What Is The Apple Version Of Microsoft Word?

Pages is considered as the Apple version of Microsoft Word. It is a word-processing software similar to Microsoft Word that allows users to create and edit documents. There is also a version of Microsoft Office for Mac which includes Microsoft Word. 

If you have recently switched from a Windows PC to a Mac or are considering making the switch, you may be wondering if all of your favorite Microsoft applications have an Apple equivalent. The good news is that most popular Microsoft applications do have a Mac counterpart. In some cases, the features and functionality of the counterparts are identical; in others, there are slight differences.

In this write-up,  we’ll take a look at the Apple version of Microsoft Word: Pages. We’ll go over some of the key features and differences and whether or not it’s the right word processing software for you.

A Short Introduction to Pages

Pages is a word-processing application developed by Apple. It was first released in February 2005 as part of the iWork suite, which currently also includes Keynote (Apple’s version of PowerPoint) and Numbers (Apple’s version of Excel). The idea behind the iWork suite is to offer Mac users a worthy alternative to Microsoft Office.

Pages has come a long way since its initial release and is now a powerful word-processing application with all the features you need to create professional-looking documents. It arrives with a streamlined interface, easy-to-use tools, and other advanced features to help you easily create and edit beautiful and professional documents.

Today, Apple Pages is available for free for all Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. It can be downloaded from the App Store. There is also an online version of Pages called Pages for iCloud that can be accessed from any web browser through an iCloud account.

Apple Pages Vs. MS Word: Which is Better?

Now that we have a brief understanding of what Pages is. Let’s compare it to Microsoft Word to see which one comes out on top.

User Interface

The first thing you’ll notice when you open Pages is how clean and uncluttered the interface is. Everything is well organized and easy to find. MS Word is also pretty user-friendly. However, first-time users might find it a bit outdated compared to today’s standards. The customization options are easily accessible from the right side of the screen in the Pages, whereas in Word,  they are located in the top bar and sometimes hidden in the drop-down menu.

Regarding the user interface, we think Pages has the upper hand. However, there are reasons why Microsoft  Word is not bringing any significant changes to its interface. The fact is millions of users are already familiar with the Word interface, and they don’t want to relearn how to use the application.

Text Formatting

When it comes to text formatting, both Pages and Words are equipped with basic features like different types of fonts, font sizes, text colors, text alignment, lists, multi-level lists, tables, annotating, etc. You can also bold, underline, italicize, and strikethrough text on both platforms. Overall, the text-formatting options are pretty similar in both applications.

Pages, however, do have a few features that Word lacks. For instance, Pages lets you change the tracking of your text which gives you more control over how your text looks. Although the feature is available in MS Word, it’s limited.

Templates

Both Pages and Word come with various built-in templates that make it easy to create beautiful and professional documents without starting from scratch. The templates are categorized by document type, such as resumes, letters, invoices, flyers, etc.

When compared side-by-side, the templates in MS Word are more rich and detailed compared to the templates in Pages. You will only find a handful of generic templates in Pages, whereas Word has a template for almost everything you can think of.

Compatibility

Pages is only compatible with Apple devices, which means you can only open and edit Pages documents on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. However, Apple users can share their documents with non-Apple users through iCloud for real-time collaboration.

Microsoft Word, on the other hand, is compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. This makes it a better choice if you need to collaborate with people who use different types of devices. Real-time collaboration is also available in Word through OneDrive.

Pricing

Apple Pages is free for all Apple devices. There is no subscription required. This makes it a great choice for those who have an Apple device and don’t want to pay for a subscription.

Microsoft Word, on the other hand, is part of the Microsoft Office suite. Office 365 Home, which includes Word, costs $99.99 per year. A one-time purchase of Office 2021 Home & Student, which includes Word, costs $149.99.

Multimedia  Support

Both Pages and Word support many multimedia file formats, such as images, videos, and audio files. You can also insert charts and graphs into your document on both platforms. However, Pages has more options when it comes to multimedia files. For instance, you can insert an image in the background of your document on Pages easily, whereas it’s pretty complicated to do in MS Word. You can also add title photos in Page, which is impossible in Word.

So, Which is Better?

Both Pages and Word are great applications with many features. However, it’s obvious that Pages is the overall better choice for the Apple user. It’s free, easy to use,  and has a more user-friendly interface. So, if you’re looking for an alternative to Microsoft Word for Mac, we recommend Pages.

Can I Use MS Word on the Apple Devices?

Yes, you can use MS Word on Apple Devices. There is a Mac version of MS Office, which includes Word as well as Excel and PowerPoint. Although it lacks some features and arrives with a bit different interface, the general idea is the same. You can purchase it from the Microsoft website.

You can also use MS Word on your iPad or iPhone through the Office for iOS apps, which are free to download from the App Store. However, the features of these apps are limited since they are designed for smaller smartphone screens.

There is also a web-based version of Office apps that you can use on an Apple device from the MS Office Online website. These web apps are free to use, but again, the feature set is more limited than the full desktop versions.

Are There Any Other Alternatives to MS Word for Apple Devices?

There are many other alternatives to MS Word for  Apple devices. Some of the most popular ones include:

Google Docs: Google Docs is a versatile and free web-based word-processing application that lets you create and edit documents online. The best thing about  Google Docs is that it can be used on any device since you can access it through web browsers. It also has excellent real-time collaboration features.

LibreOffice: LibreOffice is a free and open-source office suite that includes a word processor called LibreOffice Writer. It’s compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. LibreOffice has many features that are similar to MS Word, such as paragraph formatting, spell-checking, etc.

Apache OpenOffice: Apache OpenOffice is another free and open-source office suite with a well-equipped word processor called Apache OpenOffice Writer. Like LibreOffice Writer, it’s compatible with all major operating systems, available in different languages, and includes many features identical to MS Word.

Conclusion

MS Word has revolutionized the world of digital text documents, and it’s been the go-to word processor for many people for over three decades. In recent years, however, several viable alternatives to MS Word have emerged in recent years, most notably Pages and Google Docs.

If you’re an Apple user looking for an alternative to MS Word, we recommend Pages. It’s perfect in every way for the Apple user. And it’s free! And, since Apple develops it, you will surely get the best user experience possible. 

So, there you have it! That’s everything you need to know about the Apple version of Microsoft Word. we hope you found this article helpful. Thanks for reading!

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