(Updated) Alternatives to Etherpad and TitanPad: Apple Pages, Google Docs, Dropbox Paper and Co

TitanPad Alternative 2017 2018 Dropbox Paper, Google Paper, Apple Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iWork via iCloud, Google Drive

TitanPad, like Etherpad, is (has been) a very nice web tool to edit documents together with others; simultaneously, with comments and locally independent. Since TitanPad announced in November 2016 that the service would be closed, it is important to look for an alternative. Etherpad is a similar service, but the big names in the scene such as Apple Pages, Google Docs and Dropbox Paper offer many more functions and sometimes safer and / or simpler working environments with higher quality functions.

In 2016 it was announced that the TitanPad would close, pads will be frozen in May 2017, and from 2018 the service can no longer be used. You can get alternatives for online documents for simultaneous editing here.
In 2016 it was announced that the TitanPad would close, pads will be frozen in May 2017, and from 2018 the service can no longer be used. You can get alternatives for online documents for simultaneous editing here.

TitanPad read-only from May 2017, offline from 2018

The schedule for the termination of the TitanPad service looks like this official statement the makers as follows: On May 1st, 2017 all pads or documents created so far will be switched to read-only mode. In addition, no new pads can be created. On December 31, 2017, TitanPad.com will be completely taken offline. So if you are currently implementing projects with TitanPad, you should transfer them to an alternative as soon as possible. Etherpad, an open source software for joint and simultaneous editing of documents, has a similar look. You can find Etherpad for Mac and Windows PC at Etherpad.org and on GitHub.

ProtectedText: just exchange text

If you want to pitch ideas to your colleagues, send links or share other simple text input with them, then you could ProtectedText be right for you guys. Creating a document is very easy: Enter ProtectedText.com/YourFileName (instead of “YourFileName”, of course, something of your choice) and get started. When you save, you set a password that you pass on to your colleagues to share the document. Finished.

(Update) Padlet: a simple cross-platform workspace with many features

Padlet has, probably with the wish to be included in this list, in a nutshell reported via Twitter. I checked out Padlet's website and was surprised by the modern interface and many functions. In addition to the answer on Twitter, the makers of Padlet also prove on their website that they have a sense of humor (see picture with reference to the BlackBerry functionality). But to the tool itself: many files are supported, you can add project members, assign read, write and admin rights, create profiles and everything via one App to use. You will get more details on the padlet page.

All Padlet features are available in their entirety on the linked website. Alternative to TitanPad? Definitely!
All Padlet features are available in their entirety on the linked website. Alternative to TitanPad? Definitely!

(End of update)

More options: Apple Pages, Google Docs, Dropbox Paper

Actually, I still wanted you guys hack pad describe in more detail, but that was probably bought by Dropbox, which is why I come straight to the well-known providers. Hackpad is still offered in the old scope, but maybe it will work in Paper from Dropbox in the future. It is uncertain.

The new top dog: Dropbox Paper

So let's start right away dropbox Paper at. If you already use Dropbox, you should be able to find the item "Paper" in the main menu of the website or app. I personally use the free version of dropbox and also from Paper. I share documents through the service Jens and we often process the same documents at the same time. That makes task allocation and processing quite easy. Comments in the margin allow ideas to be exchanged about the main text. Images can also be inserted. The automatic notification that you receive once a day by email when changes are made to a doc is also very helpful. The practical: The changes can already be read in the email, so that you can see immediately what is new or changed.

Dropbox Paper is an easy-to-use service for sharing and collaborating on text. Comments and inserting pictures are possible. Meetings for Sir-Apfelot.de are realized with it;)
Dropbox Paper is an easy-to-use service for sharing and collaborating on text. Comments and inserting pictures are possible. Meetings for Sir-Apfelot.de are realized with it;)

Well known and widespread: Google Docs

Creating and sharing documents online is also interesting Google Docs. Anyone who has a Google account, which is almost every internet user, can access Docs to share documents, assign tasks and so on. The user interface is also very sophisticated, giving you the feeling of working online with Word or Excel. Because in addition to Docs (word processing), there are also tables (spreadsheets) and presentations (something like PowerPoint or Keynote). Especially for more complex projects, for sharing finished documents (manuals, instructions, etc.) I think Google Docs very good. Personally, however, I only use it very rarely.

Google Docs comes in handy when you share documents using Google Drive. In addition to word processing, a spreadsheet and an area for presentations can be used free of charge. The individual docs appear in preview mode, which is very useful.
Google Docs comes in handy when you share documents using Google Drive. In addition to word processing, a spreadsheet and an area for presentations can be used free of charge. The individual docs appear in preview mode, which is very useful.

For Mac users: Apple Pages and iWork

The third alternative, which of course should not be missing in an Apple blog, is Pages or iWork from Apple. With Pages (view here as an app) you can work together and simultaneously with others on complex documents and publications. Again, there are three main areas: Pages (cf. Word or Docs), Numbers (cf. Excel or spreadsheets) and Keynote (cf. PowerPoint or presentations). Apple offers you a comprehensive support article on the subject here. In addition come Explanations about iWorkrunning through iCloud.

<a class=
Apple Pages in action. With iWork you can use iCloud in addition to Pages, Numbers and Keynote to create complex documents quickly and in group work (see demo in the video).” width=”620″ height=”290″ /> Apple Pages in action. With iWork you can use iCloud in addition to Pages, Numbers and Keynote to create complex documents quickly and in groups (see demo in the video).

iWork explained at the Apple Keynote 2016

iWork and what you can do with it was shown at Apple's September 2016 event. In the following video you can see the explanation and a demo from the position 15:50 to approx. 20:00:

Conclusion: co-working and doc sharing via different services

I find Dropbox quite convenient and sufficient for my current needs, but from my own experience I am not averse to Google Docs or Google Sheets. This can also be used in conjunction with Google Drive - similar to Pages, Numbers and Keynote with iCloud. Which service or services do you use to share and edit team documents? Are you looking for right now Alternatives to TitanPad? Please leave your opinion and your experiences as a comment;)

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14 Responses to “(Updated) Alternatives to Etherpad and TitanPad: Apple Pages, Google Docs, Dropbox Paper and Co”

  1. I really enjoyed using Titanpad to write and edit lyrics together with others. What I missed with Titanpad (and also the other pads based on Etherpad) is the possibility to be informed about changes to the doc. There should be a plug-in for it, but it seems nobody has installed it on their pad.

    Unfortunately, I haven't found this with the big ones (Google-docs, Dropbox-paper or OfficeOne from Microsoft) or the little ones. There is a maximum of notifications by e-mail when someone makes a comment. Well, I'll keep looking, maybe that is possible with Padlet. Thanks for the article anyway!

    1. Hello Torsten! But with this feature you are exactly right with Dropbox Paper. If you share a Doc with someone, you will automatically receive an email with the changes made by others once a day. I find this super handy and it works out of the box. Maybe you tried Dropbox Paper before it existed?

      1. Hello Sir Apfelot,

        Thanks for the follow up. I think you can only edit with Dropbox if you have a Dropbox account, can that be? That bothered me, because I and employees were used to simply participating in Etherpad.
        The use case I have in mind is this: I put a draft in the pad. Anyone who comes by can edit. I - as the creator, receive e-mail notifications in the event of changes. Optionally anyone who registers their address.

        1. Yes, nothing works with any of the services (Google Docs, Dropbox Paper and Apple Pages) without registration. So I don't know of any alternative for ...

          1. I will.

            At the moment, OnlyOffice is what comes closest to my ideas: Even unregistered users can edit documents. E-mail messages are also possible when changes are made to the document. However, these are only available to the admin if they have a pay account ($ 5 / month). Other users (editors) cannot receive notifications of changes to the doc.

            If I find something better, I'll let you know here;)

        2. I feel the same way about “just writing like that”. Through this page I came across ProtectedText. You can use a banal password - that's still better than anything where the users first have to dig out their own passwords.

  2. Hooked up for a moment, the TitanPad software is open source, isn't it?
    Then you can put on such a pad yourself - if you have the knowledge.

      1. are there any open security gaps?
        In any case, I found open Etherpads in the search. I will continue there for now.

        1. Unfortunately, I don't know... probably not “big” enough to be high on the list of the best targets for hackers. :D

    1. Hello Rebel, I'm trying to put on a pad myself. That seems to be practically possible (I have already succeeded locally), I just don't know whether the web space / server I bought is suitable for an installation or whether it provides something like that.

      1. I do believe that this also works on this web space.
        As long as the load doesn't get too big, that shouldn't really be the problem.
        Please do not hesitate to share your experiences with us here. I am curious if it works.

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