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Alternatives to Microsoft Word, OneNote and Google Docs
Notes and documents you own, in files you can still open in ten years.
A good test of a notes or writing tool is what happens if the company stops. Obsidian and Joplin keep your notes as ordinary files on your own device, so they keep working and keep opening. CryptPad takes the other route: a shared office suite in the browser where everything is encrypted, so even the people running the server can't read it.
Between them they cover private notes, a personal knowledge base and writing together with other people.
The tools
Joplin
Open-source notes with sync through whichever service you choose.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a plain folder of Markdown files.
CryptPad
An encrypted office suite for writing, spreadsheets and slides together.
For comparison, we also reviewed Microsoft Word (15/30, Mixed), the giant these tools are measured against. They sit outside the directory, on the benchmarks page.
How to choose
Look at where your words live and whether you can walk away with them. Plain files such as Markdown are the safest, because any text editor can open them. Then think about collaboration: if several people must edit the same document, an encrypted shared editor suits better than files on one machine. Sync is the last question, since you can use free methods or pay the maker for an easy one.
Questions people ask
Is there a free alternative to Google Docs that is private?
CryptPad offers documents, spreadsheets and slides in the browser, encrypted so the server can't read them. The main instance has a free tier and sells extra storage.
What is an alternative to OneNote that keeps notes as files?
Obsidian and Joplin both store notes in open formats on your own device. Joplin is fully open source, while Obsidian is free to use but closed source.
Do I have to pay to sync notes between devices?
No. Joplin syncs through Nextcloud, Dropbox or any WebDAV server, and Obsidian sells a sync service but also works with free alternatives.