CryptPad Rich Text review
A privacy-focused web editor for teams that need encrypted collaboration and DOCX export.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
CryptPad Rich Text is a browser-based word processor for individuals, teams, writers, and organizations that want collaborative editing with privacy controls. Its WYSIWYG editor supports headings, lists, blockquotes, tables, images, media, bullet points, code blocks, and document outlines. Real-time collaboration and commenting support shared drafting, while encrypted sharing links provide view or edit permissions. Optional password protection adds another control for shared documents. The product is open source, can be self-hosted, and is also available through the CryptPad.fr public instance.
The free plan makes the editor accessible without a paid commitment. CryptPad.fr paid plans start at €5 per month, billed monthly, and add storage and priority support. The paid offering includes plans for individuals, teams, and organizations, so the main upgrade path is oriented toward capacity, assistance, and organizational use rather than a separate set of rich-text editing tools. Version history and restoration help maintain document continuity, although the published description of track changes is tied to version history rather than independently verified Word-style tracked revisions. Documents can be exported to HTML and DOCX when collaboration needs to move beyond CryptPad.
Privacy-conscious teams should pick CryptPad Rich Text when encrypted sharing, open-source code, self-hosting, and collaborative writing matter more than desktop software or a broad productivity ecosystem. Its feature set covers common document work while adding permissions, password protection, comments, and historical restoration. The web-only model narrows its fit for people who require desktop applications or offline editing. Writers and teams seeking a focused, privacy-oriented collaborative editor will find a clear match; users who depend on desktop-first workflows or conventional word-processor revision tools should consider a different product.
CryptPad Rich Text pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Real-time editing, comments, permissions, and encrypted sharing
- Version history, restoration, outlines, tables, media, and code blocks
- Open-source, self-hostable, with a free public instance
- Where it doesn't
- Web-only, with no desktop apps
- Track changes is framed through version history, not Word-style revisions
- Paid access starts at €5 per month
CryptPad Rich Text fact sheet, pricing and score →
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