Best Self-Hosted Office Suites in 2026
Quick Picks
| Use Case | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | OnlyOffice | Closest to Microsoft Office, best OOXML compatibility, Nextcloud integration |
| Best for privacy | CryptPad | End-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge architecture |
| Best Nextcloud companion | OnlyOffice or Collabora | Both integrate natively, OnlyOffice has better formatting fidelity |
| Best for teams | OnlyOffice | Real-time co-editing, comments, track changes, version history |
The Landscape
Self-hosted office suites fall into two categories: document editors that integrate with file sync platforms (OnlyOffice, Collabora/LibreOffice Online) and standalone collaborative platforms (CryptPad). Your choice depends on whether you already run Nextcloud or Seafile, and how much you care about end-to-end encryption.
The Full Ranking
1. OnlyOffice Document Server — Best Overall
OnlyOffice provides browser-based editors for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with the best Microsoft Office format compatibility of any open-source suite. If your workflow involves .docx and .xlsx files, OnlyOffice handles them better than any alternative.
Key strengths:
- Native OOXML support — opens and saves
.docx,.xlsx,.pptxwithout conversion artifacts - Real-time co-editing with cursor tracking, comments, and track changes
- Integrates with Nextcloud, Seafile, ownCloud, and other platforms via connectors
- Macro support (JavaScript-based)
- PDF viewing and form filling
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Docker image | onlyoffice/documentserver:9.2.1 |
| Image size | ~1.6 GB |
| RAM (idle) | ~500 MB |
| RAM (under load) | 1-2 GB |
| Supported formats | DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODF, PDF, CSV, TXT |
| Max concurrent editors | Depends on RAM (~20 per GB) |
| License | AGPL v3 (Community Edition) |
Pros:
- Best
.docx/.xlsxfidelity of any self-hosted option - Mature, actively developed
- Excellent Nextcloud integration
- Plugin and macro support
Cons:
- Heavy — 1.6 GB image, 500 MB+ RAM baseline
- Community Edition limited to 20 concurrent connections
- No end-to-end encryption
- Complex initial configuration
Best for: Teams that exchange Microsoft Office files and need formatting fidelity. The natural choice alongside Nextcloud.
[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host OnlyOffice]
2. CryptPad — Best for Privacy
CryptPad is a zero-knowledge collaborative suite where the server never sees your content. All documents are end-to-end encrypted in the browser before reaching the server. It includes a rich text editor, spreadsheet, Kanban, whiteboard, presentation, code editor, and form builder.
What makes it different:
- True end-to-end encryption — the server operator cannot read documents
- No account required for basic use (anonymous pads)
- Built-in apps: documents, sheets, presentations, Kanban, polls, whiteboard, code, forms
- OnlyOffice integration for OOXML editing within CryptPad’s encrypted environment
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Docker image | cryptpad/cryptpad:version-2026.2.0 |
| Image size | ~220 MB |
| RAM (idle) | ~200 MB |
| RAM (under load) | 500 MB - 1 GB |
| Encryption | End-to-end (client-side) |
| Storage | Per-user quotas, encrypted blobs |
| License | AGPL v3 |
Pros:
- Zero-knowledge encryption — unmatched privacy
- Lightweight compared to OnlyOffice
- Multiple built-in app types beyond office docs
- No external integrations needed — standalone platform
- Active development with monthly releases
Cons:
- OOXML compatibility is limited without OnlyOffice integration
- No desktop apps — browser-only
- Encrypted storage means no server-side search
- Smaller community than OnlyOffice
- Document sharing requires CryptPad-specific links (no standard file access)
Best for: Privacy-conscious teams and individuals who want collaborative editing without trusting the server. Journalists, activists, and anyone handling sensitive documents.
[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host CryptPad]
3. Collabora Online (LibreOffice Online) — Best LibreOffice Integration
Collabora Online is the commercial, supported version of LibreOffice Online. It brings the full LibreOffice rendering engine to the browser, offering the widest format support of any self-hosted office suite. The open-source CODE (Collabora Online Development Edition) is free for self-hosting.
Key strengths:
- Full LibreOffice rendering engine — handles formats that trip up other editors
- ODF-native — best for organizations standardized on
.odt/.ods - Integrates with Nextcloud, ownCloud, Seafile
- Supports complex spreadsheets and documents that other editors struggle with
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Docker image | collabora/code:24.04 |
| RAM (idle) | ~400 MB |
| RAM (under load) | 1-2 GB |
| Format support | ODF, OOXML, legacy Office formats, PDF |
| License | MPL 2.0 (CODE) |
Pros:
- Widest format compatibility — handles legacy Office formats
- ODF-first design
- Mature rendering engine (LibreOffice core)
- Good Nextcloud integration
Cons:
- Heavy resource usage
- UI feels less polished than OnlyOffice
- OOXML rendering less accurate than OnlyOffice
- Smaller self-hosting community
Best for: Organizations that primarily work with ODF formats or need to open legacy/unusual document types.
Full Comparison Table
| Feature | OnlyOffice | CryptPad | Collabora CODE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documents | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spreadsheets | Yes (advanced) | Yes (basic) | Yes (advanced) |
| Presentations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| OOXML fidelity | Excellent | Limited | Good |
| ODF support | Good | Limited | Excellent |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Yes | No |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nextcloud integration | Yes (connector) | No | Yes (built-in app) |
| Mobile support | Via Nextcloud app | Browser (responsive) | Via Nextcloud app |
| Offline editing | No | No | No |
| Kanban / whiteboard | No | Yes | No |
| RAM baseline | ~500 MB | ~200 MB | ~400 MB |
| Docker image size | ~1.6 GB | ~220 MB | ~1.5 GB |
| License | AGPL v3 | AGPL v3 | MPL 2.0 |
Choosing the Right Suite
You need Microsoft Office compatibility → OnlyOffice. Nothing else handles .docx formatting as well.
Privacy is your top priority → CryptPad. Zero-knowledge encryption is non-negotiable for sensitive work.
You run Nextcloud and want integrated editing → OnlyOffice (better OOXML) or Collabora (better ODF). Try both — Nextcloud supports switching between them.
You want the lightest option → CryptPad at ~200 MB RAM. OnlyOffice and Collabora both need 400-500 MB minimum.
You need more than just office docs → CryptPad includes Kanban, whiteboard, polls, and code editing out of the box.
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