Differences between Microsoft Office and OnlyOffice?
We use OnlyOffice to view Word and Excel files under Documents.
The main difference between OnlyOffice and the classic applications Excel and Word from Microsoft lies in the way they are used and the functions they offer. Here are some key differences:
Excel and Word are widely used and offer a greater number of functions, especially when it comes to complex calculations, charts or special formatting. Microsoft Office has a long history and is regularly updated with new features and security updates.
OnlyOffice is ideal for real-time collaboration and offers a user-friendly, cloud-based solution that is sufficient for many standard tasks.
Microsoft Office (Excel and Word) are more powerful applications that offer greater functionality and deeper integration for professional users, especially for complex tasks or working with large amounts of data.
OnlyOffice offers many features that are sufficient for most standard tasks, but lacks some advanced features compared to the Microsoft programs Word and Excel. Here are the main differences and features that are missing in OnlyOffice compared to Word and Excel:
Complex formulas and calculations:
Excel offers a huge collection of mathematical, statistical and financial functions necessary for advanced analysis, data modeling or specialized calculations. Functions such as Power Pivot, Power Query and DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) are missing in OnlyOffice.
Macros and VBA scripting:
Excel supports VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) for automating processes and creating user-defined functions. These automation features are missing in OnlyOffice, making it less suitable for advanced applications that require macros.
Advanced charts and pivot tables:
Excel* offers deep pivot table integration and a variety of chart types, as well as the ability to create interactive dashboards. OnlyOffice has basic pivot tables and charts, but not the same depth and flexibility.
Data connections and business intelligence:
Excel offers the ability to integrate external data sources (such as databases, APIs or web data) to perform extensive BI analysis. These functions are missing in OnlyOffice.
Advanced formatting and design options:
Word offers more advanced layout and design features, such as custom styles, advanced footnotes and endnotes, as well as deeper control over document styles and formatting. OnlyOffice offers basic formatting, but does not have the same level of detail and flexibility that Word offers.
Document review and translation:
Word offers built-in spell and grammar checking and the ability to translate documents into different languages (using Microsoft Translator). In OnlyOffice the spell checker is available, but the translation and advanced correction functions are less sophisticated.
Special content types:
Word has features such as Tables of Contents, Footnotes/Endnotes, Sources and Citations that are partially or not at all available in OnlyOffice.
Forms and protected documents:
In Word there are extensive functions for creating forms (with embedded form fields) and for protecting documents (e.g. password-protected sections, restricting changes). OnlyOffice offers simple password protection options, but control over document security and form functions is limited.
Both OnlyOffice and Microsoft 365 (online version of Word and Excel) offer real-time collaboration. However, OnlyOffice offers a more user-friendly interface for this feature and better integration of comments and change tracking, especially when multiple people are working on the same document at the same time.
Word and Excel offer a huge selection of professional templates and add-ons that speed up the creation of documents or data analysis. OnlyOffice offers fewer templates and add-ons.
The main difference between OnlyOffice and the classic applications Excel and Word from Microsoft lies in the way they are used and the functions they offer. Here are some key differences:
Excel and Word are widely used and offer a greater number of functions, especially when it comes to complex calculations, charts or special formatting. Microsoft Office has a long history and is regularly updated with new features and security updates.
OnlyOffice is ideal for real-time collaboration and offers a user-friendly, cloud-based solution that is sufficient for many standard tasks.
Microsoft Office (Excel and Word) are more powerful applications that offer greater functionality and deeper integration for professional users, especially for complex tasks or working with large amounts of data.
OnlyOffice offers many features that are sufficient for most standard tasks, but lacks some advanced features compared to the Microsoft programs Word and Excel. Here are the main differences and features that are missing in OnlyOffice compared to Word and Excel:
1. Advanced functions in Excel
Complex formulas and calculations:
Excel offers a huge collection of mathematical, statistical and financial functions necessary for advanced analysis, data modeling or specialized calculations. Functions such as Power Pivot, Power Query and DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) are missing in OnlyOffice.
Macros and VBA scripting:
Excel supports VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) for automating processes and creating user-defined functions. These automation features are missing in OnlyOffice, making it less suitable for advanced applications that require macros.
Advanced charts and pivot tables:
Excel* offers deep pivot table integration and a variety of chart types, as well as the ability to create interactive dashboards. OnlyOffice has basic pivot tables and charts, but not the same depth and flexibility.
Data connections and business intelligence:
Excel offers the ability to integrate external data sources (such as databases, APIs or web data) to perform extensive BI analysis. These functions are missing in OnlyOffice.
2. Advanced functions in Word
Advanced formatting and design options:
Word offers more advanced layout and design features, such as custom styles, advanced footnotes and endnotes, as well as deeper control over document styles and formatting. OnlyOffice offers basic formatting, but does not have the same level of detail and flexibility that Word offers.
Document review and translation:
Word offers built-in spell and grammar checking and the ability to translate documents into different languages (using Microsoft Translator). In OnlyOffice the spell checker is available, but the translation and advanced correction functions are less sophisticated.
Special content types:
Word has features such as Tables of Contents, Footnotes/Endnotes, Sources and Citations that are partially or not at all available in OnlyOffice.
Forms and protected documents:
In Word there are extensive functions for creating forms (with embedded form fields) and for protecting documents (e.g. password-protected sections, restricting changes). OnlyOffice offers simple password protection options, but control over document security and form functions is limited.
3. Collaboration and comments
Both OnlyOffice and Microsoft 365 (online version of Word and Excel) offer real-time collaboration. However, OnlyOffice offers a more user-friendly interface for this feature and better integration of comments and change tracking, especially when multiple people are working on the same document at the same time.
4. Access to professional templates and add-ons
Word and Excel offer a huge selection of professional templates and add-ons that speed up the creation of documents or data analysis. OnlyOffice offers fewer templates and add-ons.
Updated on: 05/03/2025
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