Collabora Online

Last updated

Collabora Online
Developer(s) Collabora
Initial release2 June 2016;9 years ago (2016-06-02) [1]
Stable release
25.04.2.3 [2]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 19 June 2025
Preview release
25.04.3.2 [3]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 4 July 2025
Repository github.com/CollaboraOnline
Written in C++, JavaScript
Operating system Online and CODE: Server: Linux, Clients: All devices with a modern web browser
Apps: Android, ChromeOS, iOS, iPadOS, Linux, macOS and Windows
Platform Online and CODE: ARM64, PPC64 and x86-64
Apps: ARM32, ARM64, IA-32 and x86-64
Standard(s) OpenDocument
Available in42 languages
List of languages
Albanian, Arabic, Basque, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified Han script), Chinese (Traditional Han script), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (UK), English (US), Esperanto, Finnish, French, Galician, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese and Welsh. [4]
Collabora Office is available in 123 languages [5]
Type Office Suite, Collaboration
License MPL-2.0 and others
Website collaboraonline.com

Collabora Online (often abbreviated as COOL) is an open-source online office suite developed by Collabora, based on LibreOffice Online, the web-based edition of the LibreOffice office suite. It enables real-time collaborative editing of documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and vector graphics in a web browser. [6] Optional applications are available for offline use on Android, ChromeOS, iOS, iPadOS, Linux distributions, macOS, and Windows. It supports the OpenDocument format and is compatible with other major formats, including those used by Microsoft Office. Collabora is a commercial partner of The Document Foundation (TDF), the nonprofit organization behind LibreOffice. TDF states that a majority of the LibreOffice software development is done by its commercial partners like Collabora. [7]

Contents

Collabora Online is positioned as a lower-cost, open-source alternative to proprietary cloud office platforms such as Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Unlike these services, it is not hosted by default; users can self-host or use a third-party provider. The platform is marketed particularly toward enterprises and public institutions seeking greater digital sovereignty and independence from U.S.-based "big tech" companies.

Collabora also develops Collabora Office, a standalone desktop suite based on LibreOffice. Although Collabora Online has increasingly taken on a central role, both products may be used in parallel, similar to Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365.

A separate version, the Collabora Online Development Edition (CODE), is offered free of charge for individuals, small teams, and developers. CODE provides early access to new features and serves as a testing and development platform for open-source community contributors. As TDF does not offer a free version of LibreOffice Online, CODE represents the primary freely available option for organizations and individuals interested in deploying LibreOffice in a web-based, collaborative setting.

Applications

Collabora Online includes several applications for document editing, available through the web-based interface and optional desktop and mobile apps:

Features

Desktop web browser accessing Collabora Online word processor 6.4 with the sidebar toggled on Collabora Online Writer Screenshot with Estelle Johnson Poem 1920x1053.png
Desktop web browser accessing Collabora Online word processor 6.4 with the sidebar toggled on

Collabora Online can be accessed from modern web browsers without the need for plug-ins or add-ons. It supports real-time collaborative editing of word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and vector graphics. [8] [9] Collaboration features include commenting, version tracking with document comparison and restoration, and integration with communication tools such as chat or video calls. These functions are often enabled through integration with enterprise open-source cloud platforms like Nextcloud, ownCloud, Seafile, EGroupware and others. [10] Collabora Online can also be embedded or integrated into a variety of third-party applications.

8" tablet web browser accessing Collabora Online spreadsheet 6.4.9 Collabora Online Calc 6.4.9 on Android 8 inch tablet.jpg
8" tablet web browser accessing Collabora Online spreadsheet 6.4.9

Although client apps are not required to use the web-based suite, optional applications are available for offline use on Android, ChromeOS, iOS, iPadOS, Linux distributions, macOS, and Windows. [11] These apps share the same LibreOffice-based core as the server version, ensuring document compatibility across platforms. Development of the LibreOffice core benefits both the online server and the client applications simultaneously. [12] [13] The mobile apps offer touch-optimized interfaces that adapt to different screen sizes and can be used offline, with optional integration into cloud storage services. [14] [15] [16]

Collabora Online supports OpenDocument formats (ODF; .odt, .odp, .ods, .odg) in accordance with ISO/IEC 26300. [17] [18] It is also compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including Office Open XML (.docx, .pptx, .xlsx) and legacy binary formats (.doc, .ppt, .xls). Additional supported formats include PDF, PNG, CSV, TSV, RTF, EPUB, and others. The suite can import a range of formats supported by LibreOffice, including Microsoft Visio and Publisher files, Apple Keynote, Numbers, and Pages files, as well as legacy formats used by Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Works, and Quattro Pro. [19] [20]

The core of Collabora Online is written in C++ and utilizes LibreOfficeKit, a programming interface that enables reuse of much of LibreOffice's existing code for document saving, loading, and rendering. Collabora Online operates on the principle that documents remain on the server, with users viewing tile-rendered images of the document and sending their edits back to the server. The user interface is implemented in JavaScript. For file access and authentication with file hosting services, Collabora Online uses Microsoft's WOPI protocol, allowing compatibility with any service supporting Microsoft 365 integration. [21]

Server

The server component can be self-hosted or deployed through third-party enterprise open-source cloud platforms, allowing organizations to maintain control over data and infrastructure. It is available for various Linux distributions and as a Docker image. [8] [22] [23] The server enables features such as in-browser document editing, file synchronization, and real-time communication. [9]

These third-party cloud platforms typically offer additional functionality comparable to services such as Dropbox, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Zoom, including file sharing, calendars, email, contacts, chat, and video conferencing. Collabora Online can be integrated into these applications, as well as with other services such as learning management systems and enterprise content platforms, through open APIs and an SDK. [24]

Reception

Various online and print publications have discussed Collabora Online. In December 2016 the technology website Softpedia mentioned the availability of collaborative editing in version 2.0 and the integration with ownCloud, Nextcloud, and other file synchronization and sharing solutions. [25] In June 2020, ZDNET reported that Collabora Online would be included as the standard office suite in Nextcloud version 19, noting that direct document editing was added to the native video conferencing software Talk. [26] The technology blog OMG! Ubuntu! covered the release of Collabora's Android and iOS apps, emphasizing their offline functionality. [27] In September 2020, Linux Magazine compared Collabora Online with OnlyOffice, noting the flexibility and platform independence of both tools and highlighting Collabora's extensive feature set derived from LibreOffice. [28]

Digital sovereignty

Collabora Online's open-source design and support for self-hosting have made it notable in discussions about digital sovereignty—the ability of users and organizations to control their own data. This is particularly relevant in Europe, where concerns about dependence on U.S.-based "big tech" companies and data privacy have grown in recent years.

A 2020 briefing by the European Parliament highlighted risks associated with reliance on major technology companies that collect and exploit user data. [29] Legal decisions such as the Schrems II ruling have further underscored these concerns. [30] Several European government agencies have adopted private cloud solutions using Collabora Online and related platforms to enhance data security and maintain control over sensitive information. [31] [32] [33]

History

The former LibreOffice development team from SUSE joined Collabora in September 2013, forming the subsidiary Collabora Productivity. [34] In 2015 Collabora and IceWarp announced the development of an enterprise-ready version of LibreOffice Online to compete with Google Docs and Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365). [35] [36] In December 2015, the company's partnership with ownCloud and release of CODE (Collabora Online Development Edition) was announced on Joinup. [37] In November 2016, Nextcloud announced their work and integration with v2.0 of CODE and their future work plans for improving performance, scalability, security and capabilities with Collabora Online. [38] In October 2020, Collabora announced the move of its work on Collabora Online from The Document Foundation infrastructure to GitHub. [39] [40] A development version of Collabora Online is available called Collabora Online Development Edition (CODE). [41]

StarOffice major derivatives.svg
A timeline of major derivatives of StarOffice and OpenOffice.org, with LibreOffice in green. Collabora Online releases are closely aligned with LibreOffice releases.

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ "Collabora Productivity releases Collabora Online 1.0 "Engine" for Hosters and Clouds" (Press release). Collabora Productivity. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016. Collabora Productivity, the driving force behind putting LibreOffice in the Cloud, has released the first production grade version of Collabora Online, its flagship cloud document suite solution.
    2. ↑ "Collabora Online 25.04 Release Notes".
    3. ↑ "CODE 25.04 Release Notes".
    4. ↑ "Weblate for translating software projects". Weblate. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
    5. ↑ "LibreOffice Fresh download – pick language". The Document Foundation. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
    6. ↑ "Collabora Online in Nextcloud". NextCloud. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2021. Collabora Online is a powerful LibreOffice-based online office suite with collaborative editing, which supports all major document, spreadsheet and presentation file formats and works in all modern browsers
    7. ↑ "Open-source LibreOffice tells businesses: Get off our Community version, you are hurting development". ZDNet. 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021. TDF highlights that 73% of commits are from developers employed by these partners, including Collabora, Red Hat and CIB/allotropia
    8. 1 2 Nestor, Marius (7 December 2016). "Collabora Online 2.0 Puts LibreOffice in the Cloud, Adds Collaborative Editing". softpedia.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2021. ...the powerful cloud-based office suite that promises to protect users' privacy and freedom of expression while editing various document formats online. Collabora Online is mainly targeted at the enterprise world, hosting and cloud businesses.
    9. 1 2 Bärwaldt, Eric (2020). "Collaborative online office solutions". Admin Network & Security. 60/2020. ...insert comments, to which other users can respond. A module for versioning completes the package. If desired, office solutions save different editing states of a document and reconstruct them again as needed. Users always have access to older versions of documents...
    10. ↑ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. (4 June 2020). "NextCloud gets bigger and better with Nextcloud Hub 19". ZDNet . Nextcloud also has its own built-in video-conferencing and group meeting service: Nextcloud Talk. Here, the most interesting new feature is you can now edit office Collabora documents during video calls or from within a chat room.
    11. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (4 March 2020). "Collabora Office Brings LibreOffice to Android, iOS". omgubuntu.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. ...works entirely offline. ...support for integrations with cloud storage services, including NextCloud...
    12. ↑ "Apple App Store". App Store. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021. Collabora Office - This app is available only on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
    13. ↑ "Google Play Store". Google Play. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021. Collabora Office - LibreOffice based editor for Microsoft Office, LibreOffice and OpenOffice docs.
    14. ↑ Mehrotra, Pranob (1 December 2020). "Collabora Office suite gets a new layout for Android tablets and Chromebooks". XDA-Developers. Retrieved 15 January 2021. Collabora Office is a popular open-source alternative to the Microsoft Office suite. It's based on Libre Office, and it's available on a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. This year in July, a major update for the office suite brought support for ChromeOS devices.
    15. ↑ Wallen, Jack (4 August 2020). "How to install Collabora Office on your Chromebook". Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021. ...work with documents locally on your Chromebook...
    16. ↑ "Collabora Office 6.4 Launches For Android, iOS & Chrome OS". KYM Know Your Mobile. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021. ...it works on desktop and mobile, and it will sync up between devices too, so you can start something on your desktop PC and then pick it up later on your phone and/or tablet.
    17. ↑ Bärwaldt, Eric (1 September 2020). "Working Together Tools for collaborative office work". Linux Magazine (238/2020). For cross-platform use, the suite not only supports the Open Document Format (ODF) but also all newer Microsoft formats, which makes interaction with other office suites easier.
    18. ↑ Bärwaldt, Eric (2020). "Collaborative online office solutions". Admin Network & Security. 60/2020. The software also supports PDF across all modules. If required, users can also convert text files to the ePub format for displaying appear on ebook readers or with desktop software for reading ePub files.
    19. ↑ Azizaj, Jona (November 2018). "Real time Collaboration with Collabora Online and ownCloud". Linux Magazine. 33: 70–72.
    20. ↑ "Support for More File Formats – New compatibility for .tsv, .wks, .xlr, .123, .qpw, .wb1, .wq1, .wq2". 30 April 2025.
    21. ↑ "MS-WOPI: Web Application Open Platform Interface Protocol". microsoft.com. Microsoft. 18 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2020. WOPI defines a set of operations that enables a client to access and change files stored by a server. This allows the client to render files and provide file editing functionality for files stored by the server.
    22. ↑ Bhartiya, Swapnil (19 July 2016). "Can Collabora and Nextcloud crack Office 365 dominance?". cio.com. IDG Communications. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020. Unlike Google or Microsoft, Collabora Productivity doesn't have the massive infrastructure required to offer CODE as a cloud based service. Instead, it offers the entire code as a product that users can install on their own servers.
    23. ↑ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven (13 April 2021). "When online suites go down, we need options not on the cloud". Computerworld. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
    24. ↑ Soika, Ralph (7 May 2021). "LibreOffice Online – How to Integrate into your Web Application". Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
    25. ↑ Nestor, Marius (7 December 2020). "Collabora Online 2.0 Puts LibreOffice in the Cloud, Adds Collaborative Editing". softpedia.com. SoftNews NET SRL. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2020. With features like collaborative editing, Collabora Online 2.0 users will always be in control of their sensitive corporate data. [...] It also appears that Collabora Online fully integrates with both the popular ownCloud and Nextcloud self-hosting cloud server technologies.
    26. ↑ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven (4 June 2020). "NextCloud gets bigger and better with Nextcloud Hub 19". ZDNet . Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021. ...the most interesting new feature is you can now edit office Collabora documents during video calls or from within a chat room. Collabora is a SaaS version of the popular open-source LibreOffice office suite.
    27. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (4 March 2020). "Collabora Office Brings LibreOffice to Android, iOS". omgubuntu.co.uk. OHSO Media. Archived from the original on 15 March 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020. The app also works entirely offline. With no cloud or online service features come enabled by default or are required to use any of the included features (though naturally there's support for integrations with cloud storage services, including NextCloud, should you want it).
    28. ↑ Bärwaldt, Erik (1 September 2020). "Working Together: Tools for collaborative office work". Linux Magazine (238/2020). Retrieved 9 September 2020. The differences are in the details. While Collabora draws on LibreOffice's enormous feature set, OnlyOffice focuses more strongly on efficient editing of office documents and therefore offers a number of less common functions. Both packages are very flexible when it comes to platform independence ranging from in-house desktop apps, through cloud-based web applications, to desktop editors and apps for mobile devices.
    29. ↑ Madiega, Tambiama (July 2020). "Digital sovereignty for Europe" (PDF). European Parliament. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
    30. ↑ "Auswirkungen des EuGH-Urteils zum Privacy Shield-Abkommen der EU mit den USA". OSBA – Open Source Business Alliance (in German). 22 September 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
    31. ↑ Freest, Roland (24 August 2017). "Cloud made in Germany: Secure servers in Europe". PCWelt von IDG. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
    32. ↑ "Collabora Office on iOS and Android Just got Better!". Adfinis. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021. ...touch optimized interfaces: one for tablets and one for phone screens. ...(iOS, iPadOS, Chromebooks, Android).
    33. ↑ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven (3 September 2019). "EU turns from American public clouds to Nextcloud private clouds". ZDNet. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019.
    34. ↑ "SUSE Partners with Collabora to Deliver Commercial LibreOffice Support". suse.com. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018.
    35. ↑ "LIBREOFFICE ONLINE – OPEN SOURCE ALTERNATIEF VOOR GOOGLE DOCS". Linux Magazine (Dutch). 30 October 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
    36. ↑ Brodkin, Jon (26 March 2015). "LibreOffice in the browser revealed in 2011 finally close to reality". Arstechnica. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015.
    37. ↑ Hillenius, Gijs (22 December 2015). "New document solution offers openness and accountability". Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2020. The two companies announced their partnership last week, making available an initial development release of Collabora Online Development Edition (CODE).
    38. ↑ Poortvliet, Jos (2 November 2016). "CODE 2.0 Introduces Collaborative Editing of Office Documents in Nextcloud". Nextcloud. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
    39. ↑ Meeks, Michael (1 October 2020). "[board-discuss] an Online move ..." Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
    40. ↑ Corbet, Jonathan (2 October 2020). "Collabora Online moves out of The Document Foundation". LWN.net . Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020. By having a single Online project hosted by Collabora, a clear brand story easily establishes an appropriate credit for the origin of the product into every reference to it by those using it for free. Just like the other prominent OSS projects we integrate with.
    41. ↑ "Collabora Online Development Edition" (Press release). Collabora Productivity. Retrieved 3 July 2021. Collabora Online Development Edition can be set up On-Premise via Virtual appliance, Docker, Linux package, others.
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