Comparison of word processors

This is a comparison of word processing software.

General information

This table provides general information about selected word processors.

Word Processor	Screenshot	Creator	Latest Stable Version	First Release	License
AbiWord		SourceGear Corporation	2.8.6 (June 13, 2010 (2010-06-13)) [±]	1999 (May 19) (1999 (May 19))	Open source (GPL)
AppleWorks		Apple Inc.	6.2.9 January 4, 2004 (2004-01-04)	1984 (1984)	Commercial, Proprietary
Applix Word		Vistasource Inc.	6.0	1992 (1992)	Commercial, Proprietary
Atlantis Nova		Rising Sun Solutions, Inc	1.0.0.70	2000 (Earliest copyright date in the About Window)	Freeware
Atlantis Word Processor		Rising Sun Solutions, Inc	1.6.5.9 June 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)	2000 (Earliest copyright date in the About Window)	Commercial, Proprietary
Bean		James Hoover	3.2.5 (March 15, 2013 (2013-03-15)) [±]	2007 (May 1) (2007 (May 1))	Commercial since 3.0
Calligra Words (formerly KWord)		KDE	2.6.3 (15 May 2013 (2013-05-15)) [±]	1998 (1998)	Open source (LGPL)
Cassiopeia		Acrux GmbH - Advanced Science Subdivision	Version 1.1.7	2013	Commercial
CopyDesk		Quark, Inc.	7 (2007)	1991	Commercial, Proprietary
EZ Word		Andrew Project	7.5 (1996)	1985	Open source (BSD license)
FrameMaker		Adobe Systems Incorporated	10.0 (January 11, 2011 (2011-01-11))	1986	Commercial, Proprietary
Gobe Productive		Gobe Software	3	Aug 1998	Commercial, Proprietary
Han/Gul (HWP)		Haansoft	7.0.2.226(2007)	1989	Commercial, Proprietary
Ichitaro		JustSystems	20 / Ichitaro 2010	1983	Commercial, Proprietary
InCopy		Adobe Systems Incorporated	5.0 (2007)	1999	Commercial, Proprietary
Jarte (Free and Pro)		Carolina Road Software, LLC	4.1 (March 29, 2010 (2010-03-29)) [±]	2001 (July) (2001 (July))	Freeware or Commercial, Proprietary
Kingsoft Writer (Free and Pro)		Kingsoft	2012 8.1.0.3016(November 9, 2011 (2011-11-09))	1989 (1989)	Freeware or Commercial, Proprietary
LibreOffice Writer		The Document Foundation	3.6.4 (December 5, 2012 (2012-12-05))	2011 (January 25) (2011 (January 25))	Open source (LGPL)
Lotus Symphony		Lotus Software	3.0	2008	Freeware (Registerware)
Lotus Word Pro		Lotus Software	9.8.5 (2007)	1989 (Originally Samna Ami Pro)	Commercial, Proprietary
LyX		The LyX Project	2.0 (May 8, 2011 (2011-05-08))	1995	Open source (GPL)
Mariner Write		Mariner software	3.7.2	1996	Commercial, Proprietary
Mellel		RedleX	2.9.1 (Build 1) as of Jan 7, 2011	2002	Commercial, Proprietary
Microsoft Word		Microsoft Corporation	December 11, 2012 (2012-12-11)	1983 (May 2) (1983 (May 2))	Commercial, Proprietary
Microsoft Works		Microsoft Corporation	9.0	1987 (October) (MS Works for DOS)	Commercial, Proprietary
NeoOffice Writer		Planamesa Software	3.3 Patch 7 (May 28, 2013 (2013-05-28)) [±]	2003 (June 22) (2003 (June 22))	Open source (GPL)
Nisus Writer		Nisus Software	7.0 (Express)	1989	Commercial, Proprietary
OpenOffice Writer		Apache Software Foundation (2011 – present)	3.4.1 (August 24, 2012 (2012-08-24)) [±]	2002 (April 30) (2002 (April 30))	Open source (Apache License)
Pages		Apple Inc.	4.3 (December 4, 2012 (2012-12-04)) [±]	2005 (January 11) (2005 (January 11))	Commercial, Proprietary
PolyEdit		PolySoft Solutions	5.2	1998	Commercial, Proprietary
StarOffice		Sun Microsystems	9	1994	Commercial, Proprietary - LGPL Version is released as Open Office
StarOffice Writer from Google Pack		Sun Microsystems	8	1994	Commercial, Proprietary - LGPL Version is released as Open Office
TeXmacs		Joris van der Hoeven	1.0.7.17 (October 2012)	1996 (1996)?	GPL
Ted		Mark de Does	2.23 (February 2013)	1999	Open source (GPL)
TextEdit		Apple Inc.	1.8 (July 25, 2012 (2012-07-25)) [±]	1993? (approximate date) as part of NeXT's OPENSTEP OS which later became part of Mac OS X	Open source (BSD license)
TextMaker		SoftMaker	2012	1987	Freeware or Commercial, Proprietary Freeware - SoftMaker FreeOffice (freeoffice.com), Commercial - SoftMaker Office 2010 and later versions
WordFile4ME		Byron Software	4.55.21	1999 (Earliest copyright date in the Readme File)	Commercial, Proprietary
WordPad		Microsoft Corporation	6.1.7600.16385	1995	Commercial, Proprietary
WordPerfect		Corel Corporation	X6 (April 26, 2012 (2012-04-26)) [±]	1980 (1980)	Commercial, Proprietary
Word Processor	Screenshot	Creator	Latest Stable Version	First Release	License

Characteristics

This table gives characteristics of each word processor.

Word Processor	Grammar checker	Cross referencing	Bibliography	Graphic editing	Mail merging	Spell checker	Smartfont typography	Math support	Conditional text	LTR/RTL
AbiWord	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	Yes
AppleWorks		?	?		Yes	Yes				?
Applix Word		?	?							?
Atlantis Word Processor		?	?			Yes
Bean	No	?	?	No	No	Yes				?
Cassioepia	No	Yes	Yes	?	No	No	?	Yes	?	?
CopyDesk	No	?	?		No	Yes				?
EZ Word		?	?							?
FrameMaker	No	Yes	?	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	?
Gobe Productive		?	?							?
GNU TeXmacs	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (only own graphics)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	?
Groff		?	?							?
Han/Gul	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No			?
Ichitaro	Yes (for Japanese)	?	?			Yes (for Japanese)	No			?
InCopy	No	?	?		No	Yes			Yes	?
Jarte	No	?	?	No	No	Yes	No			?
KWord	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No			?
LibreOffice Writer	Yes (with extensions)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IBM Lotus Symphony	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No			?
Lotus Word Pro	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No			?
LyX	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
Mariner Write	No	?	?	No	Yes	Yes	No		?	?
Mathematica	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		?
Mellel	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes			?
Microsoft Word	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Microsoft Works	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	?	?
NeoOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes				Yes
Nisus Writer		?	?							?
OpenOffice Writer	No	Yes	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes			Yes
Pages	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		?
PolyEdit		?	?			Yes				?
StarOffice Writer	No	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes			?
Ted	No	?	?	No	No	Yes				?
TextEdit	Yes	?	?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes			?
TextMaker	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes		Yes
WordFile4ME		?	?							?
WordPerfect	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	?
Word Processor	Grammar checker	Cross referencing	Bibliography	Graphic editing	Mail merging	Spell checker	Smartfont typography	Math support	Conditional text	LTR/RTL

Operating System Compatibility

This table gives a comparison of what operating systems are compatible with each word processor in their last version.

Word Processor	Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	BSD	BeOS/Zeta	AmigaOS/MorphOS	UNIX	other
AbiWord	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (AOS: through X11 engine)	Yes	SkyOS
AppleWorks	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Applix Word	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Atlantis Word Processor	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Bean	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Cassiopeia	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
CopyDesk	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
EZ Word	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
FrameMaker	Yes	Version 7.1 and earlier	No	No	No	No	Version 8 and earlier	No
Gobe Productive	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
GNU TeXmacs	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Groff	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Han/Gul	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Ichitaro	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
InCopy	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Jarte	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
KWord	Yes (Alpha)	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
LibreOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
IBM Lotus Symphony	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Lotus Word Pro	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
LyX	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Mariner Write	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Mathematica	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Mellel	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Microsoft Word	Yes	Yes	Some (with Wine	No	No	No	No	No
Microsoft Works	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
NeoOffice Writer	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
Nisus Writer	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
OpenOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	OpenVMS
Pages	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
PolyEdit	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
StarOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Ted	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Atari ST
TextEdit	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
TextMaker	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Android
WordFile4ME	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
WordPerfect	Yes	No	No (since 2000)	No	No	No (last : AOS up to WP4.1 in 1987)	No (since 1994)	OpenVMS1
Word Processor	Windows	Mac OS X	Linux	BSD	BeOS/Zeta	AmigaOS/MorphOS	UNIX	other

1. can run unsupported Version 5.1

Import or Open capabilities

This table gives a comparison of the file formats each word processor can import or open.

Word Processor	HTML	LaTeX	ODF .odt	RTF	Word .doc	WordPerfect	OOXML .docx	SXW	UOF
AbiWord	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Atlantis Word Processor	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Bean	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
CopyDesk	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
FrameMaker	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
GNU TeXmacs	yes, with MathML support	yes, with BibTeX support	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Ichitaro	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
InCopy	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Jarte	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
KWord	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
LibreOffice Writer	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IBM Lotus Symphony	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Lotus Word Pro	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
LyX	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	with external program	No	No	No	No
Mariner Write	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Mathematica	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Microsoft Word	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Microsoft Works	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
NeoOffice Writer	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
OpenOffice Writer	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pages	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
PolyEdit	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
RedOffice	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
StarOffice Writer	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ted	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
TextEdit	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
TextMaker	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
WordPerfect	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Word Processor	HTML	LaTeX	ODF .odt	RTF	Word .doc	WordPerfect	OOXML .docx	SXW	UOF

Export or Save capabilities

This table gives a comparison of the file formats each word processor can export or save.

Word Processor	HTML	LaTeX	ODF .odt	PDF	RTF	Word .doc	WordPerfect	OOXML .docx	UOF
AbiWord	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial (Linux ver.)	Yes	Yes	Yes disabled [2]	Yes	No
Atlantis Word Processor	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Bean	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Cassiopeia	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
CopyDesk	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
FrameMaker	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
GNU TeXmacs	yes, with MathML equations	yes, with BibTeX bibliography	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Ichitaro	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
InCopy	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Jarte	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
KWord	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
LibreOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
IBM Lotus Symphony	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Lotus Word Pro	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
LyX	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Mariner Write	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Mathematica	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Microsoft Word	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Microsoft Works	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
NeoOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
OpenOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Pages	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
PolyEdit	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
RedOffice	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
StarOffice Writer	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Ted	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
TextEdit	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
TextMaker	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
WordPerfect	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Word Processor	HTML	LaTeX	ODF .odt	PDF	RTF	Word .doc	WordPerfect	OOXML .docx	UOF

See also

• List of word processors
• Comparison of spreadsheets
• Comparison of text editors
• Comparison of TeX editors
• Comparison of office suites
• Office suite
• Online office suite

External links

• Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers
• Comparison of Word and LaTeX in scientific writing
• Top 8 Free Online Word Processors
• Online word processors: A hands-on comparison