CryptPad vs ownCloud Web
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
CryptPad
End-to-end encrypted collaboration suite
VS
ownCloud Web
Archived
Modern web frontend for ownCloud file sharing
| Feature | CryptPad | ownCloud Web |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,953 | ★ 567 |
| First released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Microsoft 365 | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are CryptPad and ownCloud Web?
CryptPad
CryptPad is an end-to-end encrypted collaboration suite with documents, spreadsheets, and a personal drive, where the server cannot read user data. It suits privacy-focused individuals and teams. It is deployed via Docker or a Node.js installation.
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Documents, sheets and forms
- Personal encrypted drive
ownCloud Web
ownCloud Web is the modern single-page web frontend for ownCloud file storage and sharing. It provides fast file management, sharing, and collaboration in the browser.
- Modern file management UI
- File sharing
- Browser-based collaboration
- Fast single-page app
CryptPad vs ownCloud Web: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: ownCloud Web's repository is archived and no longer developed, while CryptPad is actively maintained. CryptPad is written in JavaScript, while ownCloud Web is built with TypeScript. CryptPad is the more established project (first released 2015), while ownCloud Web arrived in 2020. CryptPad has the considerably larger community, at 7,953 GitHub stars versus 567.
Why pick each one
Choose CryptPad if…
- Strong privacy guarantees
- Real-time collaboration
- No account needed to start
Watch out for
- Encryption limits server-side search
- Heavier client than plain editors
Choose ownCloud Web if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptPad or ownCloud Web better?
Neither is universally better. CryptPad has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CryptPad and ownCloud Web free and open-source?
Yes. CryptPad is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and ownCloud Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryptPad and ownCloud Web with Docker?
CryptPad: yes. ownCloud Web: yes.