A software suite is a collection of two or more software titles or programs bundled and sold together. The programs may have correlative features and functionality, or they may be completely different, but share a similar theme.
Example of a software suite
An example of a software suite is Microsoft Office, as it bundles together multiple programs, including the following.
- Word (word processor)
- Excel (spreadsheet)
- PowerPoint (presentation program)
- Outlook (e-mail client)
There are other software suites available. Examples are listed below.
- Adobe Creative Cloud suite - includes Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign, and more.
- Apple iWork suite - includes Pages (word processor), Numbers (spreadsheet), and Keynote (presentations).
- CorelDRAW Graphics suite - includes multiple graphics design and editing platforms, and compatibility with graphics from other programs like Adobe Photoshop.
- Google productivity suite - includes Google Docs (word processor), Google Sheets (spreadsheet), Google Slides (presentations), and more.
- OpenOffice suite - includes Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet), Impress (presentations), and more.
While each program in a software suite differs in functionality, they are all usually considered productivity software.
Advantages of a software suite
A software suite provides several advantages for users, including the following.
- Lower bundled cost compared to buying each program separately. Some software suites are even free to use, like the Google productivity and OpenOffice suites.
- Developed by the same company, often providing synergy and compatibility of some features between the programs in the suite.
- Similar user interface in each program, reducing the learning curve and improving familiarity.
- More efficient acquisition process by installing all programs at once, instead of one at a time.
- May include additional features or add-on programs not available for purchase separately.
OpenOffice, Software terms
