| Category | CryptPad | Nextcloud |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Encrypted collaborative office suite | Private cloud storage and collaboration platform |
| Self-hosting | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Hosted Option | ✅ Yes (cryptpad.fr and others) | ✅ Yes (nextcloud.com or third-party providers) |
| End-to-End Encryption | ✅ Default for all content (zero-knowledge encryption) | 🔶 Partial (not default, limited to client-side encryption app and some external tools) |
| Zero-Knowledge Server | ✅ Yes | 🔴 No (admin/server can access unencrypted content unless encryption is explicitly enabled) |
| Default Encryption Scope | ✅ All documents, messages, and files are encrypted end-to-end | 🔶 Optional encryption, limited in scope (E2EE not applied to calendars, contacts, search, etc.) |
| User Authentication | ✅ Pseudonymous accounts possible; no email required | ✅ Full user management; integration with LDAP, SSO, etc. |
| Account Recovery | 🔴 Not possible without backup keys | ✅ Password reset and admin recovery options |
| Document Types | ✅ Rich suite: Rich text, code, markdown, kanban, whiteboard, poll, slideshow, spreadsheet | ✅ Rich suite via Collabora, OnlyOffice, Text, Markdown, Draw.io, etc. |
| File Sync & Storage | 🔶 Limited: some file upload support | ✅ Full file sync (desktop & mobile), sharing, versioning, previews |
| Collaborative Editing | ✅ Yes (real-time) | ✅ Yes (via plugins like Collabora or OnlyOffice integration) |
| Chat & Messaging | ✅ Built-in encrypted chat | ✅ Built-in Talk app (not end-to-end encrypted by default) |
| Calendar & Contacts | 🔴 No | ✅ Yes (CalDAV, CardDAV support) |
| Federation | 🔴 No | ✅ Yes (federated sharing across instances) |
| Offline Access | 🔴 No | ✅ Yes (via mobile apps and desktop sync clients) |
| Mobile Apps | 🔶 Limited mobile usability via browser | ✅ Full-featured iOS and Android apps |
| Plugins & Extensibility | 🔴 Not extensible; limited to included tools | ✅ Highly extensible: large app ecosystem |
| Granular Permissions | ✅ Share per-document, read/write settings | ✅ Granular permissions per file/folder, group access controls |
| Audit Logs | 🔴 No | ✅ Yes (with Audit Log app) |
| Data Residency Control | ✅ Full control if self-hosted | ✅ Full control if self-hosted |
| Third-Party App Access | 🔴 No (privacy-first: closed system) | ✅ Yes (API, OAuth, WebDAV, etc.) |
| Security Design Philosophy | 🟢 Maximum privacy, minimal trust—even the server can’t read your data | 🟡 Flexible sharing and access with admin and plugin extensibility, but less private by default |
| Compliance | 🔶 GDPR-friendly, but limited enterprise features | ✅ GDPR, HIPAA (with setup), enterprise features |
| Codebase | ✅ Open source (AGPLv3) | ✅ Open source (AGPLv3) |
Categories
CryptPad vs Nextcloud: Privacy & Security Comparison Matrix
CryptPad is an end-to-end-encrypted office suite alternative with secure content sharing options. It has fewer features than Nextcloud, but may have an edge in sheer privacy/security.