Open Source Google Docs Alternatives (Self-Hosted)

These open source Google Docs alternatives let your team edit documents together on a server you control. With Google Docs, your documents live in a Google account, so access and retention follow Google's terms, not yours. Compare the picks below, from full office suites to lightweight Markdown editors.

Compare the top picks

Edit documents together in real time on a server you control. Some options are full office suites that open Word and Excel files; others are lighter collaborative editors for notes and Markdown. Every license below was checked against the project repo.

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Quick comparison

Name	License	Language	Docker?	Last commit
ONLYOFFICE Docs	AGPL-3.0	See repo	See docs	2026-10-26
Collabora Online	MPL-2.0	See repo	See docs	2026-10-23
CryptPad	AGPL-3.0	JavaScript	See docs	2026-10-21
Docs (La Suite numérique)	MIT	Python	Yes	2026-10-26
Etherpad	Apache-2.0	TypeScript	Yes	2026-10-26
HedgeDoc	AGPL-3.0	TypeScript	See docs	2026-10-14

License, stars and last commit checked against the GitHub API and repo files on 2026-10-26.

Listings

ONLYOFFICE Docs

Online editors for documents, spreadsheets and slides

AGPL-3.0 · OSISee repoHosted option★ 7,054 as of 2026-10-26

Community Edition is AGPL-3.0 per GitHub license metadata and README; Enterprise and Developer editions are proprietary.

Pros

High compatibility with Word, Excel and PowerPoint files
Integrates with Nextcloud, Seafile and other platforms

Cons

Usually paired with a file platform rather than used alone
Some features only in paid editions

Website Source Deploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Collabora Online

LibreOffice-based online office suite

MPL-2.0 · OSISee repoHosted option★ 3,382 as of 2026-10-26

COPYING: Mozilla Public License 2.0. GitHub reports NOASSERTION. Per README, source development moved to Gerrit (gerrit.collaboraoffice.com); the GitHub repo hosts issues, the Helm chart and container builds.

Pros

Built on LibreOffice with broad format support
Helm chart and container image published

Cons

Typically runs behind Nextcloud or another host app
Source development lives on Gerrit, not GitHub

Website Source Deploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-23 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

CryptPad

End-to-end encrypted collaborative office suite

AGPL-3.0 · OSIJavaScriptHosted option★ 8,030 as of 2026-10-26

AGPL-3.0 per GitHub license metadata.

Pros

End-to-end encrypted documents, sheets and more
No account needed for basic use

Cons

Encryption limits server-side features like search
Office-format fidelity lower than ONLYOFFICE

Website Source Deploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-21 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Docs (La Suite numérique)

Collaborative block-based note and document editor

MIT · OSIPythonDocker★ 16,948 as of 2026-10-26

MIT per GitHub license metadata. README warns some advanced features (e.g. PDF export) use GPL-licensed BlockNote XL packages; you can build without them.

Pros

Real-time collaboration on a modern editor
Docker Compose and Kubernetes guides

Cons

Not a Word/Excel-compatible office suite
Some export features rely on GPL add-on packages

Website Source Deploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

Etherpad

Real-time collaborative text editor

Apache-2.0 · OSITypeScriptDocker★ 18,599 as of 2026-10-26

Apache-2.0 per GitHub license metadata. Repo moved from ether/etherpad-lite to ether/etherpad. README says the volunteer team is looking for more maintainers.

Pros

Lightweight, with many plugins
Official Docker image

Cons

Plain text pads, not full document formatting
Small volunteer maintainer team

Website Source Deploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-26 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

HedgeDoc

Collaborative Markdown editor

AGPL-3.0 · OSITypeScript★ 7,494 as of 2026-10-26

AGPL-3.0 per GitHub license metadata and README.

Pros

Real-time Markdown with diagrams and slides
Good fit for technical teams

Cons

Markdown only, not WYSIWYG documents
Not for spreadsheets or presentations

Website Source Deploy on RepoCloud

Last commit (default branch): 2026-10-14 · Last verified: 2026-10-26

How to choose

Need Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatibility? ONLYOFFICE Docs or Collabora Online, usually paired with Nextcloud or Seafile from our Dropbox page.
Privacy first? CryptPad encrypts documents end to end, so the server cannot read them.
Just need shared notes? Docs (La Suite numérique) for rich text, HedgeDoc for Markdown, Etherpad for plain-text pads.

FAQ

What is the closest self-hosted Google Docs replacement?

For office documents, ONLYOFFICE Docs or Collabora Online, both normally run alongside a file platform such as Nextcloud. For simple collaborative writing, Docs (La Suite numérique) or CryptPad.

Are these really open source?

Yes, all listed tools use OSI-approved licenses (AGPL-3.0, MPL-2.0, MIT or Apache-2.0). ONLYOFFICE also sells proprietary Enterprise and Developer editions; the Community Edition is AGPL-3.0.

Can I run these without Nextcloud?

CryptPad, Docs, Etherpad and HedgeDoc run on their own. ONLYOFFICE Docs and Collabora Online are document editing servers that are usually connected to a host app that stores the files.

“Deploy on RepoCloud” buttons appear only where RepoCloud has a page for that app (6 of 6 listings here). “Website” and “Source” links are not affiliate links.