Free, open-source alternatives to Dropbox Paper
Collaborative documents from Dropbox. 4 apps you can run yourself instead of Dropbox Paper, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
EtherpadBest match
Highly customizable online editor providing collaborative editing in real-time.
HedgeDoc
Realtime collaborative markdown notes on all platforms, formerly known as CodiMD and HackMD CE.
CryptPad
Collaboration suite built to enable collaboration, synchronizing changes to documents in real time.
Docs
Collaborative note taking, wiki and documentation platform that scales.
Side by side
Why replace Dropbox Paper?
Dropbox Paper works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Dropbox Paper?
Etherpad is the closest open-source replacement for Dropbox Paper in our list. HedgeDoc and CryptPad are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Dropbox Paper?
Yes. All 4 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.