CryptPad is a collaborative office suite with rich text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, kanban boards, whiteboards and a calendar. Content is encrypted in the browser before it reaches the server, so the server operator cannot read it. You can use a public instance or run your own; self-hosting needs two domains and a reverse proxy.
As of Nov 2026 Code Fireworks ↗
Why it fits
Self-hosting for private groups is free of charge under the AGPL.
Getting started
6 steps · clarity 2/5
Prerequisites (from the official docs):
A Linux server (the guide targets Debian-class systems) with at least 2 GB RAM, 2 CPU cores and about 20 GB disk Two domains or subdomains: one main domain and a separate sandbox domain Git and Node.js LTS with npm, or Docker A reverse proxy such as Nginx with TLS certificates for public access Steps:
Get the official Docker Compose file from the admin installation guide. Edit the two domain settings (main domain and sandbox domain). Create the data directories, including config, and chown them to UID/GID 4001. Start the stack with docker compose up -d. Read the one-time admin install URL from the container logs. Open that URL and create the first administrator. Watch out: if you use Docker Compose, create and chown the config directory (UID/GID 4001) before compose up; the documented mkdir list omits it, Docker then creates it as root, and the container fails writing config.js. Use the environment variable names from the compose file you run (the docs and compose disagree on the OnlyOffice install flag name).
Official admin installation guide: https://docs.cryptpad.org/en/admin_guide/installation.html
Notes
Public hosted instances may have their own terms; this entry concerns self-install.
← Back to the catalog License AGPL-3.0-onlyOpen source
Type Self-host (server)Self-host
Audience ●●○ Enthusiast Needs some comfort with a home server, Docker or similar
Setup 6 steps · clarity 2/5Checked 6 November 2026
Website cryptpad.org Source code github.com/cryptpad/cryptpad Demo Try the online demo Public instance run by the CryptPad team; no account needed to try it.
Category Office Funding FUTO microgrant (November 2024); NLnet funded CryptPad through the NGI0 PET Fund (EU Next Generation Internet).
Funding says nothing about the license.
Logo Logo © XWiki CryptPad Team and contributors, AGPL-3.0-or-later · terms · source Shown unmodified to identify the project. No endorsement implied.
Checked 5 November 2026 
