WPS Reference on macOS: Introduction

WPS Reference on macOS is a reply-with-context feature for chat conversations; it includes 3 core tasks, with 3 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.

At a Glance

Metric	Value	Notes
Core tasks	3	Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index
Available without membership	3	Matches the number of Free rows in the index
Membership-related items	0	All listed tasks are available directly

About This Feature

Overview

Reference is a chat reply feature in WPS Office for Mac that lets you respond to a specific message while keeping the original context visible in the conversation.

Core tasks include:

Start a reference reply: hover over a target message and enter reply mode.
Edit the reply content: review the quoted message summary, keep the auto-filled @mention, and type your response.
Review the display result: after sending, the reply appears as a reference card and can link back to the original message.

This feature works well for team collaboration, group chat follow-ups, and direct-message clarifications because it helps keep conversations easier to follow.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Mac device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	The latest version of WPS Office for Mac is recommended
Network	A stable internet connection is typically needed for chat and message sync
Other	Sign in to an available account and open a group chat or direct chat before use

Source: System requirements for WPS Office

Download & Installation

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Installation method	Download the Mac installer and complete setup by following the on-screen instructions
Post-install check	Open WPS, enter a chat conversation, and hover over a message to check whether the Reply entry appears

Source: WPS download page

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Supports replying to a specific message in a group chat or direct chat. The sent reply stays linked to the original message, appears as a reference card, and lets you jump back to the original message.	Teams supports replying to a channel message, and replies stay attached to the original message so the thread can be followed.	Google Chat supports replying to a message, replying in a thread, and quoting a message in a reply.	Notion supports replying in page comments or existing comment threads and reviewing discussions in the comments pane.	Acrobat supports replying to comments in review workflows for document feedback and annotation discussions.
WPS Advantages	Distinct: WPS keeps the reply target and context visible as a reference card directly in the chat flow. Advantage: Users can jump from the reference area back to the original message.	Compared with WPS: the official page focuses on channel-thread replies rather than a chat-style reference card inside a conversation.	Compared with WPS: Google Chat supports quoted replies and thread replies, but the interaction varies by conversation type.	Compared with WPS: Notion is centered on document comments rather than real-time chat message references.	Compared with WPS: Acrobat is centered on PDF review comments rather than live chat conversations.
Official Source	—	Reply to a channel message in Microsoft Teams	Reply to a message in Google Chat	Comments, mentions and reactions	Reply to comments in Acrobat

Overall Conclusion: If you want to continue a discussion around one specific chat message, WPS provides a direct reference-style reply flow that keeps the context visible in the conversation. The other products also support replies or comments, but their official workflows focus more on channel threads, document comments, or PDF review discussions.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable For	Main Pain Point	How Reference Helps
1	Replying to individual questions in a busy group chat	Team members	It is hard to tell which message a reply belongs to	Use Reply on the target message so the response stays linked to the original message
2	Adding context in a direct chat	Colleagues and collaborators	Follow-up details can feel disconnected from earlier messages	Keep the original message summary in a reference card before typing the new reply
3	Jumping back to earlier messages	Anyone reviewing context	Manually finding the original message takes time	Click the message summary in the reference area to jump back to the original message
4	Notifying the right person in a discussion	Group chat participants	The reply target may not be obvious	Reply mode auto-fills the @mention and keeps the target message visible
5	Canceling a draft reply before sending	All users	You entered reply mode but do not want to send yet	Click the close button in the quote area to leave reply mode

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Feature Area	Free	WPS Premium
Reference reply in chat	✅ Available	✅ Available
Core office apps	✅ Available	✅ Available
Some advanced PDF, AI, and extended tools	Depends on the feature	Broader access
Cloud storage and template benefits	Basic allocation	Higher allocation or more benefits

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Use Case	Recommended Plan	Why
Everyday chat collaboration and basic office work	Free	Reference reply is available directly and works well for routine communication
Workflows that also need more PDF, AI, or extended office tools	WPS Premium	Better suited for users who need broader access to advanced features and benefits

Membership page: Subscribe to WPS Premium