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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. 1

    Provision a VPS

    Choose a plan with room for your data as well as the app.

  2. 2

    Install the stack

    Install Node.js + Redis + MongoDB.

  3. 3

    Deploy the application

    Follow the project’s official install guide for your distribution.

  4. 4

    Enable HTTPS

    Serve it on your own domain behind a reverse proxy with a certificate.

  5. 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.