Etherpad
Open-source real-time collaborative editor you host yourself
What is Etherpad?
Etherpad is an open-source editor for writing documents together in real time on a server you run yourself. Each author's text appears in that author's color and every revision is kept, so the timeslider can replay how a document came to be. Plugins add comments, tables, images, video chat and sign-in through OAuth, LDAP or OpenID. The software is free under the Apache 2.0 license and has no paid edition.
Etherpad is free to use. See every plan
Good for
- Institutions that must keep drafts on their own servers
- Documents where who wrote what, and when, has to stay visible
- Quick shared note-taking on a public instance
- Developers embedding a collaborative editor in another application
Worth knowing
- The project runs no hosted service: you set up a server, which needs git and Node.js 24 or later, or use a public instance run by someone else.
- The core ships small, so comments, tables, images and sign-in through OAuth, LDAP or OpenID all come from plugins.
- The desktop app is a v0 beta, and its repository says the Android app is not on Google Play and the iOS build has not been exercised.
- It is maintained by a small volunteer team, and the site lists no paid support.
Key features
- Real-time editing with author colors
- Several people type in the same pad at once. Every keystroke is attributed to its author and shown in that author's color.
- Timeslider history
- Every revision is preserved. The timeslider plays a document's history back character by character, and saved revisions can be restored.
- Plugins
- Hundreds of community plugins add comments, images, tables, drawing, video chat, math, code highlighting and OAuth, LDAP or OpenID authentication.
- AI only as an optional plugin
- No AI is built in. An administrator can install an AI plugin and point it at a model of their choosing, including a local one, or leave it out entirely.
- HTTP API and embedding
- An HTTP API with an OpenAPI description manages pads, groups, authors and sessions, and embed parameters control how a pad looks inside another page.
- Runs on your own server
- Installs on Linux, macOS or Windows with Node.js 24 or later, or from a Docker image, and stores pads in MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB, SQLite and other databases.
Etherpad pricing
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Etherpad is free software under the Apache 2.0 license, with no paid edition and no upsells. You install it on your own server or use a public instance that someone else runs.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Etherpad | $0 | The full editor, installed on your own server, with the plugin system, the HTTP API and built-in data export. |
Read from etherpad.org on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Etherpad before you buy.
Works with
- Home Assistant
- Claude Code
Etherpad alternatives
- Etherpad vs CryptPad
Free plan · from €5/mo
- Etherpad vs HackMD
Free plan · from $4/mo
- Etherpad vs Google Docs
Free plan · from $7/mo
Common questions
Is Etherpad free?
Yes. Etherpad is free to use. Etherpad is free software under the Apache 2.0 license, with no paid edition and no upsells. You install it on your own server or use a public instance that someone else runs.
How much does Etherpad cost?
Etherpad lists one plan. Etherpad: $0. Prices were read from etherpad.org on Oct 6, 2026.
What platforms does Etherpad work on?
Etherpad is available on Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Etherpad have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Etherpad is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does Etherpad have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Etherpad is listed for Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is Etherpad open source?
Yes. Etherpad is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Does Etherpad have an API?
Yes. Etherpad offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Etherpad integrate with?
Etherpad's listing names Home Assistant and Claude Code. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Etherpad?
Etherpad is made by The Etherpad Foundation. It dates from 2009.
What are the alternatives to Etherpad?
The closest alternatives to Etherpad in our directory are HedgeDoc, CryptPad, HackMD and Google Docs. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Etherpad.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.