DOC vs DOCX, side by side
| DOC | DOCX | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Microsoft Word (legacy) | Microsoft Word |
| Type | Document | Document |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Best for | opening legacy Word files; converted to DOCX or PDF | editing and collaborating on documents |
Choose DOC if…
…you need opening legacy Word files; converted to DOCX or PDF.
Choose DOCX if…
…you need editing and collaborating on documents.
Convert between them
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between DOC and DOCX?
Microsoft Word (legacy) (DOC) is lossless and best for opening legacy Word files; converted to DOCX or PDF. Microsoft Word (DOCX) is lossless and best for editing and collaborating on documents.
Is DOC better than DOCX?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your use case. Choose DOC for opening legacy Word files; choose DOCX for editing and collaborating on documents.
Should I use DOC or DOCX?
Use DOC when you need opening legacy Word files. Use DOCX when you need editing and collaborating on documents.
Can I convert DOC to DOCX?
Yes — you can convert DOC to DOCX (and back) for free, in seconds, right here.
Last updated July 2026