Apple iWork review

Apple iWork is the easiest free answer for people who already own a Mac, iPad or iPhone. Pages, Numbers and Keynote cover documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and Apple says they remain free for everyone, along with the Freeform whiteboard app. Office compatibility works through conversion: Apple's support pages explain that Numbers spreadsheets can be converted to Microsoft Excel, CSV and PDF before you share them. The iCloud versions run in a web browser, so a colleague without a Mac can still open and edit a shared file. Apple now sells Apple Creator Studio, which adds premium templates, a library of royalty-free photos and graphics, and AI features to these apps for $12.99 per month or $129 per year after a one-month free trial. The paid layer is optional. The real limit is platform: there are no native Windows or Android apps, and files stay in Apple formats unless you export them, which adds a step every time you send a file to an Office user.

Who it is for

Mac, iPad and iPhone owners

Price

Pages, Numbers and Keynote free; Apple Creator Studio extras $12.99 per month or $129 per year.

New subscriber 1 month free $12.99 per month or $129 per year after your free trial.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 14, 2026.

Key features

• Pages, Numbers and Keynote remain free for everyone, alongside Freeform
• Numbers converts spreadsheets to Microsoft Excel, CSV and PDF
• Numbers for iCloud edits spreadsheets in a web browser
• Reusable custom templates and file sharing
• Optional Apple Creator Studio adds premium templates, stock photos and graphics, and AI features

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free on Mac, iPad and iPhone, according to Apple
• Strength: Exports to Excel, CSV and PDF for people who use Office
• Strength: iCloud versions let others edit from a web browser
• Weakness: No native Windows or Android apps
• Weakness: Files save in Apple formats by default, so Office users need an export
• Weakness: Premium templates and AI features cost $12.99 per month through Apple Creator Studio

Key facts

• Price: Free
• Apps: Pages, Numbers, Keynote
• Optional extras: Apple Creator Studio, $12.99 per month or $129 per year
• Exports: Excel, CSV, PDF (Numbers)

Where it ranks

Apple iWork is No. 4 in our Best Microsoft Office Alternatives verdict.