Best Self-Hosted Google Docs Alternatives in 2026
Google Docs is a cloud-based document editor for creating, editing, and collaborating on documents in real-time. Plans start at $8.4/user/mo.
14 Self-Hosted Alternatives to Google Docs
Etherpad
18KEtherpad handles highly customizable online editor providing collaborative editing in real-time as a self-hosted solution.
Docs
16KCollaborative document editor with real-time editing, version control, and secure sharing
Univer
13KUniver handles full-stack framework for spreadsheets, docs, slides integration as a self-hosted solution.
CryptPad
7.4KCryptPad gives you collaboration suite offering encrypted document editing on your own infrastructure.
CryptPad
7.4KCryptPad offers end-to-end encryption, open-source, collaborative editing as a self-hosted devops & infrastructure.
HedgeDoc
7KHedgeDoc lets you run realtime collaborative markdown notes on all platforms, formerly known as CodiMD and HackMD CE entirely on your own server.
ONLYOFFICE
6.4KONLYOFFICE is a self-hosted office suites tool with support for collaboration, spreadsheet, node.
LibreOffice
3.8KSelf-hosted communication & messaging tool that provides complete office suite compatible.
Colabora Online
3.1KColabora Online lets you run powerful online document editor entirely on your own server.
Bangle-io
1.2KBangle-io handles WYSIWYG note-taking app storing notes locally in Markdown as a self-hosted solution.
PeerPad
690Released under MIT, PeerPad provides online editor with real-time collaboration using CRDTs and IPFS on self-hosted infrastructure.
Graphite Docs
601For documents & knowledge base, Graphite Docs is a self-hosted solution that provides encrypted, secure, user-owned productivity suite.
Nextcloud Office
429Nextcloud Office lets you run collabora Online integration for Nextcloud entirely on your own server.
dDocs
186Released under AGPL-3.0, dDocs provides write, organize, and collaborate in real-time on self-hosted infrastructure.
Why Look for Google Docs Alternatives?
Google Docs is a cloud-based document editor for creating, editing, and collaborating on documents in real-time. Plans start at $8.4/user/mo.
Self-hosted alternatives give you full data ownership, predictable costs, and zero vendor lock-in. You run the software on your own infrastructure and control everything.
14 Best Open-Source Alternatives to Google Docs
Docs
Collaborative note-taking, wiki, and documentation platform — 16,253 GitHub stars. Licensed under MIT.
CryptPad
Encrypted and open source collaboration suite — 7,422 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice: Free, open-source office suite. — 3,738 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
dDocs
Write, organize, and collaborate in real-time with complete privacy and security. This app is an open-source, online/offline compatible, and AI-free alternative to Google Docs. — 184 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Etherpad
Modern, real-time collaborative document editor. — 18,181 GitHub stars. Licensed under Apache-2.0.
Univer
Full-stack framework for spreadsheets, docs, slides integration. — 12,564 GitHub stars. Licensed under Apache-2.0.
CryptPad
End-to-end encrypted, open-source office suite. — 7,420 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
HedgeDoc
Web-based, self-hosted, real-time markdown editor. — 7,007 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
ONLYOFFICE
Collaborative online office suite for documents. — 6,338 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
Colabora Online
Full-featured, collaborative document editing solution. — 3,061 GitHub stars. Licensed under Open Source.
Read full Colabora Online review
Bangle-io
A WYSIWYG note-taking app storing notes locally in Markdown. — 1,210 GitHub stars. Licensed under AGPL-3.0.
PeerPad
Online editor with real-time collaboration using CRDTs and IPFS. — 690 GitHub stars. Licensed under MIT.
Graphite Docs
Encrypted, secure, user-owned productivity suite. — 601 GitHub stars. Licensed under GPL-3.0.
Read full Graphite Docs review
Nextcloud Office
Collabora Online integration for Nextcloud — 428 GitHub stars. Licensed under Custom.
Read full Nextcloud Office review
Why Self-Host Instead of Google Docs?
- Data ownership. Your data stays on your server, not on Google Docs’s infrastructure.
- Predictable costs. Pay a fixed VPS cost instead of growing per-user or per-usage fees.
- No vendor lock-in. Export and migrate your data anytime. You control the database.
- GDPR and compliance. Hosting your own tools simplifies data residency and compliance requirements.
Why teams switch from Google Docs
- → Data ownership. Your data stays on your server -- not on Google Docs's infrastructure.
- → Predictable costs. Pay a fixed VPS cost instead of growing per-user or per-usage fees.
- → No vendor lock-in. Export and migrate your data anytime. You control the database.
- → GDPR and compliance. Hosting your own tools simplifies data residency and compliance requirements.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Both are document management tools. AFFiNE Community Edition has 3 unique features, Etherpad has 5.
Both are document management tools. Etherpad has 4 unique features, Memos has 5.
Both are document management tools. Etherpad has 5 unique features, SiYuan has 2.
Browse more Documents & Knowledge Base tools
Explore 226 open-source documents & knowledge base tools you can self-host.
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