You host it on your own server, meaning you own your data.
Etherpad is free to download and use under the Apache 2.0 license. Depending on your technical comfort level, there are three primary ways to install it: 1. Windows Download & Quick Start
It is optimized for performance, handling thousands of simultaneous editors per pad.
For a quick local setup on Windows, you can download a pre-packaged version.
If you are looking for a powerful, privacy-focused alternative to mainstream cloud editors, is the answer. As a free, open-source, and highly customizable tool, it allows teams to collaborate on documents in "really real-time".
Etherpad Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to Real-Time Collaboration