# Etherpad

> Etherpad is a free, open-source app you can self-host in the office suites category. Highly customizable online editor providing collaborative editing in real-time. It has 18,563 GitHub stars, is released under the Apache-2.0 license and ships a Docker image. It is a self-hosted alternative to Google Docs and Dropbox Paper.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/ether/etherpad |
| Website | https://etherpad.org/ |
| Demo | https://demo.sandstorm.io/appdemo/h37dm17aa89yrd8zuqpdn36p6zntumtv08fjpu8a8zrte7q1cn60 |
| GitHub stars | 18,563 |
| Forks | 3,043 |
| Open issues | 12 |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| License type | Open source |
| Language | TypeScript |
| Docker image | Yes |
| Platforms | Nodejs, Docker |
| Categories | Office Suites |
| Commits, last 12 months | 922 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Latest release | v3.3.7 (Oct 5, 2026) |
| Created | Mar 26, 2011 |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained |
| Archived | No |

Topics: etherpad, collaboration, web-editor, documents, collaborative, collaborative-editing, collaborative-framework, collaborative-writing, collaborative-research, document

## Install

Etherpad ships a Docker image; follow the README at https://github.com/ether/etherpad for the image name and environment variables.

Need it installed for you? [appsgit installation help](https://appsgit.com/services/install): a fixed quote by email, single app installs from $79.

## Etherpad replaces

- [Google Docs alternatives](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/google-docs): Google's browser-based word processor with real-time collaboration.
- [Dropbox Paper alternatives](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/dropbox-paper): A lightweight collaborative document editor from Dropbox.

## Similar apps in Office Suites

- [Grist](https://appsgit.com/apps/grist): Next-generation spreadsheet with relational structure, formula-based access control, and a portable, self-contained format (alternative to Airtable). (11,902 stars, Apache-2.0, TypeScript, Docker)
- [CryptPad](https://appsgit.com/apps/cryptpad): Collaboration suite built to enable collaboration, synchronizing changes to documents in real time. (7,989 stars, AGPL-3.0, JavaScript, Docker)
- [ONLYOFFICE](https://appsgit.com/apps/onlyoffice): Office suite that enables you to manage documents, projects, team and customer relations in one place. (6,970 stars, AGPL-3.0, Shell, Docker)

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