CryptPad vs Proton Drive
Both are alternatives to Google Drive. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Proton Drive vs CryptPad — same comparison, one verdict.
CryptPad is open source (AGPL-3.0) and Proton Drive is not (Proprietary hosted service (client apps open-source, audited)) — so the real question is whether you want to own the cloud storage & sync stack or rent it.
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.
Proton Drive
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from the Proton privacy suite.
Proton Drive is hosted, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and file sync from the Swiss privacy company Proton. Like the rest of Proton, its apps are open-source and audited, but the service is hosted on Proton's servers — not self-hostable. It's the easy private-cloud option for people who won't run Nextcloud or Syncthing themselves.
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.
| CryptPad | Proton Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 92 | 60 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first data | Yes | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary hosted service (client apps open-source, audited) |
| Pricing | Free / self-host; free public instance at cryptpad.fr | Free tier (a few GB); paid from about $4/month (or bundled in Proton Unlimited) |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 2 GB for a small instance | — |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $12–20/mo on a small VPS | — |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 2 hours, and the two-domain requirement is the hard part | — |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Moderate. Version pruning is a job you have to schedule. | — |
CryptPad edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Weighing both against staying on Google Drive? Is Google Drive free? What it actually costs →
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
Proton Drive
Strengths
- +End-to-end encrypted — Proton cannot read your files
- +Open-source, independently audited client apps
- +Zero setup — nothing to host or maintain
- +Swiss privacy jurisdiction
Trade-offs
- −Hosted on Proton's servers — not self-hostable
- −The service is proprietary; only the client apps are open
- −Files live in Proton's cloud, not on your own hardware
- −Less storage per dollar than raw self-hosting
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose CryptPad
if you want the source and the option to fork it, and you would rather run it on your own hardware, and your data should stay on machines you control.
Choose Proton Drive
if end-to-end encrypted — Proton cannot read your files.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — it is a browser-based encrypted workspace, not a full desktop suite or a drop-in Microsoft-format editor, and hosted on Proton's servers — not self-hostable. 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.
CryptPad vs Proton Drive — common questions
Is CryptPad a better fit than Proton Drive for cloud storage & sync?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: CryptPad scores 92 to Proton Drive's 60 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. Proton Drive earns its place on a different axis — end-to-end encrypted — Proton cannot read your files. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
CryptPad keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. Proton Drive keeps your data on its own infrastructure, which is the part to plan for: confirm the export path before you commit, not when you are already trying to leave.
Can I self-host CryptPad?
CryptPad can be self-hosted; Proton Drive cannot, so it stays on the vendor's infrastructure whatever you do.
Are CryptPad and Proton Drive both alternatives to Google Drive?
Yes — both appear in our Google Drive comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Google Drive and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
More Google Drive head-to-heads
More cloud storage & sync comparisons
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-09-17. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.