--- title: OpenOffice Base Reviews meta_title: 'OpenOffice Base Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 52 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how OpenOffice Base works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.1 review_count: 52 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-08-07' parent_category: name: Database Software url: https://www.g2.com/categories/database-software --- # OpenOffice Base Reviews **Vendor:** The Apache Software Foundation **Category:** [Desktop Database Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/desktop-database) **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 52 ## About OpenOffice Base Apache OpenOffice Base is a comprehensive desktop database management system designed to cater to a wide range of users, from individuals managing personal collections to businesses generating detailed reports. It provides an intuitive interface for creating and managing databases, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. Key Features and Functionality: - User-Friendly Wizards: Assists users in creating tables, queries, forms, and reports, simplifying the database design process. - Predefined Table Definitions: Offers templates for tracking assets, customers, sales orders, invoices, and more, facilitating quick database setup. - Integrated HSQLDB Engine: Includes a full HSQL relational database engine for single-user configurations, storing data directly within the Base file. - Support for Multiple Database Engines: Provides native support for multi-user database engines such as MySQL, Adabas D, MS Access, and PostgreSQL. - JDBC and ODBC Compatibility: Allows connections to virtually any database through standard JDBC and ODBC drivers. - Seamless Integration with Apache OpenOffice Suite: Enables functionalities like supplying address book data for mail merges in Writer and creating linked data ranges in Calc for analysis and charting. Primary Value and User Solutions: Apache OpenOffice Base empowers users to efficiently manage and manipulate databases without the need for specialized software. Its integration with the Apache OpenOffice suite enhances productivity by enabling seamless data sharing and analysis across different applications. Whether for personal use or within an enterprise environment, Base provides a robust and accessible solution for database management needs. ## OpenOffice Base Reviews ### 1. Useful only if database operations are known, not from scratch **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Marco T. | Personnel manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 15, 2019 **What do you like best about OpenOffice Base?** In my case I use OpenOffice Base because I received the file created by my predecessor. The records and the various information to be entered had already been set. I found the program useful only after they instructed me well about its operation. Now I use it to add and edit information in the records. **What do you dislike about OpenOffice Base?** I don't like that the program is not intuitive. I know a lot of people who might like it but when they open it they don't understand how it works. I think it would be convenient if the wizard was more detailed when it was turned on and that clearer suggestions appear as you go through the commands. **What problems is OpenOffice Base solving and how is that benefiting you?** I manage staff information and change the details when necessary. ### 2. Not so bad app for database management **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Paola M. | Paola Mello, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2019 **What do you like best about OpenOffice Base?** Before I used the Access app from Microsoft, but since it is no longer included in the pre-installed package on the PC I looked for an alternative and I found it with OpenOffice **What do you dislike about OpenOffice Base?** The database creation mechanism is not very guided, therefore not very easy **Recommendations to others considering OpenOffice Base:** I recommend it because it is an open source software **What problems is OpenOffice Base solving and how is that benefiting you?** I collect project information, including materials and costs ### 3. Good but not great **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Education Management | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 10, 2019 **What do you like best about OpenOffice Base?** What the program aims to do is good. I like that you can create your own layout designs for a website using this program. **What do you dislike about OpenOffice Base?** I don't like that it glitches occasionally. The functions you want to put on a website page do not execute correctly all the time. **What problems is OpenOffice Base solving and how is that benefiting you?** Open Office was mainly used as a teaching tool to show students how they can design their own web pages. ### 4. Open Office **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Marina G. | Profesora de educación secundaria, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 15, 2017 **What do you like best about OpenOffice Base?** The best part about this software is that it is completely free. It works similar to Word, and has mostly the same functions, so, if you know how to use Word, you will feel completely confident using Open Office. It has the same default settings and the paper sheets and options (fonts, colors, size) is exactly the same and put together into a similar user interface. **What do you dislike about OpenOffice Base?** What I dislike is that most computers do not have this software and have Word instead. Even when you save the documents into the .doc/.docx format, the format of your document would normally change when opened with Word. As an instructor at a university, this is a huge inconvenient, as my powerpoints will not look the same in class as they did in my computer. Also, the default document type will be .opt, and, if you are not careful enough, you will save your documents in this format, which you won't be able to open in most computers that do not have this software. **Recommendations to others considering OpenOffice Base:** This software is a good product for a starting company, however, I would recommend switching to the standard Office package. **What problems is OpenOffice Base solving and how is that benefiting you?** As it is an open software, it is completely free, which is a huge advantage for a company, as the office package might be too expensive for low-income or starting companies. This software is a good way to start your business without a huge investment on software. ### 5. Open office **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Design | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 24, 2017 **What do you like best about OpenOffice Base?** I appreciate that open office is a free use software. **What do you dislike about OpenOffice Base?** Some of the features are somewhat complicated to figure out. Especially when importing docx files. **What problems is OpenOffice Base solving and how is that benefiting you?** Bringing in lots of different text files. Open office is pretty great to have around since it allows you to open lots of different types of text files from multiple applications. ### 6. A Comparable version of Microsoft Office Suites **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Financial Services | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 02, 2016 **What do you like best about OpenOffice Base?** I generally only use Open Office Calc and Open Office Writer, because my company sent me to work from home with the program, instead of MS Office. I like that I can open any needed docs with it - it serves a purpose, once you get used to it. **What do you dislike about OpenOffice Base?** There are less options. The format feels like it's about ten years out of date. **Recommendations to others considering OpenOffice Base:** I would consider recommending the software if I knew they were adding necessary upgrades to the products. There is much room for growth, speaking as an MS Office user, so I hope this is the direction in which they are headed! **What problems is OpenOffice Base solving and how is that benefiting you?** I help to streamline data. Benefits: It's better than nothing! ## OpenOffice Base Discussions - [What is OpenOffice Base used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-openoffice-base-used-for) - [View OpenOffice Base pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/openoffice-base/reviews?filters%5Bnps_score%5D%5B%5D=3§ion=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-08-12+16%3A19%3A49+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=a1aa417e-43ce-4a7a-94bb-d0c03ea031f5&secure%5Btoken%5D=fc1b3f4c25439b674f65576b42be866065b2d34b5db4191f0f3e896f947be337&format=llm_user) ## Top OpenOffice Base Alternatives - [Microsoft Access](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-access/reviews) - 4.0/5.0 (830 reviews) - [Ninox](https://www.g2.com/products/ninox/reviews) - 4.7/5.0 (332 reviews) - [LibreOffice Base](https://www.g2.com/products/libreoffice-base/reviews) - 3.8/5.0 (14 reviews)