MS Office alternative for solopreneurs

Is Microsoft Office Always the Only Option for Micro-Enterprises?

The fundamental question is whether we're always stuck with Microsoft Office and its subscription-based model introduced some time ago. The answer, as usual, is "it depends."

If you're working in a large team using both Mac and PC computers and need advanced data access management, permission allocation, and additional business tools in the package, the answer is simple: you need Microsoft's solutions or Google alternatives, which I've described here. However, for smaller teams of a few people who self-organize and don't work on complex Excel files with numerous macros, there's a simple alternative.

One of the biggest advantages of using Apple devices is the company's comprehensive approach to solving everyday challenges. That's why when you take a Mac out of the box, you're ready to work within a few moments. This isn't just about the quick and very intuitive hardware setup process but also about the software included with the device.

In addition to an excellent operating system that ensures performance, security, and a highly intuitive user experience, you get practically all the applications necessary for daily work. In another post, I will discuss the possibilities of the "creative suite," including iMovie for video editing and GarageBand for audio editing, as well as other interesting apps like iPhotos, which allows for managing, editing, and securely storing your photo library. Today, however, I'll focus on the office suite, which includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

Pages

A text editor whose biggest advantage is its very simple and intuitive interface, allowing you to fully focus on the text being written rather than a million distracting functions. At the same time, it offers most of the functionalities known from MS Word.

Numbers

A spreadsheet editor slightly simplified compared to MS Excel, yet it allows performing all basic tasks required of such software. Additionally, it encourages use with its simple interface and intuitive operation.

Keynote

A presentation editor considered by many to be better than the famous PowerPoint. It offers a multitude of functions, allowing for breathtaking effects when creating presentations.

All these applications are available on macOS, iPadOS, and iOS, and even in a web version accessible through a browser, allowing you to use them on any device. They are fully compatible with MS Office, enabling you to open, edit, and export files in doc(x), xls(x), ppt(x) formats. An additional advantage is full synchronization between devices and Handoff, which allows for an easy switch between devices while working on a document.

Thanks to Apple's comprehensive solutions, we can use office software without additional costs, simply by fully leveraging the potential offered by the platform.