SHORT ON TIME? HERE’S A QUICK SUMMARY

ONLYOFFICE is a comprehensive, open-source office suite designed to enhance team collaboration through a unified platform. It integrates document editing, project management, CRM, and communication tools, all working seamlessly together. With features like real-time co-editing, advanced sharing permissions, and robust security measures, ONLYOFFICE streamlines your workflow and ensures efficient teamwork. It's a versatile solution suitable for businesses of all sizes seeking to centralize their operations and improve collaborative efforts.
👍 PROS:
  • Intuitive and easy to use
  • Affordable cloud-based collaboration tools
  • Packed with powerful features
  • Available on Windows, Linux, Mac, and mobile devices
  • Real-time co-editing with multiple collaboration modes
  • Advanced sharing permissions for secure document management
  • Comprehensive suite including document editors, project management, and CRM
  • Open-source with options for cloud-based or on-premises deployment
  • Wide compatibility with various document formats
  • Features a built-in fillable PDF creator
  • Regular updates introducing new features and improvements
  • One-time purchase option for secure on-premises collaboration
👎 CONS:
  • Apps are missing some modern features users might expect
  • Limited options for viewing documents
  • Minimal customization for keyboard shortcuts and interface
  • No built-in word count for documents

Get ONLYOFFICE - Create, connect, and collaborate!

WHAT EXACTLY IS ONLYOFFICE?

ONLYOFFICE is an open-source office suite developed by Ascensio System SIA, designed to provide a comprehensive solution for document management and team collaboration. Initially introduced in 2009 as TeamLab, it was rebranded to ONLYOFFICE in 2014. The suite offers a range of tools, including document editors, project management, CRM, and communication applications, all integrated into a single platform. ONLYOFFICE serves as a robust alternative to other office suites, offering both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options to cater to various organizational needs.


HOW DOES IT WORK?

Operating as a cloud-based platform, ONLYOFFICE allows you to access its suite of applications from any device with an internet connection. You can create, edit, and share documents in real-time, with multiple team members collaborating simultaneously. The platform offers two co-editing modes: Fast, where changes are visible to all collaborators in real-time, and Strict, where changes are displayed only after being saved by the user. Advanced sharing permissions enable you to control access levels, allowing users to view, edit, comment, or review documents as needed. The unified dashboard provides a centralized view of your projects, emails, and documents, enabling efficient task management. Administrative controls let you manage user access, security settings, and data policies from a single interface.


WHO IS IT FOR?

ONLYOFFICE is ideal for businesses, educational institutions, and individuals seeking an integrated suite of tools to enhance productivity and collaboration. It's particularly beneficial for teams that require seamless communication, secure file sharing, and real-time document collaboration. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, ONLYOFFICE offers flexible deployment options, including cloud-based and self-hosted solutions, to meet your specific needs. The open-source nature of ONLYOFFICE also appeals to organizations looking for customizable and cost-effective alternatives to proprietary office suites.


WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES?

ONLYOFFICE is built around five core modules, each designed to enhance collaboration and productivity within a unified ecosystem. These modules—Documents, Projects, CRM, Mail, and Calendar—work seamlessly together to streamline workflows and improve team efficiency. Let’s take a closer look at how each module contributes to a more cohesive and efficient work experience.

Documents

The Documents module in ONLYOFFICE serves as a centralized hub for storing, managing, and collaborating on various file types, including text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and fillable forms. Each user has access to a private storage space labeled "My documents," where personal files can be uploaded, imported, or created directly within the platform. For collaborative efforts, the module offers shared folders and advanced sharing settings, allowing you to define specific access permissions for different users or groups, thereby facilitating secure and efficient teamwork.

To enhance productivity, the Documents module integrates seamlessly with other ONLYOFFICE tools, such as Projects and CRM, enabling you to edit files directly within these modules and attach relevant documents to emails or tasks. The platform also supports connections to third-party cloud storage services like Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, and ownCloud, providing flexibility in managing your documents across different platforms.

Security is a key focus of the Documents module. Features such as version control, document locking, and customizable access rights ensure that your files are protected and that collaboration occurs within a controlled environment. Additionally, the module includes a multi-format media player, allowing for the viewing and editing of various media types directly within the platform.

Mails

ONLYOFFICE Mail is a comprehensive email management tool designed to streamline your organization's communication by centralizing all correspondence within a unified platform. It allows you to create corporate mailboxes using your own domain name, ensuring a professional appearance in all communications. You can connect multiple email accounts via IMAP, enabling the aggregation of various inboxes into a single, manageable interface.

The platform offers robust organizational features, such as customizable folders and automatic filters, allowing you to categorize and prioritize emails efficiently. Formatting tools enable the customization of fonts and styles, and you can manage attachments seamlessly, including attaching files directly from the integrated Documents module. The signature management and template constructor features further enhance the efficiency of composing emails.

Integration with other ONLYOFFICE modules enhances productivity; for instance, you can link emails to CRM contacts, cases, or opportunities, ensuring all related correspondence is easily accessible. The Calendar integration allows you to send event invitations and receive notifications, facilitating efficient scheduling and time management.

For organizations seeking enhanced security and control, ONLYOFFICE Mail Server can be deployed on your own domain. This setup enables the creation of mailboxes, aliases, and mail groups, providing a tailored email solution that aligns with your organization's structure and communication needs.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

ONLYOFFICE CRM is a powerful and user-friendly customer relationship management tool designed to help you build and maintain a structured customer database while streamlining business processes. It allows you to manage contacts efficiently by adding new clients manually, importing lists, or capturing leads through web-to-lead forms embedded on your website. With detailed contact organization, tagging, and communication history tracking, you can easily monitor interactions and nurture relationships with clients. The CRM also offers deal opportunity tracking, enabling you to follow sales prospects through customizable stages while linking them to relevant projects for a seamless workflow.

To further enhance productivity, ONLYOFFICE CRM includes task management, allowing you to assign responsibilities, set deadlines, and track progress. The built-in invoicing system simplifies billing by generating invoices linked to CRM contacts and deal opportunities, reducing administrative workload. Email integration ensures smooth communication, letting you send messages, invoices, and even mass mailings directly from the CRM interface. For added convenience, the platform integrates with Twilio, enabling you to make and receive customer calls within the system, ensuring all communications are centralized and easily accessible.

ONLYOFFICE CRM also provides in-depth reporting tools to help analyze sales performance and identify areas for improvement. Its customizable structure allows businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs by modifying contact types, categories, and user fields. Whether you're a small business looking to improve client relationships or a larger enterprise aiming to streamline sales processes, ONLYOFFICE CRM offers an integrated, secure, and efficient solution to manage customer interactions effectively.

Projects

ONLYOFFICE Projects is a comprehensive project management tool designed to enhance team productivity by facilitating efficient planning, task management, and progress tracking. The platform allows you to structure your projects using milestones, tasks, and subtasks, enabling clear prioritization of objectives and daily activities. Customizable task statuses provide flexibility in workflow management, ensuring that each task aligns with your team's specific processes.

To visualize project timelines and dependencies, ONLYOFFICE Projects offers an interactive Gantt Chart. This feature allows you to analyze project progress, identify task relationships, and adjust schedules with ease, ensuring timely delivery of project milestones. Time management is further supported through time-tracking capabilities and automatically generated reports, providing insights into team performance and project status.

Access rights management is a key aspect of ONLYOFFICE Projects, allowing you to set individual permissions for different project elements and create private projects as needed. This ensures that team members have appropriate access levels, maintaining data security and confidentiality. For teams on the move, ONLYOFFICE Projects provides mobile applications for both iOS and Android devices, enabling you to manage tasks, track progress, and collaborate with your team anytime, anywhere.

Calendar

ONLYOFFICE Calendar is an integrated scheduling tool designed to help you efficiently manage personal and team events within your workspace. You can create various event types, including single occurrences, all-day events spanning multiple days, and recurring events with customizable frequencies. The platform also allows you to set reminders, ensuring you never miss important dates or meetings. To-dos can be added to your timetable, helping you keep track of tasks alongside your scheduled events.

Collaboration is enhanced through the ability to create personal timetables and share calendars with specific individuals or groups. You can grant different access levels, such as view-only or editing rights, facilitating coordinated scheduling and planning within your team. Integration with other ONLYOFFICE modules, like Projects and CRM, allows you to track milestones and tasks seamlessly, providing a unified view of your commitments.

ONLYOFFICE Calendar also supports synchronization with third-party applications via the CalDAV protocol. This feature enables you to import events and add iCal feeds from platforms like Google Calendar, Apple iCal, or Yahoo!, consolidating all your schedules in one place for easier management. The user-friendly interface ensures that managing events, setting reminders, and coordinating with team members is straightforward and efficient.


IS IT AVAILABLE OFFLINE?

Yes, ONLYOFFICE offers desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing you to work offline. These desktop editors provide the same functionality as the online versions and can be synchronized with the cloud once an internet connection is available. This ensures that you can continue working without interruption, regardless of connectivity, and your documents remain up-to-date across all devices.


USER INTERFACE

ONLYOFFICE features a clean and intuitive user interface designed to minimize distractions and enhance productivity. The layout is reminiscent of traditional office suites, making it familiar to users transitioning from other platforms. The unified dashboard provides easy access to all applications, and the customizable workspace allows you to tailor the interface to your preferences. While some users may desire more extensive customization options, the current design emphasizes simplicity and ease of use.


DESKTOP AND MOBILE APPS

ONLYOFFICE ensures a seamless experience across devices by offering desktop applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android. The desktop apps support collaborative editing when connected to the cloud, while the mobile apps allow you to view and edit documents on the go. This cross-platform availability ensures that you can maintain productivity regardless of your device or location.


IS ONLYOFFICE SAFE TO USE?

Yes, ONLYOFFICE employs robust security measures to protect your data. All data is encrypted both at rest and in transit, safeguarding it from unauthorized access. The platform complies with industry standards and regulations, ensuring that your information is handled responsibly. For organizations with specific security needs, ONLYOFFICE offers on-premises deployment, allowing you to maintain complete control over your data.


HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

ONLYOFFICE offers a variety of pricing plans tailored to different business needs, including cloud-based and on-premises options.

For cloud users, the Startup Plan is completely free and supports up to five users. It includes 2 GB of disk space, one administrator, and up to 10 simultaneous document connections. While it offers essential collaboration tools, it lacks advanced features such as LDAP, SSO, and professional integrations, making it ideal for small teams or startups looking for a basic office suite.

For growing businesses, the Business Plan starts at $5 per user per month (billed annually) and requires a minimum of three users. It offers unlimited disk space, an unlimited number of administrators, and no restrictions on simultaneous document connections. Additionally, it includes advanced features such as LDAP, SSO, professional integrations, automatic backup and restore, and full-text search. This plan is well-suited for businesses that need enhanced collaboration tools and administrative controls.

For organizations that prefer an on-premises deployment, ONLYOFFICE offers several lifetime licensing options. The Enterprise Lifetime License costs $2,200 per server for a minimum of 50 users. It includes ONLYOFFICE Docs with mobile web editors, Private Rooms for secure collaboration, and one year of updates and basic support. Companies requiring quicker response times can opt for the Enterprise Plus Lifetime License, priced at $3,300 per server. This plan includes all Enterprise features but adds priority support with a 24-hour first response time during working hours.

For enterprises with advanced security and scalability needs, the Enterprise Premium Lifetime License is available for $4,450 per server. In addition to all features from the Enterprise Plus plan, it offers premium support with a 12-hour first response time, a monitoring system, and clustering consulting for active/passive configurations.

All lifetime licenses include one year of updates and support, but continued access requires purchasing an updated license key. The number of users in each plan refers to those who can edit documents, while additional guest users with view-only permissions can be added at a typical ratio of two guests per licensed user.

For more details or a customized plan, businesses can visit ONLYOFFICE’s official website or contact their sales team. Prices and features are subject to change, so it’s always best to check for the latest updates.


DOES ONLYOFFICE OFFER A FREE VERSION?

Yes, ONLYOFFICE offers a free version with limited features, making it an excellent choice for individuals and small teams who need basic document collaboration tools. The ONLYOFFICE Docs Community Edition is available as an open-source solution, allowing users to self-host and manage their own deployment without incurring costs.

For cloud users, ONLYOFFICE Personal provides free access to the online document editors, but it lacks advanced collaboration features such as extended sharing permissions and user role management.

If you require more robust collaboration, security, and enterprise-level functionality, the paid versions, such as Business and Enterprise, offer additional benefits, including professional support, private cloud deployment, and integration with third-party apps.

While the free version is suitable for personal use and small-scale projects, larger teams and businesses may find the premium plans more beneficial for enhanced collaboration, security, and administrative control.


CUSTOMER SUPPORT

ONLYOFFICE provides comprehensive customer support, including a knowledge base, community forums, and direct assistance options. Users can access documentation and tutorials to help navigate the platform, and support teams are available to address specific inquiries. The availability of support may vary depending on your subscription plan, with higher-tier plans offering more personalized assistance.


FAQ

1. What is ONLYOFFICE?

ONLYOFFICE is a comprehensive office suite that includes online editors for text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and PDFs. It offers collaborative features and is available as both a cloud-based service and an on-premises solution for deployment on private networks.

2. Is ONLYOFFICE free to use?

Yes, ONLYOFFICE offers a free version for both personal and commercial use. The desktop editors are available at no cost and support offline work. For advanced features and enterprise needs, there are paid versions available.

3. Which platforms are supported by ONLYOFFICE?

ONLYOFFICE is cross-platform and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Additionally, mobile apps are available for Android and iOS devices, allowing users to work on the go.

4. How does ONLYOFFICE ensure data security?

ONLYOFFICE implements various security measures, including end-to-end encryption, compliance with GDPR, JWT protection, and access control. For those seeking enhanced security, ONLYOFFICE offers deployment options for private cloud environments.

5. Can ONLYOFFICE be integrated with other platforms?

Yes, ONLYOFFICE provides integration capabilities with platforms such as Nextcloud, ownCloud, SharePoint, and Moodle. This is facilitated through ready-to-use connectors or APIs, enhancing collaborative workflows across different systems.

6. Does ONLYOFFICE support collaborative editing?

Absolutely. ONLYOFFICE supports real-time collaborative editing, allowing multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously. Communication tools like commenting and integrated chat further enhance the collaborative experience.

7. What file formats are compatible with ONLYOFFICE?

ONLYOFFICE primarily uses OOXML formats such as DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX. It also supports other formats, including ODT, DOC, RTF, EPUB, MHT, HTML, ODS, XLS, CSV, ODP, PPT, and more, by converting them to OOXML for editing purposes.

8. How can I get support for ONLYOFFICE?

ONLYOFFICE offers a comprehensive Help Center with user guides, FAQs, and tutorials. For additional assistance, you can reach out to their support team via email or participate in community forums.

9. Is there a trial period for ONLYOFFICE's premium features?

Yes, ONLYOFFICE provides a trial period for users to explore its advanced features. During this period, you can access premium functionalities to determine if they meet your organization's needs.

10. How does ONLYOFFICE differ from other office suites?

ONLYOFFICE distinguishes itself by offering a combination of online and offline editing capabilities, robust collaborative features, and extensive integration options with various platforms. Its open-source nature and focus on data security make it a compelling choice for many users.

Get ONLYOFFICE - Create, connect, and collaborate!