10 Best Google Docs Alternatives in 2025

Editoral Squad at Stepsize
Editoral Squad at Stepsize
29
Jun
2025
|
min read
Looking for the best Google Docs alternatives in 2025? We’ve reviewed 10 top tools that go beyond basic docs—offering better formatting, built-in tasks, AI writing, and connected workflows to match how modern teams work.

Google Docs is great—until it isn’t.

Maybe you’ve outgrown its basic formatting. Maybe your team needs docs that actually connect to your work. Or maybe you’re just tired of switching tabs between notes, tasks, and comments.

The good news? There are powerful alternatives built for different types of users—creatives, technical writers, product teams, and remote collaborators alike. Whether you want something more visual, more integrated, or just more fun to write in, there’s a better fit out there.

We’ve reviewed the 10 best Google Docs alternatives in 2025 to help you find your next go-to doc tool. ✨

✍️ TL;DR: Best Google Docs Alternatives at a Glance

Tool Best for Standout features
ClickUp Collaborative docs tied to tasks & workflows AI writing, real-time editing, task linking, templates
Notion All-in-one workspace for docs, wikis & projects Blocks, database integration, AI assistant
Microsoft Word Online Browser-based editing with familiar formatting Cloud editing, live collaboration, OneDrive sync
Dropbox Paper Creative collaboration with media-rich docs Media embeds, task checklists, timelines
Coda Docs that work like apps Interactive tables, buttons, integrations
Craft Visual, structured personal and team docs Card view, publishing, nested pages
Slite Async documentation for remote teams Structured notes, templates, semantic search
Confluence Technical documentation for dev teams Page trees, Jira integration, reusable templates
Zoho Writer Professional business documentation Mail merge, digital signatures, workflow automation
Quip Salesforce-native docs with spreadsheets Embedded spreadsheets, live Salesforce data, team chat

🤖 Why Use a Google Docs Alternative?

Google Docs is easy, collaborative, and cloud-based—but it’s not the only (or best) choice for every workflow.

Whether you're building a second brain, writing for clients, planning product launches, or documenting processes, your ideal doc tool should adapt to how you work—not the other way around.

  • Supports integrated task management or project planning
  • Offers formatting freedom, widgets, or databases
  • Handles creative, technical, or collaborative content better
  • Includes AI assistance, workflows, or publishing tools
  • Feels more tailored to your personal or team style

1. ClickUp

ClickUp isn’t just a Docs tool—it’s your entire workspace. Built for teams who want to turn documentation into action, it combines rich text editing with project management, task tracking, and AI assistance. You can brainstorm ideas, write documentation, assign tasks, and track execution—all in the same place.

Write docs that connect directly to your work

ClickUp Docs are fully integrated with tasks, timelines, and workflows. You can embed live tasks inside a doc, link updates, and collaborate with teammates in real time—so docs don’t just sit around, they drive progress.

Use case: A product team writes a spec doc, embeds dev tasks inside it, and tracks implementation updates as the sprint progresses.

Collaborate with real-time editing and comments

Multiple teammates can co-edit a doc at once, leave comments, and resolve threads just like in Google Docs—but with added context from linked work.

Use case: A marketing team reviews a campaign brief together, drops comments on each section, and tags stakeholders for approvals.

Create and customize wikis

ClickUp lets you create a structured wiki system with nested pages, internal links, and visual hierarchy—perfect for company knowledge bases.

Use case: An HR team builds an internal wiki for onboarding that links to relevant policies, checklists, and training guides.

Organize everything with folders and permissions

Docs live alongside tasks and can be organized into folders, Spaces, or even private views. You can control who sees what and share docs publicly if needed.

Use case: A content agency builds separate client folders with docs, assigns contributors, and shares final drafts with public links.

Use AI to summarize, rewrite, or brainstorm

ClickUp Brain helps you write better and faster. Summarize meeting notes, rephrase content, or generate new ideas with one prompt—right inside your doc.

Use case: A founder drafts a new pitch doc and asks ClickUp Brain to polish the tone and summarize the product value in one paragraph.

Link docs to dashboards, timelines, and tasks

Docs don’t live in isolation. ClickUp connects them to the rest of your workflow—so you can see progress, status, and dependencies in one view.

Use case: A project manager embeds a doc with status notes into a dashboard to give stakeholders live visibility into execution.

Why ClickUp Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Teams who want docs that integrate with project execution
  • Creators who need AI writing help directly in their editor
  • Product managers who write specs and connect them to dev work
  • Companies building scalable, searchable internal wikis

Try ClickUp for free today!

2. Notion

Notion is an all-in-one workspace that blends note-taking, documentation, and lightweight task management. Known for its flexibility, it’s a popular choice among creators, startups, and remote teams looking to centralize their knowledge and stay organized—without needing separate apps for docs, wikis, and boards.

Build connected pages with rich content

Notion lets you create nested pages that include text, images, videos, databases, checklists, and more. You can customize layouts with drag-and-drop blocks to structure your docs however you like.

Use case: A startup founder creates a company handbook with team bios, culture values, policies, and onboarding steps—all linked from a single index page.

Create personal or team wikis

Notion makes it easy to build structured wikis with backlinks, toggles, and organized hierarchies. Pages can be grouped into workspaces for different teams or functions.

Use case: A design team maintains a visual design system and links it to brand guidelines, UI components, and research docs.

Use databases for structured notes and tasks

Notion’s database blocks allow you to turn any doc into a sortable, filterable table or kanban board—great for tracking docs, content calendars, or tasks.

Use case: A content marketer tracks blog drafts using a Notion table view with status, owner, and publish dates in one doc.

Share and collaborate in real time

Pages can be shared with teammates or external partners. You can leave inline comments, @mention collaborators, and work together on the same page.

Use case: A freelancer shares a proposal doc with a client, receives feedback in comments, and revises it live on a call.

Add templates for repeatable workflows

Notion’s community and in-app templates help you create docs for everything from meeting notes to habit trackers, reducing setup time and improving consistency.

Use case: A solopreneur uses a weekly review template to reflect on goals and track to-dos inside their workspace.

Why Notion Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Creators and remote teams who want flexible, visual docs
  • Individuals looking for a combined notes and task workspace
  • Companies building scalable internal knowledge hubs
  • People who love visual hierarchy and linked content flows

3. Microsoft Word Online

Microsoft Word Online brings the familiarity of classic Word documents to the cloud. It’s a free, browser-based version of Microsoft Word that allows for real-time collaboration, easy sharing, and access from anywhere—without needing a desktop app.

Create and edit Word documents in your browser

You can create, view, and edit Word documents online using the same core formatting and styling tools available in the desktop version. It also auto-saves to OneDrive for seamless version tracking.

Use case: A student writes a research paper using Word Online on their tablet, and picks up right where they left off later on their laptop.

Collaborate on documents in real time

Multiple people can edit the same document at once, with live cursor tracking and commenting. This makes Word Online great for co-authoring reports, proposals, or meeting notes.

Use case: A project team works on a client proposal together, with each member editing a different section during a video call.

Access your docs from any device

Because Word Online is cloud-based, documents are saved in OneDrive and accessible from any browser or mobile device. You don’t need to install anything to get started.

Use case: A remote employee opens a shared file from their phone during a commute to review and approve changes.

Use familiar Word formatting tools

Users get access to styles, headings, tables, citations, and other robust formatting options—perfect for polished, professional documents.

Use case: A manager prepares a performance review form with tables, bullet points, and signature fields, using Word’s pre-built formatting.

Share documents securely with permissions

You can generate shareable links or restrict access by role, ensuring your docs stay secure even when collaborating externally.

Use case: An HR team shares an offer letter with a new hire, setting view-only access for security.

Why Microsoft Word Online Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Users who already rely on Microsoft 365 and OneDrive
  • Teams needing advanced formatting in browser-based docs
  • Professionals creating polished documents with templates
  • Organizations with strict file-sharing or formatting needs

4. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is a collaborative document editor that blends notes, media, and task management into a flexible writing space. Designed for creative and cross-functional teams, it helps turn ideas into structured documents without the rigidity of traditional word processors.

Collaborate in real time with a clean, distraction-free interface

Dropbox Paper offers a minimal writing environment where teams can co-edit documents, leave comments, and tag teammates. Changes are auto-saved, and version history makes it easy to track edits.

Use case: A design team drafts campaign messaging in Paper while copywriters and brand leads edit and give feedback simultaneously.

Embed rich media and integrate with Dropbox

You can embed images, videos, audio files, code snippets, and even calendar previews inside your documents. Integration with Dropbox makes file sharing seamless.

Use case: A content lead adds a product demo video, Dropbox files, and a Figma link directly into a creative brief.

Assign tasks and set deadlines

Unlike traditional doc editors, Dropbox Paper includes lightweight task management features. You can assign to-dos, add due dates, and track progress without switching tools.

Use case: A marketing manager creates a blog post draft, assigns review tasks to teammates, and tracks their status—all within the same doc.

Organize docs with folders and search

All your documents can be organized into folders within Dropbox, and the global search helps you locate text across files quickly.

Use case: A product team stores all launch docs in a shared folder and finds key updates by searching for feature names or dates.

Comment, react, and collaborate asynchronously

Paper supports threaded comments, emoji reactions, and @mentions—making async collaboration easy, especially for distributed teams.

Use case: A remote teammate reviews a doc after hours, tags the author with a comment, and leaves feedback without needing a meeting.

Why Dropbox Paper Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Creative and product teams working with rich media
  • Remote teams needing real-time and async collaboration
  • Users who prefer a cleaner, more visual doc experience
  • Teams managing light tasks inside content docs

5. Coda

Coda is a powerful all-in-one document platform that combines the functionality of documents, spreadsheets, and apps. Unlike traditional doc editors, it lets you build interactive pages with buttons, tables, and automation—making it ideal for teams that need more than just text.

Build interactive docs with tables, buttons, and logic

Coda lets you create documents that feel like apps, using tables that talk to each other, custom views, and interactive elements like buttons and sliders.

Use case: A product team builds a feature request tracker where users can vote, and PMs can prioritize with embedded logic—all inside a single Coda doc.

Connect to your tools and data sources

You can integrate Coda with tools like Slack, Jira, Google Calendar, and GitHub through Packs, allowing real-time updates and bi-directional sync.

Use case: A sales leader links CRM data to a Coda doc to display the latest pipeline info for weekly reviews.

Automate repetitive workflows

Coda’s automation engine allows you to create rules that trigger actions—like sending reminders, updating tables, or notifying teammates.

Use case: A hiring team sets up automation to ping the recruiter if a candidate status hasn’t changed in five days.

Use templates for faster doc creation

Coda offers a wide range of templates for meeting notes, OKRs, product planning, and more—helping teams get started without a blank page.

Use case: A startup uses a company wiki template to document onboarding, team policies, and ongoing projects.

Collaborate with granular permissions

You can manage permissions at the page, section, or table level—giving different teammates access based on their role.

Use case: An HR team restricts access to confidential interview feedback sections while keeping onboarding checklists open to all.

Why Coda Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Product and ops teams who need docs that act like apps
  • Teams managing structured data inside collaborative docs
  • Anyone automating workflows and reporting inside one page
  • Users replacing spreadsheets, forms, and docs with one tool

6. Craft Docs

Craft Docs is a beautifully designed document editor built for focused writing and seamless collaboration. With rich media support, nested pages, and intuitive linking, it’s perfect for teams and individuals who want structured, visual documentation without the clutter.

Create visually rich, structured documents

Craft offers clean formatting, media embeds, and nested pages that keep content organized. Each page can become a sub-document, making it ideal for hierarchical content like wikis or handbooks.

Use case: A design team creates a brand guidelines doc with separate subpages for logo rules, colors, and typography, all accessible in one clean layout.

Link pages and build a connected knowledge base

You can easily link between pages and back-reference content to create a web of connected ideas—like a lightweight internal wiki.

Use case: A product manager connects a feature spec to related research notes and user feedback pages for quick context switching.

Collaborate in real time with comments and sharing

Craft supports real-time editing, comments, and easy sharing via web links or public pages—making collaboration fast and flexible.

Use case: A founder shares a public-facing company vision doc with investors, while the team edits the internal roadmap in real time.

Export and publish in multiple formats

You can export your docs as PDFs, Markdown, or even publish them as websites directly from Craft—ideal for sharing polished docs externally.

Use case: A marketing lead exports a project brief as a PDF to share with an agency, while maintaining the editable source in Craft.

Work across devices with native apps

Craft is available on macOS, iOS, and web, offering a seamless experience across desktops and mobile with cloud sync.

Use case: A remote team member drafts a blog outline on their iPad, reviews comments on their phone, and finalizes content on their laptop.

Why Craft Docs Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Creatives and writers who value clean design and structure
  • Teams building internal wikis or public documentation
  • Professionals publishing polished docs externally
  • Cross-platform users needing mobile and desktop access

7. Slite

Slite is a collaborative documentation tool designed for async-first teams that need structure, clarity, and speed. With its minimal interface and strong search, it helps teams share knowledge without overwhelming clutter.

Create structured notes and docs

Slite uses lightweight formatting and nested documents to help you create clean, readable content that scales across teams.

Use case: A remote engineering team documents onboarding guides and coding standards using nested doc trees in Slite.

Collaborate asynchronously

Inline comments, mentions, and reactions allow for clear async feedback and decision-making—perfect for distributed teams.

Use case: A product manager requests async input from marketing, design, and devs before a feature kickoff.

Access templates for repeatable workflows

Slite includes built-in templates for meeting notes, product specs, decision records, and more—speeding up documentation.

Use case: A support lead uses a recurring postmortem template to log and learn from customer escalations.

Search across knowledge effortlessly

Its semantic search makes it easy to find notes, even when you don’t remember exact titles or phrases.

Use case: A new hire searches “OKR process” and instantly finds the company’s goal-setting documentation.

Maintain focus with a clutter-free UI

Slite’s design is minimal by default—fewer distractions, less noise, more clarity for teams that value clean workflows.

Use case: A design team chooses Slite to avoid the bloat of traditional wikis and keep project docs tidy.

Why Slite Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Async teams documenting knowledge and processes
  • Organizations preferring clean, minimal workspaces
  • Teams needing structured notes, wikis, and feedback
  • Startups building a lightweight knowledge base

8. Confluence

Confluence by Atlassian is a robust enterprise wiki built for team collaboration, knowledge sharing, and documentation at scale. It’s widely used by software teams for specs, planning, and internal knowledge management.

Build a centralized knowledge base

Confluence lets you create a full-fledged company wiki, with structured pages, subpages, and categorized spaces.

Use case: An IT team maintains process documentation, internal FAQs, and system runbooks in a shared space.

Collaborate with inline feedback

You can mention teammates, comment inline, and track page versions—ideal for working through complex documentation together.

Use case: A PM drafts a spec and tags engineering leads to review key requirements and leave feedback.

Use blueprints and custom templates

From meeting notes to decision logs, Confluence offers reusable templates to standardize recurring workflows.

Use case: A people ops team uses a hiring decision log template across every candidate pipeline.

Integrate with Jira and other Atlassian tools

Confluence works seamlessly with Jira, Trello, and Bitbucket—making it a natural fit for agile development workflows.

Use case: A dev team links Jira tickets to their corresponding feature spec pages in Confluence.

Scale access and permissions

Granular permission settings help teams control who can view or edit content—ideal for large, growing orgs.

Use case: An HR team restricts access to sensitive policies while making general onboarding docs public.

Why Confluence Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Enterprises building a company-wide wiki
  • Software and dev teams aligned to Jira workflows
  • Teams documenting internal processes, policies, and plans
  • Companies that need structured permissions at scale

9. Zoho Writer

Zoho Writer is a cloud-based word processor designed for business teams who need clean formatting, automation, and strong document controls. It’s part of the larger Zoho ecosystem, offering integrations across CRM, email, and workflow tools.

Write and edit collaboratively in real time

Writer enables live editing with comments, version history, and document locking to avoid overwrites.

Use case: A finance team co-edits a quarterly report, with track changes enabled for compliance reviews.

Automate document workflows

You can create merge templates, approval flows, and digital signature steps—streamlining repeat documentation tasks.

Use case: A legal team automates the generation of NDAs and routes them for approval in just a few clicks.

Protect sensitive content with access controls

Zoho Writer lets you control permissions, lock sections, and redact text—great for security-conscious environments.

Use case: An HR manager shares performance review docs with restricted sections visible only to executives.

Embed tables, charts, and rich media

Documents in Writer support data tables, pie charts, video embeds, and more—useful for reports and presentations.

Use case: A marketing team embeds campaign performance charts into their monthly summary doc.

Integrate with Zoho and beyond

Writer connects with Zoho CRM, Zoho Sign, and third-party tools like Dropbox and OneDrive for seamless workflows.

Use case: A sales team uses Writer to generate proposals directly from Zoho CRM records.

Why Zoho Writer Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Businesses needing doc automation and approval flows
  • Teams working inside the Zoho ecosystem
  • Legal, HR, and finance teams prioritizing control and compliance
  • Organizations creating polished, data-rich documents

10. Quip

Quip by Salesforce blends documents, spreadsheets, and chat into one collaborative workspace. It’s designed for fast-moving teams that need real-time updates, especially in sales, customer success, and operations.

Combine docs and spreadsheets

Quip lets you embed spreadsheets directly into your docs, with live formulas and updates synced in real time.

Use case: A sales manager builds a quarterly forecast doc with embedded deal trackers that update dynamically.

Collaborate via chat and comments

Built-in chat and document-specific threads help teams discuss updates without switching between tools.

Use case: A CS rep flags a contract concern inside the doc and discusses it with legal—right where the issue appears.

Use Salesforce data inside your docs

With Salesforce integration, Quip pulls in CRM data—great for status reports, customer reviews, and executive updates.

Use case: An account manager creates a live account plan pulling renewal and opportunity data from Salesforce.

Work offline and sync later

Quip supports offline access with automatic syncing, helping teams stay productive wherever they are.

Use case: A field rep updates a customer call summary offline, and the doc syncs once they’re back online.

Organize docs in folders and templates

Team folders, access controls, and reusable templates make it easy to maintain consistent documentation.

Use case: An ops team stores SOPs in a folder with templates for weekly check-ins, onboarding, and escalations.

Why Quip Is a Good Google Docs Alternative

  • Salesforce-first teams needing integrated documentation
  • Sales and CS teams collaborating on account plans and playbooks
  • Teams combining spreadsheets and docs in one flow
  • Organizations looking for chat-enabled document workflows

Conclusion: Find the Right Google Docs Alternative for Your Workflow

You don’t have to stick with one-size-fits-all tools—especially when your team’s collaboration, formatting, or documentation needs are evolving. The best Google Docs alternatives help you create, share, and structure content your way.

Whether you're co-editing SOPs, creating client-facing docs, or building a knowledge base, there's a smarter option out there to match your team’s style and scale. Some, like ClickUp, even connect your docs directly to tasks, timelines, and workflows—so nothing gets lost in translation.

✨ Pick the platform that fits your flow, and let your docs work for you—not the other way around.

Never trawl through Slack, Jira or GitHub for updates again.

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Looking for the best Google Docs alternatives in 2025? We’ve reviewed 10 top tools that go beyond basic docs—offering better formatting, built-in tasks, AI writing, and connected workflows to match how modern teams work.
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