

Previous releases required some 32-bit dependencies to run on 64-bit architecture. The value here is that the free open source and both commercial versions of the 2018 releases are true 64-bit products. So opting for the free versus paid versions of the 2018 office suites might be a no-brainer.

When I reviewed SoftMaker FreeOffice 2016 and SoftMaker Office 2016, I found the paid and free versions to be almost identical in functionality and features. The Linux edition has the Thunderbird email management client. Both the free and the paid versions will contain fully functional TextMaker, PlanMaker, and Presentations, just like the paid Linux SoftMaker Office 2018 release. The exact feature list is not finalized yet, according to Sales Manager Jordan Popov.

The FreeOffice 2018 release will have the same ribbon interface option as SoftMaker Office 2018.
