# CryptPad review

An end-to-end encrypted, open-source office suite (documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, kanban, and whiteboards) built for teams and privacy-conscious users who want a self-hostable alternative to Google Workspace, free up to 1GB storage.

By Noah — last updated & pricing verified September 15, 2026.

> **CryptPad** is a browser-based, end-to-end encrypted collaboration suite: every document type — rich text, spreadsheet, presentation, kanban board, form, whiteboard, diagram, or code file — is encrypted client-side before it reaches the server, so even the operator of a CryptPad instance cannot read stored content as long as the code is unmodified. It's built as an open-source alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for users who want the same real-time multi-user editing without handing plaintext data to the provider.

The software (AGPL-3.0, 7,800 stars on GitHub) can be self-hosted for free on a team's own servers, used anonymously without an account, or accessed through the flagship CryptPad.fr instance, which gives free accounts 1GB of storage and offers paid upgrades for more space and support. CryptDrive organizes files and folders inside an account, and sharing works through encrypted links rather than platform-managed permissions alone. Organizations that want a managed instance without running their own infrastructure can buy a hosted Enterprise plan with SSO support and guaranteed response times.

## Facts

- Website: https://cryptpad.org
- Pricing: Free (verified undefined NaN, NaN)
- License: Open source
- Platforms: web
- Best for: privacy-conscious teams, schools, and nonprofits that want real-time collaborative document editing without a provider that can read their content, and who are willing to trade some polish for end-to-end encryption
- Standout feature: Client-side end-to-end encryption across every document type — text, spreadsheet, presentation, kanban, forms, whiteboard — so even CryptPad's own server administrators cannot read stored content.
- Biggest weakness: Real-time collaborative performance and UI polish lag behind Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, and end-to-end encryption rules out server-side search and AI features across documents, since the server never sees plaintext content.
- Categories: [Office Suites & Docs](https://findalternative.to/categories/office-suites)

## Pricing snapshot

| Plan | Price | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free (self-hosted) | $0/mo | Free to self-host on your own infrastructure under AGPL-3.0, or use anonymously on a public instance without an account. |
| Free (CryptPad.fr account) | $0/mo | 1GB of storage on the flagship CryptPad.fr instance with full feature access, no credit card required. |
| CryptPad.fr paid | Custom | Additional storage and priority support on the CryptPad.fr instance, ranging from roughly €5 to €100/month depending on storage tier. |
| Enterprise (managed instance) | Custom | Hosted or on-premise managed instance starting around €1,500/year for nonprofits/education (list price roughly €3,000/year for the smallest tier); includes SSO support and guaranteed response times, scaling to about €25,000/year for 1,000 users and 1TB storage. |

## Pros and cons

- Pro: End-to-end, client-side encryption across every included document type, not just file storage.
- Pro: Free to self-host under AGPL-3.0 with no per-seat licensing cost.
- Pro: Anonymous use is possible without creating an account.
- Pro: Covers documents, spreadsheets, presentations, kanban boards, forms, whiteboards, and code editing in one suite.
- Con: UI responsiveness and real-time collaboration feel less polished than Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
- Con: End-to-end encryption rules out server-side search, AI assistance, and integrations that need to read document content.
- Con: Free CryptPad.fr accounts are capped at 1GB of storage.
- Con: Self-hosting requires a team to run and maintain its own server infrastructure to get the zero-trust guarantee.

## AI summary

- CryptPad is open source under AGPL-3.0 with 7,800 stars on GitHub.
- CryptPad encrypts every document type client-side, so server administrators cannot read stored content.
- Free CryptPad.fr accounts include 1GB of storage; paid plans on the flagship instance range from roughly €5 to €100/month.
- Self-hosted Enterprise/managed instances start around €1,500/year for nonprofits and education, scaling to about €25,000/year for 1,000 users.
- CryptPad can be used anonymously without creating an account.
- Best for: privacy-conscious teams, schools, and nonprofits that want end-to-end encrypted, real-time collaborative documents
- Pricing: Free to self-host or use anonymously; the CryptPad.fr free tier includes 1GB storage, paid upgrades roughly €5-€100/month; managed Enterprise instances from about €1,500/year (nonprofit rate).
- Top alternatives: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Nextcloud, Proton Drive, OnlyOffice
- Limitation: UI and real-time collaboration feel less polished than Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
- Limitation: End-to-end encryption rules out server-side search or AI features over document content.
- Limitation: Free accounts are capped at 1GB of storage.

## Alternatives

5 vetted alternatives to CryptPad: https://findalternative.to/cryptpad — top picks: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Nextcloud

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