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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Microsoft Word vs Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word 4.7★ · Free to download 55
Winner Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook 4.8★ · Free to download 70

Microsoft Outlook is generally preferred for its email and calendar functionalities, despite some recent issues, while Microsoft Word faces significant criticism for its usability, especially on mobile, and perceived decline in quality.

Full reviews: Microsoft Word · Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word, a word processing application, is praised for its core functionality but heavily criticized for its user interface, bugs, and mobile experience. Microsoft Outlook, an email and calendar client, is lauded for its integration and ease of use, though it has recent issues with search and reliability.

Head to head

Features edge: Microsoft OutlookR4R9R11R16
Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is seen as a powerful tool for writing and creating documents, with some users appreciating its accuracy and utility for school and work R16. However, there are complaints about missing features like macros and quick keys on iPad, and issues with CoPilot not opening or being difficult to turn off R4R11. Some users also feel the app has become more complicated over time, losing simple functionalities R9.
Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Outlook is praised for its ability to consolidate mail, calendar, and contacts into one place, making it a comprehensive tool for daily life and business . Users appreciate its email and draft management, and the overall layout . However, the search feature is widely criticized as terrible R63, and some users report missing formatting options for email bodies .
Ease of Use edge: Microsoft OutlookR1R5R6R8
Microsoft Word While some users find Microsoft Word user-friendly and accessible R5R8, a significant number describe it as stupid, difficult, and complicated, especially compared to older versions R1R6R9. Specific complaints include a lack of a save button, difficulty sorting files, and issues with labels R1. Editing on iPhone is described as a disaster, with problems selecting text and a keyboard layout that consumes too much screen space R37. The iPad version is also considered hard to use, with characters running together and difficulties with highlighting R19R31R51.
Microsoft Outlook Many users find Microsoft Outlook easy to use and navigate . The interface is generally well-regarded . However, recent updates have made the calendar difficult to read, showing only two events per day in month view and making it hard to see the next month R66R72. Some users also find it annoying to write emails due to pop-ups and difficulty finding the menu .
Reliability tieR4R13R23R25
Microsoft Word Microsoft Word suffers from numerous reliability issues. Users report frequent crashes, documents being deleted before saving, and the app randomly teleporting them or deleting words R23R25R35. There are also bugs with scrolling, inconsistent formatting between Word and Microsoft 365, and issues with exporting to PDF R4. Some users experience problems with the app signing them out repeatedly and asking them to buy the product they already pay for R13.
Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Outlook generally functions well, with some users reporting no technical problems . However, recent updates have introduced serious issues, including the inbox and emails not updating correctly, and emails failing to send . The app is described as hopelessly unreliable on iPad, frequently stopping showing messages, and getting stuck on 'Updating' . Delayed message delivery for OTPs is also a concern .
Price/Value edge: Microsoft OutlookR7R27R47R53
Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is criticized for no longer being truly free, requiring users to sign in and pay a subscription fee to access documents outside of work R7R27R47. Users feel they are forced to pay for a product they once owned, and some view the updates as extortionate R27R53.
Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Outlook is free to download, and while reviews don't explicitly discuss subscription costs, the general sentiment is positive regarding its value as a comprehensive email and calendar solution .
Support tieR11R23R35R64
Microsoft Word There is no direct feedback on Microsoft Word's customer support in the provided reviews. Issues like CoPilot not opening R11 and documents being deleted R23R35 suggest a need for support, but no resolution or interaction is mentioned.
Microsoft Outlook There is no direct feedback on Microsoft Outlook's customer support in the provided reviews. Users report problems like shared mailbox issues needing urgent addressing R64 and calendar update problems R72, but no interaction with support is detailed.
Pick Microsoft Word if

Pick Microsoft Word if you are a new writer or student who needs a powerful word processor for essays and documents, especially if you are already deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem on a desktop R16.

Pick Microsoft Outlook if

Pick Microsoft Outlook if you need a consolidated app for email, calendar, and contacts, and prefer it over default mail apps on mobile devices . It is particularly suitable for business and corporate use .

Evidence note: The evidence for both apps is strong, with numerous reviews supporting each claim. However, recent negative reviews for both apps, particularly concerning mobile functionality and bugs, contrast with their high lifetime ratings.

Frequently asked

Is Microsoft Word good for mobile editing?
Microsoft Word receives significant criticism for its mobile editing experience, with users reporting difficulties selecting text, an inconvenient keyboard layout on iPhone, and characters running together on iPad R19R31R37R51.
Does Microsoft Outlook have good search functionality?
No, Microsoft Outlook's search feature is widely criticized by users as being terrible, with some resorting to other mail apps to find emails that should be easily discoverable within Outlook R63.
Are Microsoft Word and Outlook truly free?
Both apps are free to download, but Microsoft Word is criticized for requiring users to sign in and pay a subscription fee to access documents, leading to complaints about it no longer being a truly free or owned product R7R27R47R53.
What are the main issues with Microsoft Outlook's calendar?
Recent updates to Microsoft Outlook have made the calendar difficult to read, with users only able to see two events per day in the month view and issues with viewing days in the next month without losing the current month's view R66R72.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 110 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Awful: Please remove CoPilot or allow us to turn it off. Also I edited a document but when I export to pdf it exports the unedited version. Fix your app. I want to type words and print them to pdf. It’s not that complicated, yet it can’t even do that.
  2. [R9] Microsoft Word 2/5 · US Word has become more complicated: I find that what use to be single step for printing etc. now takes 2 or 3 or more steps. It is not an easy program.
  3. [R11] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Not opening the copilot: Not opening the copilot
  4. [R16] Microsoft Word 5/5 · US Word: Esta aplicación es excelente herramienta de trabajo que puedes llevar a todos lados y poder realizar las actividades escolares laborales y crear en Word es una maravilla
  5. [R1] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Stupid and difficult: Your Microsoft program is quite stupid and difficult to use. There is no save button. There is no way to sort things out into a particular folder. And labels at the top of the page don’t seem to make a whole lot of sense you’ve made things very difficult for where they were 15 years ago. Microsoft sucks.
  6. [R5] Microsoft Word 5/5 · US Review: I love this app, very accessible
  7. [R6] Microsoft Word 3/5 · GB If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.: I preferred the old version. Sorry!
  8. [R8] Microsoft Word 5/5 · US Pastor Edwin Rios: Great program and user friendly application
  9. [R13] Microsoft Word 2/5 · US Keeps signing me out: Of course I love Word. I’m paying for it. But my frustration is how many times I get logged out and keep getting asked to buy the product. The product I have and am paying for. Sometimes it won’t log me in and I have to close the program to try, try again. It’s like your date from last night answering the phone and asking, “So wait… Who’s this?”
  10. [R23] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Extremely difficult to use: It froze for a moment and then deleted my document directly. Give me back my document!!!!! · translated
  11. [R25] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Just download Google Docs.: Word is diabolically awful, the editor feature simply doesn’t work, like it literally changes words spelt right to a wrong spelling, and god forbid you try to get it to edit your grammar, the majority of the time it’s just wrong. The app randomly teleports me to random spots in my doc, and frequently deletes random words or sentences. It also crashes at least once every
  12. [R7] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US No privacy: requires signing in! its just a pdf editor, why would it need sign in?! you know why?! BECAUSE THE WANT YOUR DATA!!!!!!!! i downloaded other free and offline and ad-less apps that dont require signing in instead of this trash. every big company wants to steal your data. stop supporting them. let them die
  13. [R27] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Garbage: This program is antiquated garbage made worse only by the fact that I don’t even own a program that I purchase anymore. I have to pay a stupid subscription fee to be able to access my work documents outside of my work season. As soon as I find an alternative, I will switch to that never use a Microsoft product again.
  14. [R47] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US No longer free: I think it’s bs whoever owns ChatGPT would take away the free option without a trial screw like everybody else you know just screw us like everybody else is
  15. [R53] Microsoft Word 1/5 · GB Glitchy: I paid good money for the basic online access contract but Word etc doesn’t work properly for me.. even to simply open a file or do basic edit.. it glitches to the point of being a breach of contract I paid for in my personal opinion- presumably pressuring me to pay for 365..
  16. [R35] Microsoft Word 2/5 · US No.: It would be great if the App didn’t close out the app and deleted documents before I could save
  17. [R64] Microsoft Outlook 1/5 · GB Shared mailbox: Unable to move emails from a shared mailbox’s inbox into FOLDERS created within the owning primary user mailbox. This IS possible on the desktop outlook, just in not outlook mobile and needs addressing urgently, or it simply becomes an unusable app.
  18. [R19] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US IPAD Utility for Excell: Really awful. No words to describe how hard on IPAD it is to use
  19. [R31] Microsoft Word 2/5 · US Creating on desktop, opening in iPad: Characters run together in the iPad version.
  20. [R37] Microsoft Word 1/5 · US Editing is a disaster on iPhone: Editing and selecting text on iPhone is virtually impossible. The default autosave setting then preserves bad edits automatically. The keyboard layout for editing consumes way too much display real estate leaving almost nothing of the document to view, and the selection handles are impossible to move properly. In short, typical of the mediocre software I've come to
  21. [R51] Microsoft Word 2/5 · GB Apple Interface: Not sure about this on an iPad, I’m always struggling compared to my Windows laptop.
  22. [R63] Microsoft Outlook 3/5 · GB Works for email: terrible search: The email works fine and integrates well with other O365 applications. The search feature however is so bad it’s almost comical. I actually have had to move to Apple mail to find emails that should be so easy.
  23. [R66] Microsoft Outlook 3/5 · GB Not the most user-friendly: I use outlook for personal emails and personal calendars appointments. The main flaw with the new update on the calendar is on the Monthly view. If the month ends on any day of the week (except Sunday) you cannot see any days within the next month unless you scroll down to the following month. You then lose view of the previous month you are currently in. This is such a
  24. [R72] Microsoft Outlook 3/5 · GB Update makes calendar difficult to read: Since the update I can’t see more than two events each day on the ‘month’ view. It’s really reduced the effectiveness of the calendar for me I can’t see all my events at a glance. I’d really like to roll back if possible to an older version of Outlook. Please tell me how to do this.

Synthesized from 110 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store