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Comparison · Collab

HedgeDoc vs CryptPad

A side-by-side editorial comparison of HedgeDoc and CryptPad — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Shared themes:security-fixes

HedgeDoc vs CryptPad: at a glance

FeatureHedgeDocCryptPad
SectorCollabCollab
Velocity score5.06.3
Sparks · 30d01
Top themesmarkdown, collaborative-editing, security-fixes, self-hostedself-hosting, encryption, office-suite, server-rewrite
Last editorial update9d ago2d ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is HedgeDoc?

HedgeDoc 1.12.1 fixes seven advisories, then gets pulled for a PostgreSQL migration bug

HedgeDoc 1.12.1 fixed seven security advisories, including an impersonation attack when two auth providers return the same profile id, a timing leak that revealed registered emails, and unescaped iframes in slides. It was pulled within minutes because a profile provider migration failed on PostgreSQL, and 1.12.2 replaces it. The release also lets OAuth2 and OIDC providers supply profile photos and updates mermaid to 11.17.

Read the full HedgeDoc trajectory →

What is CryptPad?

CryptPad rebuilt its server and swapped its office engine; now it is patching the fallout.

CryptPad just shipped its largest architectural change in years: a rewritten server published as a standalone npm package, and office apps moved from OnlyOffice to Euro-Office 9.3. Three weeks later a fix release followed with team-deletion, sharing and eviction-script repairs plus security fixes rated up to CVSS 7.3. The product is an end-to-end encrypted suite whose release rhythm is seasonal: one feature drop, then one or two fix releases.

Read the full CryptPad trajectory →

HedgeDoc vs CryptPad: editorial side-by-side

H
HedgeDoc
COLLAB
5.0

HedgeDoc 1.12.1 fixes seven advisories, then gets pulled for a PostgreSQL migration bug

◆ Current state

HedgeDoc 1.12.1 fixed seven security advisories, including an impersonation attack when two auth providers return the same profile id, a timing leak that revealed registered emails, and unescaped iframes in slides. It was pulled within minutes because a profile provider migration failed on PostgreSQL, and 1.12.2 replaces it. The release also lets OAuth2 and OIDC providers supply profile photos and updates mermaid to 11.17.

◆ Where it's heading

The 1.x line remains driven by security response, with advisory batches arriving every one to three months. This release adds a schema migration, and the immediate PostgreSQL breakage shows the risk of mixing data changes into security patches. Small auth and rendering features keep arriving alongside the fixes.

◆ Prediction

More advisory batches on the 1.12.x line are likely, given the pattern; the entries do not show when the next major line will replace 1.x.

C
CryptPad
COLLAB
6.3

CryptPad rebuilt its server and swapped its office engine; now it is patching the fallout.

◆ Current state

CryptPad just shipped its largest architectural change in years: a rewritten server published as a standalone npm package, and office apps moved from OnlyOffice to Euro-Office 9.3. Three weeks later a fix release followed with team-deletion, sharing and eviction-script repairs plus security fixes rated up to CVSS 7.3. The product is an end-to-end encrypted suite whose release rhythm is seasonal: one feature drop, then one or two fix releases.

◆ Where it's heading

The office suite is the recurring pressure point: nearly every release since 2025 carries OnlyOffice corruption, history or pinning fixes, and the Euro-Office swap is the team taking ownership of that dependency. Splitting the server into its own package points toward easier self-hosting and embedding, which matches the openDesk integration builds and Integration API work seen earlier in the year.

◆ Prediction

Expect another fix release within weeks addressing new-server and Euro-Office edge cases, then a winter feature release built on the new server. Whether the server package gets third-party adoption is not visible from these entries.

Alternatives to HedgeDoc and CryptPad

Other Collab products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either HedgeDoc or CryptPad.

See all HedgeDoc alternatives → · See all CryptPad alternatives →

Recent activity from HedgeDoc and CryptPad

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 3d agoCryptPad🍂🩹 Autumn fix release (2026.10.1)
  2. 9d agoHedgeDocHedgeDoc 1.12.2
  3. 9d agoHedgeDocHedgeDoc 1.12.1
  4. 23d agoCryptPad🍂 Autumn Release (2026.10.0) ⚡
  5. 2mo agoHedgeDocHedgeDoc 1.12.0
  6. 3mo agoCryptPadopenDesk build stops asking for donations when embedded
  7. 3mo agoHedgeDocHedgeDoc 1.11.1
  8. 4mo agoHedgeDocHedgeDoc 1.11.0
  9. 5mo agoCryptPad🌷🩹 Spring fix release (2026.5.1)
  10. 6mo agoCryptPad🌷 Spring release (2026.5.0)
  11. 7mo agoHedgeDocHedgeDoc 1.10.8
  12. 7mo agoCryptPad❄️🩹🩹 Winter fix release 2 (2026.2.2)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between HedgeDoc and CryptPad?

Both compete on the same themes — security-fixes — within Collab. CryptPad is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is HedgeDoc better than CryptPad?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. CryptPad is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 1 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Collab products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to HedgeDoc?

Top HedgeDoc alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "HedgeDoc alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/hedgedoc for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to CryptPad?

Top CryptPad alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "CryptPad alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/cryptpad for the full list with editorial commentary on each.