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Best Document Collaboration Software in 2026

When several people need to write, review, and maintain shared documents, access rules and change tracking can be as important as editing. Compare guest access, role permissions, and collaborator limits to see who can take part, then consider version history, approval workflows, and audit logs for review and recordkeeping. AFFiNE, Lark, and Collabora Online are among the named options. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the controls your team needs, and consider how those features fit the way you manage documents together.

  1. 1

    AFFiNE

    Free plan Open source AndroidAPIExtension+6

    AFFiNE combines offline-capable desktop work with optional cloud sync and AI tools. Check the cloud tier’s member and history limits, and note that mobile offers a narrower feature set than desktop.

    9.3 Free plan · paid from $6.75/mo (annual) Visit site
  2. 2

    ONLYOFFICE Docs

    Free plan Open source AndroidAPIExtension+6

    Choose ONLYOFFICE Docs if you need collaborative office editors, broad integration options, or desktop editing offline.

    8.8 Free plan · paid from $1,500 · 30-day trial Visit site
  3. 3

    Overleaf

    by Overleaf
    Free plan Open source APIExtensionLinux+4

    Choose Overleaf if you need to write and compile LaTeX documents with collaborators, or want templates for academic and technical writing.

    8.8 Free plan · 7-day trial Visit site
  4. 4

    Coda

    Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+3

    Choose Coda if your team wants a shared workspace that can combine docs, data tables, and workflow apps, with broad integrations and automation options.

    7.6 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Collabora Online

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+4

    Collabora Online combines familiar office applications with deployment choices that keep documents within an organisation's infrastructure.

    7.6 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    Confluence

    by Confluence
    Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted+1

    Confluence combines collaborative documents and project knowledge with Jira connections and multiple deployment options.

    7.6 Free plan · paid from $5.42/user/mo · 7-day trial Visit site
  7. 7

    Craft

    by Craft
    Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

    Choose Craft if you want notes across web, desktop and mobile, with offline access and real-time sharing.

    7.6 Free plan · paid from $6.40/user/mo (annual) Visit site
  8. 8

    Dropbox Paper

    by Dropbox Paper
    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

    Dropbox Paper combines collaborative documents with task and timeline features at no charge. Its web-based access and mobile timeline limitation are important to consider.

    7.5 Free plan · paid from $0.99/mo (annual) Visit site
  9. 9

    Google Docs

    Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+1

    Google Docs combines document editing, collaboration, offline access, and compatibility with Word and PDF files.

    7.4 Free plan · paid from $7/user/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
  10. 10

    Fidus Writer

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    Choose Fidus Writer for collaborative academic publishing when citations, formulas, and content reuse across web, print, or ebook formats matter.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  11. 11

    Lark

    by Lark
    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4

    Lark combines workplace messaging, collaboration, automation, and developer tools across major desktop and mobile platforms.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  12. 12

    Microsoft Loop

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb+1

    Loop combines shared canvases, workspaces, and synchronized components for collaborative planning.

    7.3 Visit site
  13. 13

    Bit.ai

    Free plan Web

    Choose Bit.ai if your team wants collaborative documents and wikis with several sharing controls and a free starting plan.

    7.2 Free plan · paid from $8/user/mo (annual) Visit site
  14. 14

    CryptPad Rich Text

    Free plan Self-hostedWeb

    Choose CryptPad Rich Text for collaborative documents when browser encryption, link-based sharing, and open-source self-hosting matter.

    7.2 Free plan · paid from €5/mo Visit site
  15. 15

    Etherpad

    by Etherpad
    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+5

    Etherpad combines collaborative editing, detailed revision history, and self-hosting with broad app and API support.

    7.2 Open source Visit site
  16. 16

    Notion

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

    Notion brings notes, databases, collaboration, and search features into a cloud workspace. Review the Free plan's file, block, and guest limits before choosing it for a team.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  17. 17

    Nuclino

    by Nuclino
    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4

    Choose Nuclino if your team wants shared documents, several ways to organize work, and a canvas for diagrams or whiteboards. The Free plan has clear item, canvas, and storage caps.

    7.2 Free plan · 14-day trial Visit site
  18. 18

    Filestage

    Free plan APIWeb

    Filestage combines file feedback, version comparison, and approvals, with review checks and an audit trail.

    7.1 Free plan · paid from $199/mo · 14-day trial Visit site
  19. 19

    HedgeDoc

    Free plan Self-hostedWeb

    HedgeDoc combines collaborative Markdown editing with presentation, revision and permission features.

    7.0 Open source Visit site
  20. 20

    Papeeria

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

    Papeeria pairs browser-based LaTeX work with collaboration, templates, plotting, and project sharing.

    7.0 Free plan · paid from $5/mo Visit site
  21. 21

    Superhuman Docs

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1

    Superhuman Docs combines collaborative documents, project materials, AI creation tools, and connected services.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  22. 22

    WPS Docs

    Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+4

    WPS Docs brings document collaboration and file handling together, with PDF tools and broad platform availability.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  23. 23

    HackMD

    by HackMD
    Free plan Web

    Choose HackMD for collaborative Markdown notes, publishing, and workflows that use its GitHub integrations, API, or CLI.

    6.9 Free plan · paid from $5/user/mo (annual) Visit site
  24. 24

    Tencent Docs

    Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

    Tencent Docs combines browser collaboration, mobile access and document security controls, with a free plan for initial use.

    6.9 Free plan Visit site
  25. 25

    Ziflow

    Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+4

    Ziflow brings proofing, checklist review, and workflow integrations together for creative teams.

    6.9 Free plan · paid from $199/mo (annual) Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

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