Productivity
Self-host CryptPad on a VPS
Zero-knowledge, encrypted collaboration suite.
Collaborative documents, spreadsheets, slides and polls where the server never sees your content — end-to-end encrypted in the browser.
Why self-host CryptPad?
CryptPad is for teams that need real collaborative editing with a privacy guarantee, not just a promise.
How to install CryptPad
- 1
Provision a VPS
Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.
- 2
Install the stack
Install Node.js + Redis + MongoDB.
- 3
Deploy the application
Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.
- 4
Enable HTTPS
Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.
- 5
Back it up
Schedule a database dump plus a copy of any uploaded files to an off-box location.
Practical tips
- Give CryptPad its own database user with rights only on its own schema.
- Reverse-proxy CryptPad and terminate TLS at the proxy so certificates are managed in one place.
- Take a VPS snapshot before major upgrades so you can roll back cleanly.
- Keep CryptPad patched — most self-hosting incidents are unpatched software.
Frequently asked questions
- How much RAM does CryptPad need?
- Plan on 2–4 GB for typical use; add headroom if you expect many concurrent users.
- What stack does CryptPad run on?
- Node.js + Redis + MongoDB.
- Can I run other things on the same VPS?
- Yes — size the plan so CryptPad plus your other workloads fit in RAM with room to spare.
Looking for something else? Popular alternatives include Etherpad, Collabora Online, HedgeDoc — browse all app guides.