WPS Office has gained a lot of attention over the past few years. It’s sleek, easy to use, and gives major Microsoft Office vibes—without the hefty price tag. But is it really worth paying for the Premium version, or is the free version good enough?
TL;DR
If you just need to open and write documents, the free version of WPS Office is solid. It includes Writer, Presentation, and Spreadsheets (just like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel!). Still, the Premium version unlocks cool extras like PDF editing, no ads, cloud storage, and advanced formatting tools. It really shines for power users or anyone who works with documents daily.
What is WPS Office?
WPS Office is an all-in-one office suite developed by Kingsoft. It’s available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. Think of it as a lighter, more budget-friendly version of Microsoft Office. It supports most Microsoft file types, so your .docx, .pptx, and .xlsx files will open just fine.
The suite includes:
- Writer – Word processor (like Microsoft Word)
- Spreadsheets – Spreadsheet editor (like Excel)
- Presentation – Slideshow creator (like PowerPoint)
- PDF tools – For managing and editing PDFs
Free Version: What Do You Get?
WPS Office Free packs a punch for something that doesn’t cost a dime. Here’s what you get:
- Writer, Spreadsheets, Presentation apps
- Basic PDF viewing and annotations
- Templates and themes
- Cloud sync with 1GB of storage
Sounds solid, right? Well, there’s a catch. The free version comes with ads. Not constant pop-ups, but enough for you to notice. Some features are also locked behind a “watch an ad to use” wall.
What Do You Get with Premium?
WPS Premium costs around $30 (annually), though there are often deals and discounts. Here’s what you unlock when you upgrade:
- No ads ever
- PDF editing, merging, splitting, and converting
- Advanced formatting and export options
- Ability to open and convert scanned PDFs using OCR
- 20GB cloud storage (instead of 1GB)
- File recovery and document collaboration tools
If you work with office files a lot—especially PDFs—the Premium version can save you a ton of time and hassle. Plus, no more annoying ads!
Is It Really Better Than Microsoft Office?
Let’s get real: Microsoft Office is the gold standard. But not everyone needs the full power of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you’re doing light to moderate document work, WPS Office can go toe-to-toe with Microsoft on most fronts.
Here’s a quick side-by-side:
| Feature | WPS Free | WPS Premium | Microsoft Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Editing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| PDF Editing | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ (requires Adobe Acrobat or 365 add-on) |
| Ads | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| One-Time Purchase | ✔ (Free) | ✔ (~$30/year) | ✘ (Subscription-based unless buying standalone) |
| Mobile Access | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Cloud Storage | 1GB | 20GB | OneDrive (5GB Free, 1TB with 365) |
Who Should Stick to the Free Version?
If you are:
- A student writing essays or reports
- Someone who barely uses spreadsheets or slides
- Just opening, reading, or writing basic documents
Then yeah, the free version will do the job just fine. The ads aren’t too bad, and it runs smoothly on most devices. You won’t miss many features unless you start doing complex formatting or editing PDFs all the time.
Who Should Go Premium?
Premium hits the sweet spot for:
- People who handle PDFs daily—merging, splitting, converting, editing
- Remote workers needing clean, ad-free UI
- Freelancers or small businesses who want Microsoft-type power without the price tag
- Epically organized people who want tons of cloud storage
What About Compatibility?
WPS Office plays very nicely with Microsoft formats. Whether it’s a .doc or .xlsx file, you can open and edit it easily. There might be the occasional formatting hiccup, especially with PowerPoint files that have complex designs or animations. But for the most part? Smooth sailing.
Hidden Gems in WPS Premium
Let’s go over a few lesser-known but awesome WPS Premium features:
- OCR for scanned PDF files – great if you’re digitizing documents
- Batch file conversions – convert multiple docs to PDF in one go
- Document Recovery – rescue lost or unsaved files
- Cross-device syncing with large cloud space for easy access
Some of these tools are lifesavers if you’re juggling files between devices or managing lots of projects.
Any Downsides?
Sure, nothing’s perfect. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Ads in the free version can be annoying
- Premium version still lacks some advanced Excel functions
- Template library is decent but not as massive as Microsoft’s
- Sometimes formatting doesn’t export 100% when switching file types
But honestly? For the price, these are minor hiccups.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Yes, WPS Office Premium is worth it—for the right user.
If you’re someone who works on documents frequently, needs to manage PDFs, and wants some cloud storage without dealing with ads, Premium is a great value. At less than $3/month, it gives you a smooth experience and loads of useful features.
If you’re mostly a casual user? Stick with the free version—it’s good enough for day-to-day tasks. And hey, you can always upgrade later if needed.
Conclusion
WPS Office is a strong contender in the office suite world. Whether you choose free or Premium depends on how deep your document needs go. If you want simple and cost-effective tools with good compatibility, you’re in the right place.
Try the free version first. If you find yourself saying “I wish this had…” more than a few times, it might be time to pony up for Premium. Happy typing!
