Alternatives / Google Docs
Looking for an open source Google Docs alternative? We compared 6 open source document editors and office suites by license, real-time collaboration, encryption, self-hosting, and pricing. They range from collaborative web editors to encrypted suites and desktop office software.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Docs | Real-time collaborative document editor | MIT |
| CryptPad | End-to-end encrypted collaboration | AGPL-3.0-or-later |
| LibreOffice | Full desktop office suite | Primarily MPL-2.0 / LGPL multi-licensing |
| Collabora Online | Online office editing in Nextcloud and others | Primarily MPL-2.0 with other OSS components |
| Macro Docs | Markdown docs with tasks and email | AGPL-3.0 |
| dDocs | Private, decentralized writing | AGPL-3.0 |
We looked for open-source projects that overlap with Google Docs' core: writing documents, collaborating in real time, and sharing them. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and self-hosting options in its GitHub repository. Google Docs is a hosted word processor, so the list mixes web editors you can self-host, an encrypted suite, a desktop office suite, and an editing server designed to plug into other platforms. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Docs, Macro Docs, and dDocs are collaborative web editors. CryptPad is a suite built around client-side encryption. LibreOffice is a desktop application with no real-time cloud collaboration of its own. Collabora Online is an editing engine that needs to be embedded in a file platform such as Nextcloud or ownCloud. Pick the one that matches how your team stores and shares files.
Docs, Macro Docs, dDocs, CryptPad, and Collabora Online support real-time collaborative editing. Macro Docs uses CRDT editing with AI agent cursors, while CryptPad collaborates on encrypted documents that the server cannot read. LibreOffice is primarily a single-user desktop suite.
Docs is MIT. CryptPad, Macro Docs, and dDocs are AGPL-3.0. LibreOffice is primarily MPL-2.0 and LGPL, and Collabora Online is primarily MPL-2.0. The LibreOffice and Collabora Online GitHub repositories are mirrors, since active development happens on Gerrit. Collabora also sells commercial support and enterprise packaging.
CryptPad and dDocs encrypt documents end to end, so the server cannot read them. Docs and Macro Docs can be self-hosted so documents stay on your infrastructure, and LibreOffice keeps files entirely on your device.
LibreOffice and Collabora Online are built on LibreOffice technology and handle DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and OpenDocument formats best. The web editors focus on their own collaboration formats and Markdown, so expect more conversion work when exchanging files with Microsoft Office users.
Google Docs is a proprietary, cloud-only editor tied to a Google account, with your documents stored and processed on Google's servers. Open-source alternatives let you self-host or keep documents local, encrypt them end to end, and integrate editing into your own platform, at the cost of managing infrastructure and, for some, a less polished experience.
| Alternative | Type | License | Self-hosted | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docs | Collaborative web editor | MIT | Yes | Team documents |
| CryptPad | Encrypted office suite | AGPL-3.0-or-later | Yes | Confidential collaboration |
| LibreOffice | Desktop office suite | MPL-2.0 / LGPL | Local desktop | Microsoft Office replacement |
| Collabora Online | Online office editor | MPL-2.0 core | Yes | Embedding in file platforms |
| Macro Docs | Markdown workspace | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Docs with tasks and email |
| dDocs | Encrypted web editor | AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Private writing |
Want a simple collaborative document editor
Docs is an MIT-licensed browser editor with real-time editing, permissions, version history, comments, and secure sharing.
Need end-to-end encrypted collaboration
CryptPad encrypts documents in the browser and adds spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and anonymous collaboration.
Want a full desktop office suite
LibreOffice offers Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math with DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX support and no account.
Want online Office editing inside your file platform
Collabora Online provides browser-based document, spreadsheet, and presentation editing based on LibreOffice, commonly integrated with Nextcloud or ownCloud.
Want documents connected to tasks and email
Macro Docs combines Markdown documents with real-time editing, mentions, comments, version history, tasks, and email.
Want private, decentralized writing
dDocs offers end-to-end encryption, offline support, Markdown and LaTeX, and no account requirement.