Programs Like Microsoft Access
Microsoft Access is a database tool, popularized through its inclusion in most Microsoft Office packages since 1992. Like many database programs, Microsoft Access is a complex tool with a steep learning curve. However, there are Microsoft Access alternatives, and here are some of the best. Consider the need to develop a lightweight desktop DB application on the Microsoft platforms. It could be done fairly easily with MS Access but I'd like to be able to distribute it to others and I. What's the best free alternative to Microsoft Office? And like most of Google's Web-based apps, it's just ugly. I consider myself a creative guy, and when I'm creating stuff, I prefer a pretty. What is a good (ideally free) alternative to MS Access? A SQL server like MySQL or Postgres would be used for the storage ('back end'), but you would still need a. Actual customers of Microsoft Access have an average satisfaction rating with the product at 98% which reveals their attitude towards this service. If you devote some of your time to analyzing other Microsoft Access alternatives you will surely find other programs with similar or even better ratings.
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There are several free Microsoft Office alternatives that contain similar versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Many of these Microsoft Office free alternatives open, edit, and create Office documents. However, these free Office alternatives don't have all the cool Office features, but many get close.
If you want a free and convenient alternative to Microsoft Word only, there are a number of free downloadable word processors and free online word processors. There are also free spreadsheet programs and free presentation software apps.
If you'd like to give the real Microsoft Office applications a try, check out the one-month free trial for Microsoft Office 365, which is a cloud-based subscription service that offers the same apps as Office 2019, but with additional tools and benefits.
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LibreOffice
What We Like
Robust word processor for documents, books, diagrams, and indexes.
Fully compatible with DOCX files.
Easy to create forms.
What We Don't Like
Must install entire suite of apps, not just Writer.
No integrated cloud storage.
No real-time collaboration feature.
LibreOffice is a replacement for Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, while adding a few extra features.
Six separate programs install with LibreOffice to make up the suite: Writer (word processing), Impress (presentations), Calc (spreadsheets), Base (databases), Math (formula editing), and Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts).
Each of the Microsoft Office alternatives can open, edit, and save to the Office 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007 file formats.
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OpenOffice
What We Like
No learning curve for those familiar with Word.
Software looks and feels familiar.
Mature product, in development for 20+ years.
What We Don't Like
No online collaboration.
Default file format is ODF, change to DOC for Word compatibility.
No built-in grammar checker.
OpenOffice has a word processor, database, spreadsheet, and presentation program that can all act as Microsoft Office application alternatives. Writer (word processing), Calc (spreadsheets), Base (databases), and Impress (presentations) are the Microsoft Office free alternatives offered by OpenOffice that can be used in full at absolutely no cost. (The suite also includes Draw and Math.)
Many popular file formats can be opened with OpenOffice, such as DOC, DOCX, XML, XLS, XLW, DBF, PPT, PPS, and POTX.
During installation, selectively decide to install some or all of the OpenOffice programs to avoid adding a program you won't use.
Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP are supported as well as Linux and Mac operating systems. There's also a portable version of OpenOffice so you don't have to install anything, though the download is almost 40 MB larger than the regular installer.
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WPS Office
What We Like
Compatible with Microsoft Office file formats.
Open multiple document tabs.
Eye Protection mode and Night mode.
What We Don't Like
Annual fee to suppress ads.
Advanced features require a paid version.
No real-time co-authoring.
WPS Office, formerly Kingsoft Office, installs three programs that work as Microsoft Office alternatives: Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheets. WPS Office Writer is a replacement for Microsoft Word. It opens common file formats such as WPS, DOC, and DOCX, as well as Microsoft Word template files such as DOT and DOTM.
The Microsoft PowerPoint alternative, WPS Office Presentation, opens and saves files in formats that can be used in Microsoft Office or with the free WPS Office. File types such as PPT and PPS are supported.
The Microsoft Excel alternative is called WPS Office Spreadsheets and works with Microsoft Excel 2010 files such as XLSX and XLSM. Functions such as SUM, COUNT, SUMIF, and AVERAGE are supported when building formulas.
WPS Office supports Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS operating systems.
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Google Drive
What We Like
Free cloud storage space.
Excellent collaboration capabilities.
Sync files across computers and mobile devices.
What We Don't Like
Can't password protect shared files.
No Linux desktop client.
Not as sophisticated as Microsoft Office.
Google Drive is a free storage service offered by Google that also creates online documents without downloading any software, making it a perfect Microsoft Office replacement. Log in with your Google account to create document, presentation, and spreadsheet files to replace Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Files created with Google Drive are automatically saved to your Google account, accessible from any browser at any time, and can be shared with anyone, even if they're not a Google user. Google Drive also supports simultaneous collaboration with other users in real-time and allows add-ons to be used with documents and spreadsheets to extend functionality.
Existing Microsoft Office documents, such as DOCX and XLSX files, can be opened in Google Docs, then converted to a Google Drive format for easy editing.
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Zoho Docs
What We Like
Excellent collaboration features with built-in chat.
Advanced analytics tracks edits to files.
Secure encryption and two-factor authentication.
What We Don't Like
Web-based software, no desktop app.
Can't edit documents online.
Slower than other online office suites.
Zoho Docs is another online office suite that includes a presentation maker, word processor, and spreadsheet program, much like Microsoft Office.
Upload several popular file types to Zoho Docs from your computer or Google Drive as well as create new ones online. Then edit files, share files with others, and download them in their original format or a different one. All the common text formatting tools are included and files are saved automatically as you work.
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Microsoft Office Online
What We Like
No installation necessary.
Real-time collaboration with others.
Familiar, streamlined Office apps accessible in any browser.
What We Don't Like
Lacks many of the advanced features of the desktop apps.
Doesn't support some file formats.
If you're looking for a Microsoft Office free edition, this is the closest you'll come. Though not exactly a Microsoft Office alternative, this Microsoft service, called Microsoft Office Online, offers web-based versions of Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Excel online at no cost.
Files can be edited only when saved to your OneDrive account, which means you must upload files there to edit them with Word, PowerPoint, or Excel.
Any file type that works with Microsoft Office products works with Microsoft Office Online, which means you can edit any file and save a copy to your computer or in OneDrive.
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ONLYOFFICE Personal
What We Like
Compatible with Microsoft Office formats.
Sharing and collaboration features.
Personal version is free.
What We Don't Like
Add-ons needed to insert images and for other features.
Not as robust as the paid version or its competitors.
Similar to other Microsoft Office free alternatives, ONLYOFFICE Personal is a suite of online programs, which means you can use them from any web browser without downloading a single program. Log in to ONLYOFFICE Personal with your Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, or ONLYOFFICE account, and create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Files can be uploaded from your computer as well as a few cloud storage services, such as Dropbox.
Also supported in this free MS Office-like program is chat, co-editing, spell check, and sharing with anyone, even if they aren't logged into their ONLYOFFICE account.
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SoftMaker FreeOffice
What We Like
Free for home and business use.
Saves documents in Microsoft file formats.
Choice of ribbons or classic menu and toolbars.
Optimized for touch screens.
What We Don't Like
No cloud support.
No auto-save feature.
No thesaurus or U.S. English dictionary.
SoftMaker FreeOffice is an Office alternative for Windows and Linux computers. PlanMaker (spreadsheets), Presentations (presentations), and TextMaker (word processing) are included, all of which can open and save files in formats such as DOC, DOCX, ODT, XLS, PPT, PPS, PPTX, POTM, DOTM, and DOT, among others.
All three portions of SoftMaker FreeOffice work with the file types supported in the newest version of Microsoft Office as well as older ones such as Office 2010 and Office 2007.
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SSuite Office
What We Like
Small downloads for full-featured apps.
Fast startup.
What We Don't Like
Loads many apps that may never be needed.
The user interface is hard to follow.
SSuite Office has seven Microsoft Office alternatives available, each with a different set of features and each is free to use. The two basic versions, the Personal and Advanced editions, don't include the Presentation program. However, the other suites do. SSuite Office provides a feature comparison table of each edition on the download page.
Instead of downloading the whole Microsoft Office free alternative suite, download the word processor or spreadsheet program, for instance, as a separate download.
There's also a portable version on the download page called Blade Runner.
Active3 years, 3 months ago
Consider the need to develop a lightweight desktop DB application on the Microsoft platforms.
It could be done fairly easily with MS Access but I'd like to be able to distribute it to others and I don't want to pay for a runtime license.
Requirements:
- easy distribution to others
- no runtime licensing issues
Considerations and Candidates:
- Base from the OpenOffice suite. My concerns were around its stability.
- MySQL + writing custom DB code in C++ or Python or whatever seems like a rather heavy-handed solution.
Question: What are the low cost or free database alternatives to MS Access?
See Also:Open Source Reporting Engines
@Schnapple
Bruceatk kind of hit on what I'm thinking of; it's not so much the DB engine as I want the other niceties that Access brings to the party. The nice form designer, the nice reporting engine etc. But you do raise a very good point about the installation footprint. I had considered that but I've not made any firm decisions about which way I'm going with this yet anyway. It'll probably be something fairly lightweight anyway and a small installation footprint would definitely be a plus.
@Remou,
No I was unaware that the MS Access 2007 runtime is free; thanks for pointing that out. The last time I'd bothered to investigate it (I don't remember when it was) I think it was a fairly expensive license for the runtime because I think they were trying to sell it to Corporate IT departments.
And thanks to everyone else who responded as well; I was completely unaware of those other options you all pointed out.
closed as not constructive by Tim Post♦Nov 18 '12 at 15:52
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28 Answers
SQLlite,
Firebird,
VistaDB (not free),
and SQL Server Compact Edition (not Express)
all come to mind.
Another thought: while the original question does ask about desktop databases, its likely some people will land here looking for a database to use with a web site. It's important to remember that these are all in-process databases, and as such are rarely if ever appropriate for use on the web. If you want to build a web site, you really need a database server engine, like MS SQL, Postgresql, MySQL, Oracle, or their brethren. At the same time, those server engines are rarely if ever appropriate for a single-user desktop application.
Joel CoehoornJoel Coehoorn321k100 gold badges510 silver badges744 bronze badges
When people ask about a replacement for Access, a lot of them only think about the database, but what they are really asking about are all of the other features in Access. They usually don't care what database Access is using.
Some of the functionality provided by Access are: Forms, Query Building, Reports, Macros, Database Management, and some kind of language when you need to go beyond what the wizards provide.
SQLite, MySQL, and FireBird are free database back ends. They do not have those additional Access functions built into them. Any free alternatives to Access require you combining something like SQLite and a development language.
Probably the best free option would be SQLite and Visual Basic 2008 or C# 2008 Express Edition. This would have a heavy runtime dependency, so installing on a bare client could take quite the installer.
There really isn't a non-Access option for free with minimum runtime requirements. I wish there was.
I'll be interested in hearing if anybody knows any good alternatives.
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bruceatkbruceatk4,7932 gold badges22 silver badges35 bronze badges
Are you aware that the Access 2007 runtime can be downloaded for free?
Links for newer versions:
FionnualaFionnuala85.9k7 gold badges96 silver badges133 bronze badges
Schnapple asks:
Are you referring to the concept of a free database to distribute with an application, or an Access-like 'single file, no installation' database?
Er, nobody who has any competence with Access application development would ever distribute a single MDB/ACCDB as application/data store. Any non-trivial Access application needs to be split into a front end with the forms/queries/reports (i.e., UI objects) and a back end (data tables only).
It's clear that what is needed here is a database application development tool like Access. None of the database-only answers are in any way responsive to that.
Please learn about Access before answering Access questions:
Access is a database applicationdevelopment tool that ships with adefault database engine called Jet.
But an Access application can bebuilt to work with data in almostany back end database, as long asthere's an ISAM, or an ODBC or OLEDBdriver for that database engine.
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Microsoft itself has done a good job of obfuscating the difference between Access (development tool) and Jet (database engine), so it's not surprising that many people don't recognize the difference. But developers ought to use precise language, and when you mean the database engine, use 'Jet', and when you mean the front-end development platform, use 'Access'.
stimms23.8k26 gold badges83 silver badges137 bronze badges
David-W-FentonDavid-W-Fenton21.4k3 gold badges39 silver badges53 bronze badges
To be honest - there aren't any free alternatives to MS Access. At least if you mean database development tool (forms, reports, queries, VBA support etc.). If you think about MS Access as a database engine (you mean MS Jet or ACE in fact) then yes - you have a lot of possibilities. There are a lot of free database engines - the most popular are MySQL and PostgreSQL. I can recommend both - it depends what you want to do.
For writing database frontends C++ is one of the worst choices. You should consider MS Visual C#, MS Visual Basic .NET or.. Even Java/Swing (if we are talking about desktop application). If you think about the web-enabled frontend - consider PHP (with MySQL or PostgreSQL on the backend) or ASP.NET (with MSSQL Server at the backend).
I strongly recommend you not to use C++ for such job. This language is very efficient and flexible, but advanced database frontend development with C++ is not the best idea. C++ is great in system programming, games development, maths and physics simulations, everywhere where efficiency is the key - like real-time applications etc. Frontends don't have to be daemons of speed - they should look nice and have advanced end-user features (like sorting, coloring etc.). If you are looking for free tools - maybe C# Express or Visual Basic.NET Express 2008 would be the proper choice? Or maybe Java/Swing (check the NetBeans IDE)? Maybe SharpDevelop? But not C++.. Leave C++ for the things it suits the best.
Check out suneido.
I made a fairly complicated GIS app as an experiment with it some years ago (database, complex gui, reports, client/server). It was a pleasant experience (apart from some documentation issues..) and I became productive with it very fast.
I don't use it anymore mainly because:
- it's not really general purpose
- it's not cross platform (windows only)
- I decided to stop exploring exotictechnologies and specialize in somethingmore mainstream.
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Of the Free Software alternatives these haven't been mentioned yet:
- Rekall (not sure about the status of the Windows version currently though)
- Glom (Windows version under development)
I'd also keep an eye on what DB RAD tools the Flex/Air community is coming up with, since with those tools it's possible to get unified desktop and web interfaces.
akaiholaakaihola21.6k5 gold badges50 silver badges60 bronze badges
Oracle XE With Application Express.
- Has a nice web based gui,
- Is a 'Real' database
- Will scale beyond a single desktop
- Offers a clear scale path beyond a small team
- Applications as web based, easily accessible.
- Can convert Excel spread sheets into Applications
11.4k8 gold badges56 silver badges79 bronze badges
You may want to look into SQLite (http://sqlite.org/). All depends on your usage though. Concurrency for example is not its greatest virtue. But for example Firefox uses it to store settings etc.
TillTill20.4k4 gold badges54 silver badges86 bronze badges
Microsoft Access Like Function
The issue is finding an alternative to MS Access that includes a visual, drag and drop development environment with a 'reasonable' database where the whole kit and caboodle can be deployed free of charge.
My first suggestion would be to look at this very complete list of MS Access alternatives (many of which are free), followed by a gander at this list of open source database development tools on osalt.com.
My second suggestion would be to check out WaveMaker, which is sort of an open source PowerBuilder for the cloud (disclaimer: I work there so should not be considered to be an unbiased source of information ;-)
WaveMaker combines a drag and drop IDE with an open source Java back end. It is licensed under the Apache license and boasts a 15,000-strong developer community.
NuBuilder (www.nubuilder.net) might be right.
NuBuilder is a GPLv3-licensed PHP web application that requires MySQL as backend database. Users and programmers both use the web interface.
They promote it as a free, web based MS Access alternative.I'm creating my second NuBuilder application these days. The NuBuilder seems to be very actively developed, and I found it stable and well documented (provided you can stand video tutorials.)
In the context of a programming forum, we don't usually think of the programmer also needing the application portion of the database. Normally a programmer wants to use their own development environment for the business logic and front end, and just use the store, query, retrieval, and data processing capabilities of the database.
If you really want all those other things, then you're talking about a much larger and more complicated run time environment. You're not going to find anything that's 'lightweight' any more. Even MS Access itself no longer qualifies, because it's hardly light weight. It's just lucky in that a lot of users might already have it, making it appear to be light weight.
This doesn't mean you won't find anything. Just that it's not likely to have the same level of maturity or distribution as Access, especially since the underlying access engine is already baked into Windows.
Joel CoehoornJoel Coehoorn321k100 gold badges510 silver badges744 bronze badges
VistaDB has an express version which is free to use and is syntax and driver compatible with SQL Server. VistaDB is a single file and only requires their driver .dll to work in your asp.net or winforms project.
Since it is syntax and datasource compatible you can upgrade to SQL Server if needed.
from their site:
VistaDB is a fully managed and typesafe ASP.NET and WinForms applications using C#, VB.NET and other CLR-compliant languages.
Brian BoatrightBrian Boatright16.7k31 gold badges75 silver badges100 bronze badges
Programs Like Microsoft Accessories
You mentioned Python, have you considered Dabo?
That would avoid much of the grunt work in a custom app.
The Access runtime license has never been all that expensive -- the cost for the developer tools/extensions has been around $300 as long as I can remember (which would be as far back to the Access 2 Developers Toolkit, or ADT), but that gives you the ability to distribute your app with the runtime to an unlimited number of users. As long as your runtime app was used by three or more users, you'd have been saving money (assuming a cost of $100/user to install a full copy of Access).
The runtime for Access 2007 is completely free, but really, the cost before that was not all that great.
Marc Gravell added (in what should have been a comment, in my opinion):
Being free, though, is certainly an encouragement for people to try it out which the $300 price really would have discouraged.
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Are you referring to the concept of a free database to distribute with an application, or an Access-like 'single file, no installation' database?
As in, things like SQL Server Express Edition require things like runtimes to be installed, databases to be created and mounted, entries on people's Start menus that they won't recognize (my wife asked why SQL Server was on her laptop the other day) whereas an Access database can be run in a single file.
I guess what I'm asking is do you want to think of the database as a document you write to or as an instance of something on someone else's machine?
Tom KiddTom Kidd7,96017 gold badges80 silver badges124 bronze badges
What about r:Base? Way back in the day r:Base was a very robust DOS (then Windows) RDMBS and this is pre-Access / pre-Paradox days. Its closest competitor was dBase but that wasnt fully relational, at the time. I developed some very nice r:Base applications AND, like Access today, had a built in report generator, forms facility, queries and table manipulation. To my surprise, its still alive! http://www.rbase.com/ Its got all that access offers, it seems. Might be something for you to consider.
TaptronicTaptronic3,4908 gold badges39 silver badges59 bronze badges
Kexi 2007.1.1 may be what you are looking for.
Its express version is free but DB size limited. Full version cost $72.
The description from its home page:Kexi is an easy to use application for visual database design for Linux and MS Windows. Kexi competes with MS Access, FoxPro, Oracle Forms and FileMaker.
Visit http://www.kexi-project.org/about.html for details.
Jakk
What about Microsoft's Visual Studio Express?http://www.microsoft.com/express/default.aspxSQL Server Express is also at that link..
Programs Like Microsoft Access
RaintreeRaintree
JoshuaJoshua15.2k22 gold badges71 silver badges105 bronze badges
Also check out http://www.sagekey.com/installation_access.aspx for great installation scripts for Ms Access. Also if you need to integrate images into your application check out DBPix at ammara.com
Much in line with Aurelio's answer, I now work in Ruby on Rails on some applications that I might formerly have done in MS Access. The back end database for a Rails App. is usually, MySql (works well enough and is available on most shared Web hosting) or PostgreSQL (the better choice when possible).
What you appear to be looking for is not just a database program, but a database with forms, reports, etc (basically an IDE of sorts). I would recommend trying OpenOffice.org Base, which comes with the office suite. It's free and open source. It's nowhere near as polished as access, but it does pretty much the same things.
Plus, if you know access, it will be at least somewhat familiar.
EDIT: Sorry, failed to read that you are considering OpenOffice.org. With regard to stability, I've had it crash and do some 'odd' things when I played with it, but Access has done the same thing. The best way to find out is to play with it a bit and see if it suits you.
I think the database included with OpenOffice.org has the form designer in it. I've never tried writing code for it though. A forum post I saw had a link to a tutorial they said had some code in it.
I started to set up a database for my wife and the interface was coming out pretty good as far as I could tell.
KnoblochKnobloch4641 gold badge6 silver badges14 bronze badges
I'd the same problem of you. I had a MS access application but I wanted to go to a web application accessible to everybody and without paying money to MS. So I decided to use MySql and Wavemaker (open source) to get the scope.I'm very happy of this decision. and that's the result http://www.mara-database.org/
for sqlite, check out the firefox extension. It offers a serviceable GUI.
Christopher MahanChristopher MahanPrograms Like Microsoft Access For Mac
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VistaDB is the only alternative if you going to run your website at shared hosting (almost all of them won't let you run your websites under Full Trust mode) and also if you need simple x-copy deployment enabled website.