LibreOffice vs CryptPad
Both are alternatives to Microsoft 365. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as CryptPad vs LibreOffice — same comparison, one verdict.
Both are office & productivity suites tools with the same broad shape, but LibreOffice scores 100 against CryptPad's 92 on data ownership and exit cost — the gap is in how easily you could leave.
LibreOffice
TOP PICKThe mature, fully open-source desktop office suite that runs entirely on your own machine.
LibreOffice is the most complete free desktop office suite and the closest all-round replacement for the Word/Excel/PowerPoint apps. It bundles Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, and Math, runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and opens and saves Microsoft's DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files as well as the open OpenDocument (ODF) formats. It is produced by the non-profit Document Foundation, installs locally with no account or cloud, and costs nothing. It is the right pick for individuals and organizations that mainly need capable offline documents and full control over their files. Its main gap versus 365 is native real-time co-authoring in the desktop apps; browser-based simultaneous editing comes from the related Collabora Online project, listed below.
CryptPad
End-to-end-encrypted collaborative documents where the server never sees your content.
CryptPad is a privacy-first collaboration suite built around end-to-end encryption: documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more are encrypted in your browser, so a self-hosted or public server stores only ciphertext and cannot read your content. It supports real-time co-editing, shared folders, and a range of app types, and it is AGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable via Docker or a Debian install. Developed by XWiki SAS with public-interest funding, it also runs a free public instance at cryptpad.fr. It is the strongest choice when confidentiality is the priority; the trade-off is that it is a distinct web workspace rather than a drop-in Microsoft-format editor.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| LibreOffice | CryptPad | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 100 | 92 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first data | Yes | Yes |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free / runs locally | Free / self-host; free public instance at cryptpad.fr |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 2 GB with a large spreadsheet open | 2 GB for a small instance |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $0 — it runs on the machine you already own | $12–20/mo on a small VPS |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 15 minutes | 2 hours, and the two-domain requirement is the hard part |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Low. Update on the Still branch unless you need new features. | Moderate. Version pruning is a job you have to schedule. |
LibreOffice is Macrostack's recommended Microsoft 365 alternative, so it's our pick here.
Weighing both against staying on Microsoft 365? Is Microsoft 365 free? What it actually costs →
LibreOffice
Strengths
- +Fully open-source under MPL-2.0, an OSI-approved license
- +Runs entirely offline on your own computer with no account, subscription, or cloud
- +The most feature-complete free desktop suite: word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, plus Draw, Base, and Math
- +Reads and writes Microsoft's DOCX/XLSX/PPTX as well as the open ODF formats, so files stay portable
- +Backed by the non-profit Document Foundation with a very active release cadence and large community
Trade-offs
- −No built-in real-time co-authoring in the desktop apps; browser-based simultaneous editing needs the related Collabora Online
- −Complex Microsoft documents (heavy macros, advanced pivot tables, intricate formatting) can shift slightly on import/export
- −No bundled cloud storage, email, or team-chat equivalent to OneDrive/Outlook/Teams
- −The interface and defaults differ from Microsoft's, so there is a short adjustment period
CryptPad
Strengths
- +AGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable via Docker or Debian, so you can own the whole stack
- +End-to-end encryption means the server stores only encrypted data and cannot read your documents
- +Real-time collaborative documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and shared drives in the browser
- +A free public instance (cryptpad.fr) lets you try it with no setup
- +Actively maintained by XWiki SAS with sustained public-interest funding
Trade-offs
- −It is a browser-based encrypted workspace, not a full desktop suite or a drop-in Microsoft-format editor
- −Compatibility with complex Microsoft documents is more limited than ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice
- −The encryption model means account recovery and some integrations work differently from conventional suites
- −Self-hosting requires running a server, and encrypted real-time editing is heavier than plain document storage
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose LibreOffice
if a lower exit cost matters more to you than any single feature, and fully open-source under MPL-2.0, an OSI-approved license.
Choose CryptPad
if aGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable via Docker or Debian, so you can own the whole stack.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — no built-in real-time co-authoring in the desktop apps; browser-based simultaneous editing needs the related Collabora Online, and it is a browser-based encrypted workspace, not a full desktop suite or a drop-in Microsoft-format editor. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
LibreOffice vs CryptPad — common questions
Is LibreOffice a better fit than CryptPad for office & productivity suites?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: LibreOffice scores 100 to CryptPad's 92 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. CryptPad earns its place on a different axis — aGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable via Docker or Debian, so you can own the whole stack. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
LibreOffice keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. CryptPad is still self-hostable, so the files stay on your server either way — but it is not local-first by design, so check what its export produces before you rely on it.
Can I self-host LibreOffice or CryptPad?
Both can be self-hosted. The difference is what it costs you in time rather than whether it is possible — see the setup and maintenance rows above.
Are LibreOffice and CryptPad both alternatives to Microsoft 365?
Yes — both appear in our Microsoft 365 comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Microsoft 365 and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-07-06. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.