenters raise concerns about Russian ownership and sanctions. Treat those as user claims, and check your organization’s legal and procurement requirements.
Questions about openness
Commenters debate whether ONLYOFFICE is fully open source and whether its licensing allows forks. Review the license terms that apply to your use.
Interface complaints
Some users dislike the editors’ connected interface, popups or settings. Others prefer its Microsoft Office-style familiarity, so this is a workflow-specific tradeoff.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Best browser replacement
Word for the webWord for the webWord for the web is the closest fit here if you want browser-based document editing rather than a PDF-only app. It is listed for Microsoft account holders and basic documents and collaboration. The pricing page shows a free plan and a starting price of $1.67. That makes it worth comparing if you mainly need straightforward online document work.
Trade-off: The published information does not confirm private deployment or advanced office-suite capabilities.
6.5/10from
$1.67/mofree plan - Best broad office option
WPS OfficeWPS OfficeWPS Office is the other listed option aimed at document work, with the pricing page identifying personal users, PDF tools and small-team sharing as fits. It has a free plan and starts at $2.49. Consider it if you want more than a browser editor, but check the free-tier limits and paid-plan terms before moving a team.
Trade-off: The free tier is described as limited, and paid-plan costs are not fully transparent.
6.4/10from
$2.49/mofree plan - Best for PDF teams
Foxit PDF EditorFoxit PDF EditorFoxit PDF Editor is a narrower choice for teams whose work is mostly editing PDFs across platforms, using eSign and batch tools, or occasional AI features. The pricing page puts it from $10.83. It is not presented as a full office-suite replacement, but it may fit if document editing for your team largely means PDF work.
Trade-off: AI-credit caps and tier-gated tools make the price worth checking.
7.2/10from
$10.83/mo - Best general PDF toolkit
SmallpdfSmallpdfSmallpdf is listed for regular PDF work, shared document workflows, e-signatures and editing. It has a free plan and starts at $7. If ONLYOFFICE is part of a PDF-heavy process, Smallpdf may cover those tasks; it is not a like-for-like replacement for an office suite, so keep a separate plan for document creation needs.
Trade-off: Free-use limits and paid-plan costs narrow its appeal.
6.6/10from
$7/mofree plan - Best varied PDF tasks
iLovePDFiLovePDFiLovePDF is listed for people handling varied PDF tasks and wanting multiple tools in one app, with custom workflows also noted for teams. It has a free plan and starts at $5. This is a PDF-focused switch, not a substitute for ONLYOFFICE’s broader document collaboration role.
Trade-off: The published summary flags unclear free limits and privacy concerns.
7.8/10from
€5/mofree plan - Best forms and signatures
pdfFillerpdfFillerpdfFiller is aimed at people who regularly edit and sign PDFs, share PDF workflows in small teams, or need fillable forms and e-signatures. Its listed starting price is $8. Choose it only if those PDF tasks are the reason you are leaving; the published information does not position it as a general office suite.
Trade-off: There is no free plan, and reported save paywalls weaken the value.
5.8/10from
$8/mo
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 ONLYOFFICE ONLYOFFICE (current) | 7.2 | $149/mo | No | Teams wanting private deployment |
| Word for the web Word for the web | 6.5 | $1.67/mo | Yes | Free browser-based document editing |
| WPS Office WPS Office | 6.4 | $2.49/mo | Yes | Personal users with basic document needs |
| Foxit PDF Editor Foxit PDF Editor | 7.2 | $10.83/mo | No | Teams editing PDFs across platforms |
| Smallpdf Smallpdf | 6.6 | $7/mo | Yes | People handling PDFs regularly |
| iLovePDF iLovePDF | 7.8 | €5/mo | Yes | People handling varied PDF tasks |
| pdfFiller pdfFiller | 5.8 | $8/mo | No | People who regularly edit and sign PDFs |
Questions people ask
Which listed alternative is closest to ONLYOFFICE?
Word for the web and WPS Office are the closest fits in this list because their published descriptions cover document editing or office-style document needs. Word for the web focuses on browser-based editing and basic collaboration; WPS Office is listed for personal document needs and small-team sharing. The other picks focus on PDFs.
Which alternatives support private deployment?
The published information does not confirm private deployment for any of these alternatives. ONLYOFFICE is identified as a fit for teams wanting private deployment, but that does not establish equivalent options elsewhere. If deployment location or control is a requirement, verify it with each vendor before planning a migration.
Are the PDF tools full replacements for ONLYOFFICE?
No such claim is supported by the published product information. Foxit, Smallpdf, iLovePDF and pdfFiller are described around PDF editing, signatures, forms or related workflows. They may fit a PDF-heavy process, but the pricing page do not present them as general office-suite replacements.