CryptPad

Beginner

CryptPad is a solid Google Docs alternative. End-to-end encrypted collaborative suite. Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, all encrypted before reaching the server.

Information verified on July 22, 2026

Free (1 GB with an account). Premium from €5/month. Migration difficulty : Easy (2/5)

Description

CryptPad is a web-based collaborative suite with end-to-end encryption. Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, polls: everything is encrypted before reaching the server. Even administrators can't read your files. Developed in France (XWiki SAS), hosted in Europe. The interface is functional but more basic than Google Docs. Ideal for sensitive collaboration.

Key features

  • E2E encryption
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Documents, spreadsheets, kanban
  • Encrypted polls
  • Self-hostable
  • Open source

Strengths

  • + E2E encryption : server sees nothing
  • + No account needed to collaborate
  • + Developed in France (XWiki SAS)

Weaknesses

  • Fewer features than a full Google Docs
  • Limited free storage
  • Limited Office compatibility

Recommended for

  • Encrypted online collaboration
  • Privacy-respecting Google Docs alternative

CryptPad vs Google Docs: the comparison

Comparison between CryptPad and Google Docs
Criterion CryptPad Google Docs
Price Free (1 GB with an account). Premium from €5/month. Free (Google account required)
Targeted ads on your data No Yes (Google ad profile)
Source code Open (auditable) Proprietary
Migration difficulty Easy (2/5)

Comparison

CryptPad encrypts everything end-to-end, including collaborative documents. LibreOffice is more feature-complete. OnlyOffice is more faithful to Microsoft Office formats.

This topic is chapter 7 of my book

It answers these questions, among others:

  • how do you convert your documents without breaking their layout?
  • editing, storage, collaboration: which tool for each need?
  • and what do you do with shared documents still in use?

Forthcoming 22/10/2026 from Éditions Eyrolles

Discover the book

Frequently asked questions

How much does CryptPad cost?

Free (1 GB with an account). Premium from €5/month.

How do you switch from Google Docs to CryptPad?

Estimated difficulty: Easy (2/5). Quick start via browser. Limited Office file import. Adapting to reduced features.

Who is CryptPad for?

Users and teams seeking encrypted online collaboration, without depending on Google.

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