Replace / Google Docs
Replace Google Docs with Nextcloud / Seafile
The best open-source alternative to Google Docs is Nextcloud (or Seafile) with Collabora Online, self-hosted on Railway. Files, shares, and office docs you host. Nextcloud is the Drive/OneDrive/Box/Docs suite; Seafile is the sync engine; Collabora and ONLYOFFICE are the editors.
Estimated save $1,380 a year.
Open the stackStart on Railway
How Google Docs compares
| Google Docs | Nextcloud / Seafile | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Hosted subscription | Open-source or fair-code license; you pay the host |
| Hosting | Vendor cloud | Self-hosted on Railway or any VPS |
| Rough monthly cost | Public list price not verified this run | Hosting only — no SaaS seat meter in this repo |
- Nextcloud
Self-hosted files, share links, and groupware
- Seafile
Self-hosted file sync and share
- Collabora Online
MPL office editor Nextcloud Office can wrap
- ONLYOFFICE Docs
AGPL document server if you want that editor
FAQ
- Is it free?
- The Nextcloud / Seafile licenses are open source or fair-code. You still pay hosting (Railway or any VPS) and any APIs the stack calls. There is no Google Docs seat or task bill on this path.
- Can I migrate from Google Docs?
- Yes. Start with the workflows or data you actually use, then cut over. The Nextcloud / Seafile stack page has the agent prompt and the cost table; most teams rebuild the slice that matters and leave old Google Docs links until they expire.
- How do I deploy it?
- Open the Nextcloud / Seafile stack, copy the agent prompt, and deploy on Railway (one service, PORT, and a volume when the app needs disk). Placeholder: Nextcloud (or Seafile) + a volume for blobs and a database. Add Collabora or ONLYOFFICE if the job is Docs, not just files. Dropbox's /replace/dropbox page stays on copyparty.
- What does this replace?
- Google Drive / OneDrive / Box / Google Docs. The published small-team estimate on this stack is $1,380 a year.
Related pages
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