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Open-source alternatives to Microsoft Word

5 genuinely open-source alternatives. The projects are compared by license, workflow, self-hosting, and pricing.

Why look for a Microsoft Word alternative?

Microsoft Word is a proprietary word processor for documents, reports, academic papers, resumes, forms, and collaboration. People look for alternatives when they want open-source software, offline editing, self-hosting, end-to-end encrypted documents, open formats, data sovereignty, or independence from Microsoft 365.

#1

Docs

Modern self-hosted collaborative document editor.

Docs is an MIT-licensed browser-based collaborative document platform focused on real-time editing, permissions, version history, comments, annotations, and secure sharing.

MITSelf-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable under MIT; hosting and deployment costs may apply.

  • Real-time collaboration
  • Modern browser interface
  • Version history, comments, and permissions
  • Less advanced desktop publishing than Word
  • Smaller extension ecosystem
  • DOCX compatibility is not its main strength
View on GitHub
#2

CryptPad

End-to-end encrypted collaborative office suite.

CryptPad is an AGPL-3.0-or-later encrypted office suite with rich-text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, Kanban boards, whiteboards, shared drives, and team workspaces.

AGPL-3.0-or-laterSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open source and self-hostable; hosted plans may be available separately.

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Real-time collaboration and self-hosting
  • Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and whiteboards
  • Less compatible with complex Word documents
  • Fewer advanced layout features
  • Different collaboration model from Microsoft 365
View on GitHub
#3

LibreOffice Writer

Mature offline open-source desktop word processor.

LibreOffice Writer is the closest traditional Word replacement, supporting styles, tables, images, references, mail merge, tracked changes, comments, templates, macros, and DOC/DOCX files.

MPL-2.0 / LGPL-3.0-or-laterSelf-hosted

Pricing: Free and open source; works fully offline with no subscription.

  • Closest traditional Word replacement
  • Advanced formatting, styles, references, and mail merge
  • Offline, cross-platform, and mature
  • DOCX compatibility is not always perfect
  • Real-time collaboration is not its main workflow
  • Complex Office layouts may render differently
View on GitHub
#4

Collabora Online

Self-hosted browser office suite based on LibreOffice.

Collabora Online is primarily MPL-2.0 browser-based office software for collaborative text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and drawings, often integrated with Nextcloud, ownCloud, or custom applications.

Primarily MPL-2.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Open-source components are self-hostable; supported or hosted offerings may be paid.

  • Strong Office format compatibility
  • Browser editing and real-time collaboration
  • Integrates with self-hosted file platforms
  • Usually requires another storage platform
  • More infrastructure to deploy
  • Administration can be complex
View on GitHub
#5

dDocs

Encrypted collaborative writing with offline and Markdown support.

dDocs is an AGPL-3.0 privacy-focused collaborative document editor from Fileverse with real-time editing, offline support, end-to-end encryption, Markdown, LaTeX, comments, suggestions, and decentralized ownership.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and open source under AGPL-3.0; verify current hosting and deployment options.

  • End-to-end encryption
  • Real-time and offline editing
  • Markdown, LaTeX, comments, and suggestions
  • Younger than LibreOffice or Word
  • Smaller ecosystem
  • Less advanced page layout and DOCX compatibility
View on GitHub

Compare Microsoft Word alternatives

ToolStarsLicenseSelf-hostedPricing
Docs—MITYesFree and self-hostable under MIT; hosting and deployment costs may apply.
CryptPad—AGPL-3.0-or-laterYesOpen source and self-hostable; hosted plans may be available separately.
LibreOffice Writer—MPL-2.0 / LGPL-3.0-or-laterYesFree and open source; works fully offline with no subscription.
Collabora Online—Primarily MPL-2.0YesOpen-source components are self-hostable; supported or hosted offerings may be paid.
dDocs—AGPL-3.0YesFree and open source under AGPL-3.0; verify current hosting and deployment options.

Which one should you choose?

Want the closest traditional Word replacement

LibreOffice Writer provides mature offline word processing with styles, tables, references, mail merge, tracked changes, macros, templates, and DOCX support.

LibreOffice Writer

Want self-hosted collaborative Office editing

Collabora Online brings LibreOffice-based document editing and real-time collaboration to self-hosted file platforms.

Collabora Online

Want a modern browser-based editor

Docs focuses on real-time document creation, comments, permissions, version history, and browser-first collaboration.

Docs

Want encrypted collaborative documents

CryptPad combines real-time collaboration with end-to-end encryption across documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and whiteboards.

CryptPad

Want private collaborative writing

dDocs focuses on encrypted writing with offline support, Markdown, LaTeX, comments, suggestions, and decentralized document ownership.

dDocs
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