Etherpad
Etherpad is a highly customizable open source online text editor that allows multiple users to edit documents collaboratively in real time. It is ideal for teams that need to work together on documents and brainstorm ideas.
collaborative-editing
realtime-editing
teamwork
productivity
Etherpad: Highly Customizable Real-Time Collaborative Text Editor
Open source online text editor allowing multiple users to edit documents collaboratively in real time, ideal for teams brainstorming and working together.
What is Etherpad?
Etherpad is an open-source, web-based collaborative real-time editor. It allows multiple users to edit text documents simultaneously, with each person's edits appearing instantly on others' screens. Some key features of Etherpad include:
- Real-time collaborative editing - Changes made by one user are instantly reflected on every other user's screen, allowing teams to work together seamlessly on documents.
- Text formatting - Users can apply styling like bold, italics, headings, links, etc. to text.
- Color-coded authors - Each author gets assigned a color so you can see who made what changes.
- Version history - View any previous version of the document and revert changes if needed.
- Chat box - Built-in chat allows users to discuss edits as they work.
- Plugin extensions - Plugins allow customizing Etherpad for individual needs.
- Mobile support - Etherpad works nicely on mobile devices, enabling editing on the go.
With its focus on real-time collaboration and simple editor, Etherpad is great for teams that need to brainstorm ideas together, take collaborative notes, or co-author documents.
Etherpad Features
Features
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Supports multiple users editing the same document simultaneously
- Text formatting options like bold, italics, headings, etc
- Chat box for communication between collaborators
- Version history to track changes
- Plugin architecture to extend functionality
- Customizable interface, themes and languages
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Easy to use and set up
Active development community
Good for remote teams and collaboration
Available on many platforms
Cons
Limited features compared to Office suites
Formatting options not as robust as Google Docs
Can get messy with too many simultaneous editors
Not ideal for complex or structured documents
Official Links
The Best Etherpad Alternatives
Top Online Services and Collaboration and other similar apps like Etherpad
Here are some alternatives to Etherpad:
Suggest an alternative ❐
Google Docs
Google Docs is a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation program that is part of Google's free, web-based software suite offered as part of its Google Drive service. Google Docs offers many of the core features and functionality of traditional office suites at no cost to users.Some key features of Google...
Nuclino
Nuclino is an online collaborative platform for organizing team knowledge and information. It serves as a team wiki, project management software, knowledge base tool and documentation manager all in one.With Nuclino, teams can create interconnected pages, sections and workspaces to structure company data, document processes and procedures, share insights, manage...
Etherpad
Etherpad is an open-source, web-based collaborative real-time editor. It allows multiple users to edit text documents simultaneously, with each person's edits appearing instantly on others' screens. Some key features of Etherpad include:Real-time collaborative editing - Changes made by one user are instantly reflected on every other user's screen, allowing teams...
HackMD
HackMD is a real-time collaborative markdown editor and note-taking web application. It allows teams to write, edit, review and publish markdown documents together in real-time. Some key features of HackMD include:Real-time collaboration - Multiple people can edit the same document at the same time and see each other's changes instantly.Markdown...
Fidus Writer
Fidus Writer is a free and open source web-based collaborative document editor for academics and researchers. It is designed for collaboratively writing long documents like research papers, theses, books and reports.Key features of Fidus Writer:Real-time collaboration - Multiple authors can edit the same document at the same time with changes...
Firepad
Firepad is an open-source, real-time collaborative code and text editor. It allows multiple users to edit text documents or code in the same file at the same time while seeing each other's edits character-by-character as they happen.Some of the key features of Firepad include:Real-time collaboration - Changes made by any...
SubEthaEdit
SubEthaEdit is a collaborative real-time text editor application for macOS. It enables multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously over the internet, seeing each other's changes in real-time as they type. This allows for seamless collaboration on writing, code, notes, and more.Some key features of SubEthaEdit include:Real-time collaborative editing...
Nextcloud Notes
Nextcloud Notes is a open-source note taking and editing application designed for use with Nextcloud servers. It provides users with a simple yet feature-rich way to create, organize, and share notes from their Nextcloud instance.Some key features of Nextcloud Notes include:Formatting options like bold, italics, headlines, links, checkboxes, and more...
PiratePad
PiratePad is a free and open-source web-based collaborative real-time editor. It allows multiple users to edit the same document at the same time while seeing each other's changes instantly.Some of the key features of PiratePad include:Real-time collaboration - Changes made by one user are instantly visible to others, enabling seamless...
Google Docs Offline
Google Docs Offline is a desktop application designed to provide offline access and editing capabilities for Google's web-based document suite. It allows users to view, edit, and collaborate on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides without requiring an active internet connection.The app downloads relevant Google Drive documents and folders onto the...
EduPad
eduPad is an open-source, web-based notepad application designed specifically for educational purposes. It allows for real-time collaboration between teachers and students, making it easy to work together on notes, code, assignments, and more.Some key features of eduPad include:Collaborative editing - Teachers and students can edit pads simultaneously, with changes updating...
Rustpad
Rustpad is a modern, open source text editor written in the Rust programming language. It was designed from the ground up to be fast, lightweight, and customizable while still providing all the key features expected of a text editor.Some key features and highlights of Rustpad include:Native cross-platform support for Windows,...
Floobits
Floobits is a collaborative software development tool that facilitates real-time code editing between developers. It allows developers to work together on the same codebase simultaneously, enabling features like shared cursors, highlights, follow mode to see where others are working, and chatting. Some key benefits and features of Floobits include:Real-time collaborative...
Twake
Twake is an open-source, self-hosted collaborative workspace platform designed for teams and companies. It integrates messaging, audio/video calls, document collaboration, task management, calendars and more into one secure, private environment.Some key features of Twake include:Messaging with channels, direct messages and chatbotsAudio and video calls for meetings and collaborationInteractive whiteboard for...
Zoho Writer
Zoho Writer is a free online word processor and competitor to Microsoft Word. It is part of the Zoho Office Suite provided by Zoho Corporation which includes other online office applications. Zoho Writer allows users to create, share, review and publish documents online.Key features of Zoho Writer include:Intuitive word processing...
Framapad
Framapad is a free, open-source, web-based text editor that enables real-time collaboration on documents. It allows multiple users to edit the same document at the same time and see each other's changes instantly.Some key features of Framapad include:Real-time synchronization - All connected users see changes, additions, deletions happening live as...
Hackpad
Hackpad is a cloud-based collaborative writing and editing platform designed for teams. It allows multiple people to edit documents in real-time, with changes syncing automatically so everyone is always viewing the most up-to-date version.Key features of Hackpad include:Real-time synchronous editing - Multiple contributors can edit a document at the same...
Gobby
Gobby is a free, open-source, multi-platform collaborative text editor. It allows multiple users to edit the same documents in real time over a local network or the internet. Some key features of Gobby include:Simultaneous editing - Multiple users can edit a document at the same time and see each other's...
Stekpad
Stekpad is a free, open-source note taking application designed for quick and easy note organization. It provides a simple but effective interface for jotting down thoughts, ideas, notes, and more.Some key features of Stekpad include:Basic text formatting like bold, italics, highlights, etc.Tagging notes for easier searching and filteringCustom notebooks for...
Kirjoitusalusta
Kirjoitusalusta is a simple yet powerful writing and note-taking app for Windows, Mac and Linux. It is designed with a minimalist, clean user interface that strips away any distractions to allow you to focus entirely on your writing.Despite its simplicity, Kirjoitusalusta is a surprisingly fully-featured writing tool. It supports basic...
Notejoy
Notejoy is a free online note taking and knowledge management tool. It allows users to organize personal notes, ideas, web bookmarks, project plans, meeting minutes and more in one central place online.Key features of Notejoy include:Hierarchical note organization using nested notebooks and notesTagging of notes for improved search and retrievalBacklinks...
Teamemo
Teamemo is a cloud-based team collaboration and project management software designed to help teams communicate, collaborate, and get work done more efficiently. Here are some key features of Teamemo:Project management - Create projects and break them down into tasks that can be assigned to team members. Track progress, set due...
Arcane Docs
Arcane Docs is a cloud-based document management and collaboration platform designed for teams and organizations. It centralizes the storage and access of documents, enabling seamless collaboration across teams and departments.Key features of Arcane Docs include:Centralized document repository with unlimited storageRole-based access controls and permissionsVersion control and edit historyPowerful search and...
EtherCalc
EtherCalc is an open-source web-based spreadsheet application that allows multiple users to collaboratively edit spreadsheets in real-time. It works right in the browser without needing any downloads or installations.Some key features of EtherCalc include:Real-time collaboration - Multiple users can edit the same spreadsheet simultaneously and see each other's changes instantlyOpen...
OurDocs
OurDocs is an open-source word processor developed as an alternative to Microsoft Word. It is free to download and use, with the source code openly available for anyone to view and modify.Some key features of OurDocs include:Text editing tools for formatting, fonts, paragraph styles, etc.Page layout options like margins, orientation,...
OwnCloud Documents
ownCloud Documents is an open source, self-hosted content collaboration platform that provides users the ability to edit documents and store files online. It includes built-in editors for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more, allowing for real-time collaborative editing between users.As an on-premises solution, ownCloud Documents gives organizations full control over...
Hive.js
Hive.js is an open-source web framework designed specifically for building real-time, collaborative applications. It lets developers create apps where multiple users can simultaneously interact, make changes, and see the changes synced instantly across all connected clients.Some key capabilities and benefits of Hive.js include:Real-time data synchronization - Data is synced instantly...
BeWeeVee Notepad
beWeeVee Notepad is a free and open source text editor for Windows. It provides a simple interface for creating and editing text documents.Key features of beWeeVee Notepad include:Syntax highlighting for many programming languages like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, C++, etc.Line numbers for easier code editingWord wrap to avoid horizontal scrollingCustomizable...
SSuite Blue Velvet
SSuite Blue Velvet is a free and open source office and productivity software suite for Windows. It provides a range of tools for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases, email, calendar, contacts, and more.For word processing, it includes Blue Velvet Writer which has similar capabilities to Microsoft Word. Features include text...
Zoho Remotely
Zoho Remotely is a feature-rich remote desktop software designed to help IT teams deliver fast and effective remote technical support. It allows technicians to gain control of remote computers via the internet to diagnose and resolve issues in real-time.Key features of Zoho Remotely include:Secure remote desktop control with permission settingsTwo-way...
MoonEdit
MoonEdit is a free and open source text and code editor available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is designed to be fast, small, customizable, and feature-rich for software developers and web authors.Some key features of MoonEdit include:Syntax highlighting for over 100 programming languages and markup languagesFast and responsive even...
