Many people overlook Apple’s iWork suite in favor of Microsoft Office. Although they use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in their day-to-day life, it doesn’t mean Microsoft Office is superior to iWork.
In fact, the Apple office suite has equal benefits to Microsoft Office, for it has been working on iWork to enhance its functionality in order to deliver a polished product. As a result, you can sync over iCloud, it’s easy to use and free to install on your Mac. Therefore iWork is worth your consideration even though you have been using Microsoft Office for decades. You can now download Microsoft Office on App Store, and because of its constant updates, it’s now compatible with the latest version of iOS.
Here is a review of iWork and Microsoft Office.
Reasons Why iWork is a Good Deal for Most People
Sync to iCloud
Users using Microsoft Office can sync with Microsoft OneDrive, while those on iWork can use Apple iWork. They both have the latest versions online, and users can access them over the web or using any device.
One of the main advantages of iWork is that iCloud is deeply integrated into Apple products, including software and hardware. This enables users to handoff their documents across all Apple devices, including iPhone, Mac, and iPad, without clicking Save or skipping a beat.
Microsoft doesn’t offer such a seamless integration because it can’t tell which device you will be tying or using in order to handoff between them. Being able to switch between devices effortlessly is crucial nowadays because users work across many gadgets. As a result, most users prefer the user-friendly Apple iWork compared to Microsoft Office.
It’s Free
Most people get a free MS Office through their workplace or university. However, individuals who are not affiliated with any organization but use Office regularly, like freelancers or hobbyists, face some challenges when using it. However, they would be happy to have a free-of-charge app.
While they can download MS Word on their Mac, they can only read existing documents and not create or edit a new one. They need at least $70 per year to activate Office 365 subscription to unlock everything. This includes unlocking access to additional apps like Access, Publisher, and Outlook. However, most people don’t need such niche apps.
iWork, on the other hand, is free to download and has no restrictions when you use it, even on older Apple products.
Has a Cleaner Interface
Microsoft Office has powerful tools, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They have interfaces full of menus and options, thus giving users myriad settings that they want. On the other hand, these extra features make the interface appear distractive and messy.
iWork has a cleaner look because it has eliminated all the distractions in order to offer an easy-to-use environment that fosters productivity. You have buttons such as Insert, Table, Chart, Text, Shape, Media, and Comment on the top of the Pages window. These are pretty what you need for word processing. Additionally, iWork has fewer Numbers and Keynote apps.
Actually, Apple’s iWork has the same setting as the MS Office; however, it has opted to keep the majority of buttons out of sight in order to maintain a much cleaner and pleasing interface.
Takeaway
Users who have not used iWork before should give it a shot soon because they can sync with iCloud, are free to download and have a clean and user-friendly interface. It’s rich in features, although most of them are hidden to eliminate distractions.
Microsoft Office is already accessible in the Apple Store; however, you need a Microsoft 365 subscription to access full features.
