4 reasons why LibreOffice downloads are way up (hint: you'll relate)

LibreOffice, the open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, is seeing a serious uptick in downloads (as first reported by Computerworld ) with February’s release of version 25.2. According to the Document Foundation, LibreOffice, which runs on Linux, MacOS, and Windows, now boasts around 200 million worldwide users.  

Document Foundation’s Mike Saunders said that the exact number of total users is difficult to pinpoint, as the Foundation does not track users in order to maintain their privacy. Sanders also noted that downloads of LibreOffice have been climbing with every new release, which is a good indicator that The Document Foundation is doing something right.

Also: 5 stand-out LibreOffice features that make it my go-to office suite

Why is LibreOffice seeing an uptick in downloads now?

I see four possible reasons:

• Windows 10 support ending
• Price increases for proprietary rivals
• AI fatigue
• Subscription fatigue

1. Windows 10 support ending

This year will see the end of Windows 10 support.  Although consumers can purchase an extended license, that will only get them security updates. You’re out of luck if you want new features or a steady stream of bug fixes. On top of that, many of those Windows 10 PCs won’t run Windows 11, meaning consumers must purchase a new PC.

Also: Microsoft has a big Windows 10 problem, and it’s running out of time to solve it

With that on the horizon, more and more people are switching to Linux or MacOS. LibreOffice is the smart choice for those making the switch because it’s free, cross-platform compatible, and supports the MS Office document formats.

2. Price increase for MS Office

Microsoft recently announced a signifcant price increase for Office365. The new plans jump from $6.99/month to $9.99/month, while family plans go from $6.99/month to $12.99/month. Those are 43% and 30% increases, respectively, which do not sit well with many people who are having to tighten their economic belts.

But why are the price hikes coming?

Also: The Microsoft 365 Copilot launch was a total disaster

AI.

That’s right: Microsoft is raising the prices because of the new Copilot integration. When you subscribe to Office365, you receive 60 AI credits that can be used for document creation, data analysis, and image editing with Microsoft Designer. If you don’t use AI, you still pay for the service via the subscription increases.

3. AI fatigue

Another possible reason for the increased downloads of LibreOffice is that Microsoft is going out of its way to integrate AI into its software — and many users are experiencing AI fatigue. (According to WeAreBrain, AI fatigue is caused by information overload, unrealistic expectations, complexity and uncertainty, lack of clarity, ethical concerns, resistance to change, and overemphasizing new technology.) 

But this goes beyond fatigue; not every user supports AI intrusion, especially in an office suite. It’s fine if AI is an opt-in feature, but when a company doesn’t give you the option, it will ruffle some feathers. 

Also: I’ve published dozens of novels – and these 5 free writing tools helped make it possible

One issue with AI integrated into office suites is that you cannot be certain if the AI is using your documents for training purposes, which many consider an invasion of privacy. I would never use an office suite with integrated AI because I write my novels with an office suite and do not want those manuscripts used for AI training (even though companies like Meta do it anyway and without permission).

The Document Foundation has no intention of adding AI to LibreOffice. A few extensions add some AI functions to LibreOffice, but those extensions often don’t work well or work at all.

4. Subscription fatigue

And then there are subscriptions, which have become the norm for the likes of Office365. I believe we’ve reached the point of subscription fatigue, too. Consumers are tightening their financial belts; subscriptions to tools like MS Office may be the first to go, in favor of open-source alternatives.

I’ve been using LibreOffice for over a decade and have never had a problem with the office suite. I’ve written nearly 70 novels with the help of this open-source tool and can’t imagine using anything else. 

You can read about the latest LibreOffice release on the official blog and download an installer for your OS from the LibreOffice download page.