Replaces
Google Docs
Save
0 €/mo
0 €/year saved
What is Etherpad?
Etherpad is an open-source, web-based collaborative real-time editor. Multiple people can edit a document at the same time, with each author's contributions shown in a different color. It supports plugins, import/export, and can be embedded in other applications.
Key Features
Real-time collaboration
Color-coded authoring
Version history
Plugin ecosystem
Import/export formats
Embeddable
Why Self-Host Etherpad?
Self-hosting Etherpad gives you a private collaborative editing space without sending documents to Google or Microsoft. Perfect for meetings, brainstorming, and collaborative writing.
you.seed.box

Etherpad vs Google Docs
| Feature | Etherpad (Self-hosted) | Google Docs |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | €20/yr (Seed.box Premium) | 0 €/year |
| Data ownership | 100% yours | Their servers |
| Privacy | Complete privacy | Data collection |
| Vendor lock-in | None - export anytime | Difficult migration |
| Storage limit | Your server capacity | Plan-dependent |
Google Docs limitations:
- Google reads your documents
- Requires Google account
- Data on Google servers
- Limited offline access
