OnlyOffice

What is OnlyOffice?

OnlyOffice is an open-source office productivity suite that combines document editing, project management, CRM, and collaboration tools in a unified platform. Developed by Ascensio System SIA, a company founded in Latvia, OnlyOffice has grown from a simple document editor into a comprehensive workspace solution. The suite offers exceptional Microsoft Office compatibility while providing the transparency and flexibility that only open-source software can deliver.

What distinguishes OnlyOffice is its commitment to open-source principles combined with commercial-grade features. Unlike proprietary alternatives, OnlyOffice provides full source code access, enabling organizations to audit security, customize functionality, and self-host without vendor lock-in. The platform delivers three core editors—documents, spreadsheets, and presentations—with collaborative editing capabilities that rival Google Docs while maintaining complete Microsoft Office format compatibility.

OnlyOffice serves diverse users from individual developers to large enterprises and educational institutions. The suite is available as cloud-hosted SaaS, self-hosted server installations, and desktop applications for all major platforms. Integration with popular platforms like Nextcloud, ownCloud, and various document management systems has made OnlyOffice the go-to editing solution for organizations prioritizing open-source infrastructure.

Key Features

• Document Editor: Full-featured word processor with formatting, styles, tables, images, headers, and comprehensive Microsoft Word compatibility for professional documents.
• Spreadsheet Editor: Powerful spreadsheet application with 400+ functions, pivot tables, charts, and conditional formatting matching Excel capabilities.
• Presentation Editor: Create engaging presentations with templates, transitions, animations, and speaker notes with PowerPoint compatibility.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple users edit simultaneously with presence indicators, comments, track changes, and version history.
• Open Source: Full source code available under AGPL license, enabling auditing, customization, and self-hosting without restrictions.
• Self-Hosting Option: Deploy OnlyOffice on your own servers for complete data control and compliance with organizational policies.
• Integration API: Comprehensive API for embedding editors into applications, websites, and document management systems.
• Plugin System: Extend functionality with plugins for translation, photo editing, YouTube embedding, and custom integrations.
• Form Builder: Create fillable PDF forms with text fields, checkboxes, dropdowns, and digital signature capabilities.
• Desktop Applications: Native applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux with offline editing and cloud synchronization.

Recent Updates and Improvements

OnlyOffice continues active development with regular releases focused on compatibility, collaboration, and enterprise features.

• Enhanced Compatibility: Improved Microsoft Office format support with better handling of complex formatting, SmartArt, and embedded objects.
• PDF Form Creation: New tools for creating interactive PDF forms with various field types and validation rules.
• Collaboration Improvements: Better real-time editing performance, improved conflict resolution, and enhanced commenting features.
• Security Updates: Enhanced encryption, improved authentication options, and additional security hardening for self-hosted deployments.
• Performance Optimization: Faster document loading, reduced memory usage, and improved handling of large files.
• Mobile Enhancements: Updated mobile apps with better editing capabilities and improved touch interface.
• Integration Updates: New connectors for additional platforms and improved existing integrations with Nextcloud and SharePoint.
• Accessibility: Improved screen reader support and keyboard navigation for better accessibility compliance.

System Requirements

Desktop Applications

• Windows: Windows 7 or later (64-bit)
• macOS: macOS 10.12 or later
• Linux: Ubuntu 16.04+, Debian 9+, or compatible
• RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB recommended)
• Storage: 500 MB available space

Document Server (Self-Hosted)

• CPU: Dual-core 2 GHz or better
• RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
• Storage: 2 GB for installation
• Docker or standalone installation
• HTTPS certificate for production use

Workspace (Full Suite)

• CPU: Quad-core or better
• RAM: 8 GB minimum (16 GB recommended)
• Storage: 20 GB minimum
• Docker-based deployment
• PostgreSQL or MySQL database

How to Install OnlyOffice

Desktop Installation

1. Visit OnlyOffice website
2. Download installer for your platform
3. Run the installer
4. Launch OnlyOffice Editors
5. Connect to cloud if desired

# Ubuntu/Debian installation
wget https://download.onlyoffice.com/install/desktop/editors/linux/onlyoffice-desktopeditors_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i onlyoffice-desktopeditors_amd64.deb
sudo apt-get install -f

# Snap installation
sudo snap install onlyoffice-desktopeditors

# Flatpak installation
flatpak install flathub org.onlyoffice.desktopeditors

# Launch application
onlyoffice-desktopeditors

Document Server (Docker)

# Pull and run Document Server
docker run -i -t -d -p 80:80 --restart=always onlyoffice/documentserver

# With persistent data
docker run -i -t -d -p 80:80 \
  -v /app/onlyoffice/DocumentServer/logs:/var/log/onlyoffice \
  -v /app/onlyoffice/DocumentServer/data:/var/www/onlyoffice/Data \
  --restart=always onlyoffice/documentserver

# With SSL certificate
docker run -i -t -d -p 443:443 \
  -v /path/to/certs:/var/www/onlyoffice/Data/certs \
  -e SSL_CERTIFICATE_PATH=/var/www/onlyoffice/Data/certs/cert.pem \
  -e SSL_KEY_PATH=/var/www/onlyoffice/Data/certs/key.pem \
  onlyoffice/documentserver

# Check installation
curl http://localhost/healthcheck

Nextcloud Integration

# Install OnlyOffice app in Nextcloud
# Go to Apps > Office & text > OnlyOffice

# Configure Document Server URL
# Settings > OnlyOffice
# Document Editing Service address: https://your-documentserver-url/

# Test configuration
# Open a .docx file in Nextcloud to verify

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Open Source: Full source code access under AGPL license enables auditing, customization, and contribution to development.
• Excellent Compatibility: Outstanding Microsoft Office format support with documents rendering almost identically to Office.
• Self-Hosting: Complete control over data through self-hosted deployment, essential for privacy-sensitive organizations.
• Real-Time Collaboration: Genuine simultaneous editing with features matching or exceeding Google Docs capabilities.
• Integration Friendly: Comprehensive API and existing integrations with Nextcloud, ownCloud, Seafile, and more.
• Free Desktop Apps: Full-featured desktop editors available free without subscription requirements.
• Active Development: Regular updates with new features, improved compatibility, and security patches.

Cons

• Resource Requirements: Document Server requires significant resources for self-hosted deployment compared to simpler solutions.
• Complexity: Self-hosted installation requires technical expertise for proper configuration and maintenance.
• Cloud Pricing: SaaS pricing can be expensive compared to alternatives for large teams.
• Mobile Apps: Mobile applications less polished than competitors like Google Docs or Microsoft Office.
• Learning Curve: Some features and workflows differ from Microsoft Office, requiring adjustment.

OnlyOffice vs Alternatives

Who Should Use OnlyOffice?

OnlyOffice is ideal for:

• Privacy-Focused Organizations: Companies requiring data sovereignty through self-hosted document editing with full control.
• Open Source Advocates: Organizations and individuals preferring open-source software with transparent, auditable code.
• Nextcloud/ownCloud Users: Those using open-source file sharing platforms who need integrated document editing.
• Developers: Those embedding document editing into applications using OnlyOffice’s comprehensive API.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and universities benefiting from self-hosting and open-source licensing.
• Collaborative Teams: Groups needing real-time collaborative editing with strong Microsoft Office compatibility.

OnlyOffice may not be ideal for:

• Non-Technical Users: Individuals without technical resources for self-hosted deployment may prefer simpler cloud solutions.
• Heavy Mobile Users: Those primarily working on mobile devices may find competitors’ mobile apps more polished.
• Microsoft Ecosystem: Organizations deeply integrated with Microsoft 365 may not benefit from switching.
• Limited Budgets: Self-hosting requires server resources; cloud pricing may exceed alternatives for some organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OnlyOffice really open source?

Yes, OnlyOffice Docs (the editor component) is open source under the GNU AGPL v3 license. The complete source code is available on GitHub, enabling inspection, modification, and contribution. The AGPL license requires that modifications be shared if you distribute the software. OnlyOffice Workspace (the full collaboration suite) has community and enterprise editions with different licensing. Desktop editors are free to use with source available.

How does OnlyOffice compare to LibreOffice for Microsoft compatibility?

OnlyOffice generally offers better Microsoft Office compatibility than LibreOffice, particularly for complex documents with advanced formatting. OnlyOffice was designed specifically around OOXML format support, while LibreOffice prioritizes ODF formats with Office compatibility as secondary. Documents with SmartArt, complex tables, or detailed formatting typically render more accurately in OnlyOffice. For simple documents, both work well.

Can I use OnlyOffice with Nextcloud?

Yes, OnlyOffice integrates seamlessly with Nextcloud through an official connector app. You can install the OnlyOffice app from Nextcloud’s app store and connect it to either a self-hosted OnlyOffice Document Server or use the cloud-hosted option. This enables editing Office documents directly within Nextcloud with real-time collaboration. The integration is mature and widely used in the Nextcloud community.

What’s the difference between OnlyOffice Docs and Workspace?

OnlyOffice Docs is the document editing component including document, spreadsheet, and presentation editors. OnlyOffice Workspace is the full collaboration platform including Docs plus project management, CRM, email, and calendar features. Docs can be used standalone or integrated into other platforms like Nextcloud. Workspace provides a complete business suite similar to Google Workspace. Most integrations use Docs component only.

How do I self-host OnlyOffice?

Self-hosting typically involves deploying OnlyOffice Document Server using Docker or from packages on a Linux server. Docker deployment is simplest—pull the image and run with appropriate ports and volumes. For production use, configure HTTPS with valid certificates and connect to your file storage or integration platform. Resource requirements include at least 4GB RAM for basic deployments. Documentation covers various deployment scenarios including high availability configurations.

Final Verdict

OnlyOffice represents the best of open-source office software, combining genuine collaborative editing capabilities with exceptional Microsoft Office compatibility and complete deployment flexibility. For organizations prioritizing data control, open-source principles, or integration with self-hosted infrastructure, OnlyOffice provides capabilities that proprietary alternatives cannot match.

The platform excels in its combination of features rarely found together: true open-source licensing, excellent Office format support, and real-time collaboration that rivals Google Docs. Self-hosting capability makes OnlyOffice essential for privacy-conscious organizations, educational institutions, and anyone running Nextcloud or similar platforms. The desktop editors provide capable offline editing at no cost.

While OnlyOffice requires more technical investment for self-hosted deployment and may not match proprietary offerings in every feature, it delivers exceptional value for its target users. Organizations seeking transparent, controllable document collaboration will find OnlyOffice a mature, capable solution that continues improving through active development. For the open-source community and privacy-focused organizations, OnlyOffice is the clear leader in collaborative document editing.