The 8 Best Google Docs Alternatives for Writers [2026]

Google Docs is a popular document creation tool and a free service included with Google’s product suite for live collaboration, sharing, syncing, and more.

However, like Google Drive, Gmail, and other services provided by Google, Google Docs does not offer privacy for your documents as it is not end-to-end encrypted. This lack of privacy, and other features that writers may need, mean you need an alternative to Google Docs that meets your requirements.

To cover this, we cover what is the best alternative to Google Docs so you can create, manage, and protect your files with the services we cover within this article.

Table of contents

• Why writers look for alternatives to Google Docs
• What makes the best Google Docs alternative?
• Best Google Docs alternatives for writers
• Google Docs alternative for writers: Comparison of services
• Related products
• Frequently asked questions

Why writers look for alternatives to Google Docs

Writers look for the best Google Docs alternative for several reasons.

Privacy is a major concern, as Google is not end-to-end encrypted or open source, so it lacks the transparency and privacy of your files, as Google may access the contents of your sensitive documents stored on the servers they manage.

Some writers also need more advanced writing features than Google Docs provides, such as tools for long-form writing, research management, detailed formatting, version control, and professional editing.

Cost and flexibility can also influence the decision; not everybody needs the services Google offers, and instead prefer a one-time payment or tools dedicated to content creation specifically.

What makes the best Google Docs alternative?

The best Google Docs alternatives for writers will depend on what features you need most from the software. A strong alternative should offer reliable document creation and editing, while improving on areas where Google Docs may fall short.

If your focus is on private cloud storage for the projects you store in the cloud, then an encrypted cloud such as Internxt Drive offers private cloud storage for your files with zero-knowledge encryption.

Collaboration, offline access, pricing, and advanced writing features and organization are also factors that you should consider, which will cover with the Google Docs alternatives mentioned in this article.

Best Google Docs alternatives for writers

Below is a comprehensive list of Google Docs alternatives for writers from cloud storage, project management, tools for writers, and more.

Internxt Drive

Best for writers who prioritize privacy, secure cloud storage, backups, and syncing to protect and store documents with end-to-end encryption.

Internxt Drive is the best Google Docs alternative for writers who want to store, backup, and sync their work in the cloud in total privacy.

Internxt Drive plans include end-to-end post-quantum encryption, meaning you can store your work in the cloud knowing it's protected from big tech companies spying on your documents. With Internxt’s encrypted cloud storage, everything is encrypted on your device, so nobody but you can view the contents of your work.

As an alternative to Google Drive and Google Docs, Internxt also offers the following features in its cloud storage:

• Secure file sharing: Send files privately with encrypted file sharing and password-protected documents.
• Encrypted backups: Keep your documents backed up in the cloud to protect against ransomware and accidental data loss.
• File syncing: Keep your files up to date and accessible across all devices and operating systems, including Linux.
• Invite, share, and collaborate: Share your files with others to edit, upload, and make changes to your documents.
• File versioning: If you need to go back to a previous version, Internxt allows file versioning to restore documents.
• Full privacy suite: Other alternatives Internxt offers to Google include: Photos, Mail, and Meet.

Internxt offers monthly and lifetime plans for up to 5TB, 3TB more than Google One plans. You can also save 85% on all plans using the link below, and check out the full list of features that make Internxt the best Google alternative for Docs, Drive, Gmail, and more.

Microsoft Word

Best for Windows users needing professional and long-form writing with advanced formatting, editing, and document creation tools.

Microsoft Word is one of the best Google Docs alternatives for writers who want advanced writing, editing, formatting, and document creation tools in one place.

Microsoft Word offers a comprehensive set of features designed for professional and long-form writing, making it a strong alternative to Google Docs for creating everything from essays and articles to books and business documents.

However, Word, OneDrive, and Outlook do not offer end-to-end encryption; instead, documents are encrypted in transit and on Microsoft’s servers, meaning they could technically access your work.

Microsoft Word also offers the following features:

• Advanced formatting: Customize documents with professional layouts, fonts, styles, headings, tables, images, and page formatting.
• Writing and editing tools: Use spelling and grammar checks, Editor suggestions, word counts, and other tools to improve the quality of your writing.
• Track Changes: Review edits and suggestions with Track Changes, making it easier for writers and collaborators to manage revisions.
• Templates: Choose from a wide range of templates for resumes, reports, essays, newsletters, manuscripts, and other types of documents.
• Cloud storage and syncing: Save documents to OneDrive and access, edit, and sync your work across different devices.
• Collaboration: Share documents with others so they can comment, suggest edits, and collaborate on documents in real time.
• Offline editing: Work on documents without an internet connection and sync your changes when you reconnect.

Word offers a free version, and if you want to upgrade, you can check out the features and OneDrive pricing on their website.

Scrivener

Best for novelists and authors working on large, complex writing projects.

Scrivener is the best Google Docs alternative for writers as it offers tools that make it easier to structure large writing projects and keep research, notes, drafts, and chapters organized in one place.

Unlike Google Docs, which is primarily a general-purpose document editor, Scrivener focuses on the complete writing process, from planning and research to drafting and revision.

Scrivener is available for macOS and Windows, and it offers a free 30-day trial to test before buying a license with a one-time payment.

Notion

Best for writers who want to combine writing with research, organization, content planning, and AI tools.

Notion is another one for the list of Google Docs alternatives for writers who want to combine writing, organization, research, and project management in one workspace.

Instead of creating a traditional document and putting it in a folder, you create a Notion page that can contain text, headings, images, tables, databases, checklists, links, and other blocks.

Notion also includes AI-powered writing tools that can help with brainstorming, summarizing, rewriting, and improving content, similar to the Gemini AI integration in Google Docs

Zoho Writer

Best for writers who want a traditional online word processor with strong collaboration and editing features.

Zoho Writer is a cloud-based word processor for writing, editing, and collaboration directly from your browser, with AI-assisted writing tools.

As a Google Docs alternative, Zoho Writer also allows writers to collaborate on documents in real time. You can share documents with other people, control their permissions, leave comments, and track changes while working together on the same document.

Documents can also be exported into formats such as Microsoft Word and PDF, making it easier to share your work with clients, editors, or publishers.

Zoho Writer is particularly useful for writers who want something closer to the traditional Google Docs experience while still having additional tools for document formatting, collaboration, sharing, and professional document creation.

Dropbox Paper

Best for simple, collaborative writing and content planning.

Dropbox Paper is another Google Docs alternative for writers who want a simple, collaborative workspace for writing, organizing ideas, and Dropbox cloud storage.

Dropbox Paper is best suited to writers who value simplicity and collaboration over advanced word-processing features.

While it does not offer the same depth of formatting and editing tools as Google Docs or Microsoft Word, its clean interface and integration with Dropbox make it a convenient option for collaborative writing and content planning.

Like Google and Microsoft, there is no end-to-end encryption with Dropbox’s service or cloud storage, so if you want privacy for your documents, then you should consider alternatives to Dropbox.

ONLYOFFICE

Best for writers who want an open-source alternative with advanced word-processing features and Microsoft Office compatibility.

ONLYOFFICE is another open-source Google Docs alternative for writers who want a full-featured word processor for creating, editing, formatting, and collaborating on documents.

ONLYOFFICE provides a document editor that closely resembles traditional desktop word-processing software. Writers can create professional documents with advanced formatting, headings, tables, images, page layouts, footnotes, and other tools needed for longer and more structured writing projects.

ONLYOFFICE also provides tools for creating templates, managing document versions, and protecting documents with permissions and passwords.

Apple Pages

Best for Apple users who want a free, polished word processor with advanced formatting and document design tools.

Apple Pages provides a writing and document creation experience designed specifically for Apple devices.

As a Google Docs alternative, Pages includes a wide range of formatting tools that allow writers to customize fonts, headings, spacing, page layouts, images, tables, and other elements. Its templates also make it easy to start a document with a professionally designed layout rather than building everything from scratch.

For writers who work across Apple devices, Pages uses iCloud to keep documents synchronized between Mac, iPhone, and iPad. This allows you to start writing on one device and continue working on another without manually transferring files.

Google Docs alternative for writers: Comparison of services

Now we have covered all the alternatives to Google Docs, below you can find a summary of each one we have covered to help you choose the best Google Docs alternative for you.

Related products

Internxt Photos – Secure Cloud Storage for Photos

Internxt Photos is a private, secure photo storage app for automatic backups and syncing. Zero-knowledge, open source, and private.

Internxt Mail - The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Mail is an encrypted email solution that keeps your inbox safe. Thanks to post-quantum encryption, Internxt is the most secure email service for privacy.

The Best Encrypted Email for Privacy.

Internxt Meet - Private Video Call | Secure Video Conferencing

Experience secure video conferencing with end-to-end encryption. Start a private video call today and ensure your conversations remain confidential with our encrypted video call technology.

Secure Video Conferencing

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Google Docs alternative for writers?

The best Google Docs and alternative to Google’s service is Internxt Drive, as it offers full privacy and end-to-end encryption, allowing you to store, back up, sync, and share files securely.

For dedicated writing software, alternatives like Scrivener is a good choice.

Is there a better alternative to Google Docs?

Yes. Alternatives can offer features that Google Docs does not focus on, including more advanced formatting, dedicated long-form writing tools, stronger privacy, offline functionality, or better project organization. The best choice depends on what you need from your writing software.

What is the best free alternative to Google Docs?

For writing and cloud storage, Internxt and Microsoft offer free plans and alternatives to Google and Google Docs.

Zoho Writer is another strong free option with extensive writing, editing, and document features.

Is Microsoft Word better than Google Docs for writers?

For writers who need advanced formatting, professional document creation, templates, reviewing tools, and long-form writing features, Microsoft Word can be a better choice, but it also doesn’t offer end-to-end encryption.

What do professional writers use instead of Google Docs?

Professional writers use different tools depending on their work.

Scrivener is popular for books and complex manuscripts; Notion is useful for writing combined with research and project management, and specialized privacy-focused tools like Internxt is better for storing and sharing your work privately.