Microsoft Word vs Pages

by Gralio Feb 03, 2025

Microsoft Word and Pages are leading word processors catering to different needs. Word excels in features and Microsoft Office integration, while Pages offers a user-friendly experience and free access within the Apple ecosystem. Word is favored by businesses using the Microsoft Suite, while Pages suits Apple users prioritizing design and ease of use.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 4457 reviews and 59 websites, saving 1 day, 1 hour, 15 minutes of reading.

Logo of Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word
Logo of Pages
Pages

About

Microsoft Word is a versatile word processing software that enables you to create professional documents. It offers a range of features including spelling and grammar checkers, formatting tools, and seamless integration with other Microsoft Office applications. Accessible on various devices, Word allows you to work on documents from anywhere, making it a practical solution for individuals and businesses of all sizes.
Pages is Apple's word processor for creating professional-looking documents. It offers templates, custom color palettes, and collaboration tools. Businesses can use it to create marketing materials, internal documents, and even interactive publications. Pages is known for its user-friendly interface and focus on design, making it a good choice for creating visually appealing documents. It's exclusively available on Apple devices.

Summary

Main difference
Microsoft Word is better for businesses heavily reliant on the Microsoft Office Suite due to its seamless integration and extensive features. Pages is better for individuals and businesses invested in the Apple ecosystem, prioritizing user-friendly design and free access across Apple devices.

Relative strengths of Microsoft Word (compared to Pages)

  • Seamless integration with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

  • Extensive features for document creation and editing.

  • Wide cross-device compatibility (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web).

Relative weaknesses of Microsoft Word (compared to Pages)

  • Subscription cost can be a barrier for some users.

  • Image and table formatting can be challenging.

  • Limited offline access in free versions.

Who should use Microsoft Word VS. Pages

Microsoft Word is a versatile word processor suitable for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Users praise its user-friendly interface, diverse templates, and seamless integration with other Microsoft applications. However, some find image and table formatting challenging and dislike the subscription cost. Its wide range of features makes it a practical choice for various document creation needs.

Apple Pages is a user-friendly word processor ideal for Apple users seeking to create professional documents. Its intuitive design and visually appealing templates are praised for simplifying document creation. However, users note compatibility issues when sharing with non-Apple users.

  • Ideal for small, medium, and enterprise businesses.

  • Suitable for various industries including healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and more.

  • Best for small to medium-sized businesses.

  • Suitable for various industries, including healthcare, finance, and education.

Microsoft Word and Pages features

Supported
Partially supported
Not supported
Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need
  • Multi-Device Compatibility
    Supported

    Word is accessible on various devices, like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

    Supported

    Pages is compatible with Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.

  • Real-time Collaboration
    Supported

    Microsoft Word supports real-time collaboration for documents stored in OneDrive, SharePoint, or OneDrive for Business.

    Supported

    Pages supports real-time collaboration for multiple users.

  • Document Templates
    Supported

    Word supports document templates for creating professional content.

    Supported

    Pages offers various pre-designed templates for creating professional documents.

  • Word export
    Supported

    Microsoft Word allows users to create, customize, export, and use templates in Word format.

    Supported

    Apple Pages allows exporting documents to Word format.

  • Formatting features
    Supported

    Microsoft Word satisfies the requirement for formatting features as it provides tools for managing text, paragraphs, fonts, styles, headings, lists, tables, and images.

    Supported

    Pages supports all the listed formatting features including managing text, paragraphs, fonts, styles, headings, lists, tables, and images.

  • Microsoft Office integration
    Supported

    Microsoft Word is fully integrated with the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as evidenced by the provided excerpts.

    Unknown

    The provided context does not provide information about Microsoft Office integration with Apple Pages.

Qualities

  • Value and Pricing Transparency
    -0.62
    Rather negative sentiment
    +0.71
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Customer Service
    +0.33
    Rather positive sentiment
    No data
  • Ease of Use
    +0.8
    Strongly positive sentiment
    +0.92
    Strongly positive sentiment
  • Reliability and Performance
    +0.38
    Rather positive sentiment
    +0.43
    Rather positive sentiment
  • Ease of Implementation
    +0.8
    Strongly positive sentiment
    -1
    Strongly negative sentiment
  • Scalability
    -0.25
    Neutral sentiment
    +1
    Strongly positive sentiment
Microsoft Word and Pages Pricing
No data

User sentiment

Rather negative
-0.62
We couldn't find a pricing page for Microsoft Word.
No data

User sentiment

Strongly positive
+0.71
We couldn't find a pricing page for Pages.

Microsoft Word and Pages review insights

4457 reviews analysed from and

Users love

  • User-friendly interface.
  • Versatile document creation options.
  • Wide range of templates.
  • Seamless integration with other Microsoft Office applications.
  • User-friendly interface and intuitive design.
  • Free and included with Apple devices.
  • Visually appealing templates.
  • Seamless integration with other Apple devices and iCloud.

Users dislike

  • Difficult image formatting.
  • Subscription cost is high.
  • Table formatting can be challenging.
  • Limited offline access in free versions.
  • Compatibility issues arise when sharing documents with non-Apple users.
  • Converting to Word format can lead to formatting inconsistencies.
  • Advanced features are limited compared to Microsoft Word.
  • The mobile app has limited functionality.

Microsoft Word and Pages Ratings

  • G2
    4.7/5
    (1858)
  • Capterra
    4.7/5
    (2074)
  • G2
    4.3/5
    (371)
  • Capterra
    4.6/5
    (154)
  • Glassdoor
    4.1/5
    (43979)

Company health

Employee growth

3% increase in the last year
10% increase in the last year

Web traffic

11% decrease in the last quarter
1% decrease in the last quarter

Financing

No data
January 2021 - $1B

How important is seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office Suite?

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office Suite is very important when considering Microsoft Word, as it is a core component of the suite and its value proposition hinges on its integration with other Microsoft applications like Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Conversely, for Pages, seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office Suite is less critical. While Pages can export to Word format, it is primarily designed for the Apple ecosystem and its strength lies in its integration with other Apple products and services. Compatibility with Microsoft Office is more of a convenience feature for Pages users who need to share documents with non-Apple users, rather than a central aspect of its functionality.

Which product better supports collaborative editing for diverse teams?

Microsoft Word is better for diverse teams needing collaborative editing. While Pages offers collaborative features, it's limited to Apple devices, restricting accessibility for teams using various operating systems. Microsoft Word's real-time co-editing, accessible across different platforms, makes it more inclusive and practical for diverse teams.

What are the advantages of Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word's advantages include broader cross-platform compatibility, extensive formatting features, and robust integration with the Microsoft Office suite. Real-time co-editing features enhance collaboration, while a wider selection of templates caters to diverse document creation needs. While facing criticism for image and table formatting challenges, its widespread use and feature richness make it a versatile choice for various document tasks.

What are the disadvantages of Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word can be expensive due to its subscription-based pricing model. Some users find image and table formatting challenging. While offline editing is supported, it has limitations, especially in free versions. Finally, some users dislike the difficulty converting to other formats while maintaining formatting consistency.

Alternatives to Microsoft Word and Pages

Logo of Foxit PDF Editor Suite
Foxit PDF Editor Suite
Foxit PDF Editor Suite is a software solution for businesses to create, edit, manage, and securely share PDFs. It offers e-signature capabilities, integrates with popular platforms like Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace, and boasts AI-powered features for document analysis and generation. Foxit is known as a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Acrobat, recognized for its speed and innovative features.
Logo of Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe Acrobat is a software solution that lets you create, edit, convert, share, sign, and combine PDF documents. Popular with large companies, Acrobat offers robust security features to protect your documents and ensures compliance with industry standards. You can integrate Acrobat with Microsoft 365, Teams, Outlook, Google Workspace, and other popular apps to streamline your workflows. It also offers mobile functionality so you can work from anywhere.
Logo of LibreOffice Writer
LibreOffice Writer is a free and powerful word processing software. It offers all the standard features you'd expect, plus advanced capabilities for desktop publishing. Create simple documents or complex projects with tables of contents, illustrations, and indexes. LibreOffice Writer allows you to focus on your content, while it ensures a polished and professional look.
Logo of iWork
iWork is Apple's free office suite for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. It's known for its user-friendly interface and focus on visual appeal, making it easy to create professional-looking documents. iWork offers real-time collaboration features, allowing teams to work together seamlessly across Apple devices and even PCs. While it might not have the advanced features of some competitors, its simplicity and collaborative tools make it a strong option for individuals and teams who prioritize ease of use and design.
Logo of ClickUp
ClickUp
ClickUp is a comprehensive work management platform designed to consolidate various work processes into one centralized location. It offers a wide array of features including task management, project planning, document collaboration, communication tools, goal setting, and automation options. ClickUp aims to enhance team collaboration, improve visibility across projects, and streamline workflows for increased productivity regardless of team size or industry.
Logo of Carbone
Carbone is a document generation tool that lets you create templates for various documents like reports, invoices, and spreadsheets. It uses a simple tagging system to add data dynamically, so you don't need a developer for every change. Carbone supports popular formats like PDF and DOCX, and boasts fast rendering times for efficient document creation. It's designed to be user-friendly, allowing even non-technical staff to design professional documents.

How are we doing?

Is this information helpful to you? Is there anything we are missing?
Did this help you select your product?
Other issues? Vote & Let us know