Sustainable Substitutes for Google Docs

An online document processor, effectively locking users into Google's ecosystem.

Reasons to avoid Google Docs

Google Docs stores documents on Google's servers, granting the company access to the content and metadata of every file you create or edit.

This centralized control by a Big Tech firm raises privacy and security concerns, especially for sensitive or confidential information.

Ethical and Sustainable Google Docs Alternatives

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  • Feasibility: How easily can the average user switch to this substitute? Higher feasibility results in a higher ranking.
  • Editor's Rating: How sustainable is the substitute? The more sustainability attributes it fulfils, the higher it is ranked.

Nextcloud Office

Nextcloud is a German self-hostable, open-source cloud storage and collaboration platform.

Nextcloud does not track users or sell personal data, ensuring a private and secure experience with optional end-to-end encryption.
Nextcloud’s core software is fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and community-driven development.
Nextcloud is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Nextcloud is designed to be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Nextcloud became the first cloud software platform to earn the Blauer Engel ecolabel, emphasizing environmental responsibility.
Some third party providers offer free plans with up to 5GB of storage. The self-hostable community edition is free and without licensing costs.
Nextcloud allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
Nextcloud syncs files to your device. You can edit files offline and changes will sync automatically once you reconnect to the internet.
Nextcloud is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and OpenDocument formats.
Nextcloud is ad free and does not monetise user-data.
Website

LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a widely used offline, open-source office suite.

LibreOffice does not require registration, ensuring user anonymity.
LibreOffice is free and open-source software, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
LibreOffice works fully offline, reducing reliance on cloud services and internet connectivity.
The Document Foundation is based in Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
LibreOffice does not collect or transmit user data, ensuring privacy and security.
LibreOffice can be self-hosted, especially through solutions like Collabora Online, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
LibreOffice is free of charge for all users, including individuals, students and non-profits.
LibreOffice does not show ads to its users.
Website

Standard Notes

An open-source note-taking app with a focus on privacy and security via end-to-end encryption.

Standard Notes works offline, allowing users to access and edit notes without an internet connection.
Standard Notes is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free note-taking experience.
Standard Notes is fully open-source, allowing for community review and contributions, ensuring transparency and trust.
Since its acquisition by Proton, Standard Notes is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Standard Notes is designed with privacy as a core principle, using end-to-end encryption for all user data.
Standard Notes offers a free tier, with optional paid plans for additional features and to support the project.
Standard Notes can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Website

CryptPad

CryptPad is a French secure, collaborative Google Docs alternative.

Cryptpad can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
CryptPad is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free collaborative experience.
Cryptpad offers a free tier, with optional paid plans for additional features and to support the project.
CryptPad allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
Cryptpad supports open data standards and is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and open document formats.
Cryptpad is fully open-source, allowing for community review and contributions, ensuring transparency and trust.
Cryptpad is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Cryptpad is designed with privacy as a core principle, using end-to-end encryption for all user data.
Website

Fileverse

A privacy-first, dencentralised platform for document collaboration.

Fileverse allows users to self-host their data on-premises or on centralized/decentralized servers of their choosing, providing full control over infrastructure and data.
Fileverse is designed as a privacy-first alternative to platforms like Google Workspace and Notion, explicitly avoiding intrusive ads.
Fileverse is open-source, allowing independent review and community contributions. Its codebase is publicly available, and the platform is built on open standards.
Fileverse prioritises user privacy with end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge access permissions, and local data storage (IndexedDB). It avoids data lock-in and centralised control, ensuring user sovereignty over their data.
Fileverse offers an accountless version where all documents are stored locally, and dDocs/dSheets are usable without creating an account.
Fileverse provides a free, open-source platform for document collaboration and other features, with no mandatory subscription or usage fees.
Fileverse operates on a decentralized architecture, using IPFS for optional file storage and sharing, and supports peer-to-peer collaboration.
Fileverse supports open standards and allows documents to be accessed via API.
Fileverse supports offline mode, allowing users to create, edit, and store documents locally without an internet connection. Changes can sync when back online.
Website
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OnlyOffice

OnlyOffice is an open-source office suite with self-hosting options and GDPR compliance.

OnlyOffice supports open data standards, allowing users to control and access their data.
OnlyOffice is open-source software, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
OnlyOffice is ad free and does not monetise user-data.
OnlyOffice allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
OnlyOffice offers a free community edition for all users.
OnlyOffice can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
OnlyOffice does not collect or transmit user data unnecessarily, ensuring privacy and security.
OnlyOffice is developed by a Latvian company, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
OnlyOffice desktop clients work fully offline, reducing reliance on cloud services and internet connectivity.
Website

The 6 main issues with Google Docs

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Google Docs is developed and owned by Google, one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and exploitative data practices. Source: EFF: Google Search Monopoly and Privacy Concerns (2025)

Privacy Concerns - User data is likely to be stored and used against users' best interest.

Google Docs collects and analyzes user documents, raising significant privacy concerns.

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Google lacks transparency in how user data from Google Docs is used and shared.

Data Monopolies - Control of vast amounts of user data, creating risks for privacy and potential misuse.

Google Docs contributes to Google's vast data monopolies, creating risks for user privacy.

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Google has kissed Trump's ring by donating $1 million to his inauguration. Google has updated its products and policies to align with Trump’s political views.Time: How Google Appears to Be Adapting Its Products to the Trump Presidency (2025)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Google has kissed Trump's ring by donating $1 million to his inauguration. Google has updated its products and policies to align with Trump’s political views.Time: How Google Appears to Be Adapting Its Products to the Trump Presidency (2025)

Suggestions and Feedback

If you have suggestions for more alternatives or general feedback, please contact me via email or create an issue over on Codeberg. Suggest Substitute on Codeberg Write an Email