When comparing Calligra vs Apache OpenOffice, the Slant community recommends Calligra for most people. In the question“What are the best office suites for UNIX-like systems?” Calligra is ranked 6th while Apache OpenOffice is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose Calligra is:
Calligra consists of 9 tools. In addition to word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, it includes tools for project management, sketching/painting, database management, vector graphics, diagramming and brainstorming.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Huge list of efficient and capable office components
Calligra consists of 9 tools. In addition to word-processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, it includes tools for project management, sketching/painting, database management, vector graphics, diagramming and brainstorming.
Pro Free and open source
Pro Unified design language
Pro Calligra offers cutting edge applications for artists to work on 2D drawings and illustrations
Calligra includes Krita, a sketching and painting application, and Karbon, a vector drawing application. Both offer end-to-end solutions. Krita is also available as a standalone program.
Pro Made for KDE
Designed in Qt for KDE plasma (but will also work in other DEs), hence the appearance is consistent with it.
Pro Free and open source
Licensed under Apache License.
Pro Comprehensive suite of applications
Apache OpenOffice includes applications for word-processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and database management.
Pro Cross-platform
OpenOffice is available on Windows, Mac OS, and *nix systems.
Pro Multilingual
OpenOffice is available in 170+ languages.
Pro No CopyLeft
Unlike LibreOffice, its Grandfather OpenOffice is real open software for anyome.
Pro Full compatibility with Microsoft
Fully compatible with Microsoft formats - from the oldest to the latest.
Pro Quickstart
It has quickstart on Linux, a feature that makes opening a file blazing fast.
Cons
Con Bloated
Very bloated as it requires way too many dependencies to install. This is especially prominent in non-KDE desktops which may require over 100 dependencies to install.
Con Subpar compatibility
Microsoft office proprietary formats are not always accurately rendered
Con Slow development
Development is slower and less active than competition.
Con Dead project
The project looks dead. They can't close even serious security vulnerabilities. You might want to use Libreoffice instead.
Con Documentation is lacking
OpenOffice documentation is incomplete and language is highly technical.
Con No copyleft
It's good for developers but bad for openoffice for example: libreoffice relicensed it under GPL now libreoffice can integrate all changes made to openoffice but openoffice is unable to integrate improvements from libreoffice.