Dropbox Paper launched in 2015 as a clean, simple collaborative document editor. For a while, it was a solid alternative to Google Docs with a nicer interface and Dropbox integration. But honestly? It feels like Dropbox gave up on it.
The last significant update I remember was back in 2019. Since then, Paper has received minor bug fixes but no meaningful new features. Meanwhile, competitors like Notion, Confluence, and even Google Docs have added databases, automation, AI features, and extensive integrations. Paper just... stayed the same.
This stagnation shows in user frustration. Browse the Dropbox forums or Reddit, and you'll find people asking when Paper will get basic features like table of contents, better formatting options, or improved mobile apps. The answer is: probably never. Dropbox seems focused on file storage and hasn't invested in Paper's development.
The integration with Dropbox files is nice: you can embed files directly and they stay synced. But most modern tools integrate with Dropbox anyway, so this isn't a unique advantage anymore. Notion, Confluence, and Google Docs all connect to Dropbox seamlessly for team documentation.
Paper's simplicity is appealing if you just need basic collaborative docs. The interface is clean, the editor is distraction-free, and it works fine for meeting notes or simple documentation. But if you need anything beyond basics (databases, project tracking, advanced formatting), Paper can't deliver.
The concerning part: what's Paper's future? Dropbox hasn't shut it down, but they haven't invested in it either. Using a tool in maintenance mode feels risky. If you're building long-term documentation or team knowledge bases, betting on a platform that might get discontinued is stressful.
Why Look Beyond Dropbox Paper?
Paper works okay for simple docs, but there are real reasons to consider alternatives in 2026.
Stagnant Development
Paper hasn't received meaningful feature updates in years. This isn't just about wanting shiny new things. It's about missing basic functionality competitors added years ago: table of contents, advanced tables, better mobile editing, offline mode improvements, integrations beyond Dropbox.
When a tool stops evolving, it falls behind. Users request features, Dropbox ignores them, and frustration builds. Eventually, the gap between Paper and actively developed alternatives becomes too large to ignore.
Limited Features
Paper does simple docs fine. But you can't create databases, embed dynamic content beyond basic media, or build structured knowledge bases. Notion offers all of these in a similarly clean interface. Confluence provides enterprise features like permissions and templates.
For teams outgrowing simple documentation, Paper hits a wall fast. You end up using multiple tools instead of one platform handling various needs.
Integration Ecosystem
Paper integrates with Dropbox files and has a Slack integration. That's about it. Compare this to Google Docs (integrates with the entire Google Workspace), Notion (hundreds of integrations via Zapier), or Confluence (deep Atlassian ecosystem ties).
Modern workflows require connecting docs to tasks, calendars, CRMs, and other tools. Paper's limited integration options create friction.
Uncertain Future
What's Dropbox's plan for Paper? They haven't said. The lack of updates suggests it's in maintenance mode, but there's no clarity about whether they'll improve it, leave it as-is, or eventually shut it down.
Investing time building documentation on a platform with an unclear future feels risky. Established alternatives like Google Docs or Notion have clear roadmaps and ongoing development.
Mobile Experience
Paper's mobile apps work but feel dated compared to modern alternatives. Editing on phones is clunky, navigation isn't optimized for small screens, and the feature set is more limited than desktop.
Google Docs and Notion both have better mobile apps with smoother editing and offline support. If your team works on mobile frequently, Paper's weak mobile experience hurts productivity.
What Makes a Good Alternative?
Paper succeeds at simplicity and clean collaborative editing. Your alternative should match or improve on these while adding features Paper lacks.
Active Development and Clear Roadmap
Choose tools that are actively maintained with regular updates. Check their changelog or blog to verify they're shipping improvements consistently. Google Docs, Notion, and Confluence all have transparent development with new features released regularly.
This ensures your tool won't stagnate like Paper did.
Collaboration Basics Done Well
Real-time co-editing, comments, @mentions, and sharing need to work smoothly. Paper does these okay, so your alternative should match or exceed the experience. Test with your team: edit the same doc simultaneously and verify there's no lag or conflicts.
Google Docs is the gold standard here. Notion and Confluence are solid too.
Feature Depth for Growth
Think about what you might need in six months or a year. If you only need simple docs forever, Paper is fine. But if you might want tables with sorting, databases, project tracking, or knowledge base features, choose an alternative that supports growth.
Notion offers the most flexibility. Confluence provides enterprise features. Google Docs stays simple but integrates with Google Sheets and other Workspace tools for structured data.
Export and Portability
Paper exports to Markdown and PDF, which is decent. Make sure your alternative offers similar or better export options. Markdown is ideal for portability since it's plain text that any tool can read.
Avoid tools with proprietary formats that trap your data.
Pricing Transparency
Paper is free with Dropbox, which is appealing. If you're switching to a paid alternative, make sure the pricing is clear and justifiable. Google Docs is free with Google accounts. Notion costs $10/user/month for teams. Confluence is $6.05/user/month.
Calculate total cost for your team size before committing.
Google Docs
Google Docs is the most obvious Paper alternative. It's free, actively developed, and the collaboration is rock-solid. Many people switching from Dropbox Paper land here first.
Google Docs does real-time co-editing better than anyone. Multiple people can write, edit, and comment simultaneously with zero lag. The version history is comprehensive: you can see every change, who made it, and restore previous versions easily. Paper's version history exists but feels basic in comparison.
The integration with Google Workspace is seamless. Link to Google Sheets for data, embed Google Slides presentations, attach files from Google Drive. If your team uses Gmail and Google Calendar (most do), Docs fits naturally into existing workflows.
The feature set goes beyond Paper while staying approachable. You get table of contents (Paper lacks this), voice typing, Smart Compose suggestions, and extensive add-ons for extra functionality. The mobile apps are excellent: full editing on phones and tablets with offline support.
Google Docs is actively developed too. Google ships updates regularly: AI writing features, improved commenting, better templates. You're not betting on a stagnant platform compared to other note-taking tools.
Where Google Docs feels limited: it's still primarily a word processor. You can't build databases or flexible workspaces like Notion. The formatting options, while good, aren't as extensive as Microsoft Word. For pure documentation, it's great. For structured knowledge bases, you might want more.
Pricing is free for personal use with Google accounts. For businesses, it's part of Google Workspace starting at $6/user/month, which includes email, calendar, and storage.
Use Google Docs if you want reliable, free collaborative docs with ongoing development. Skip it if you need database features or flexible workspaces beyond traditional documents.
Confluence
Confluence is the enterprise alternative: structured knowledge bases with powerful features and proven reliability. If you're managing team projects at scale, this beats Paper.
Confluence organizes content into spaces (team wikis) and pages with hierarchies. This structure scales from small teams to massive organizations with thousands of pages. Paper's flat organization feels chaotic once you have substantial content. Confluence handles complexity properly.
The editor supports macros for dynamic content: tables of contents, status indicators, embedded Jira issues, charts. You can create rich documentation that Paper can't match. The templates help teams standardize meeting notes, project specs, or onboarding docs.
Permissions are granular and reliable. Control who views, edits, or comments at space or page level. For enterprises with security requirements, this control is necessary. Paper's sharing is simpler but less flexible.
Confluence integrates with the Atlassian ecosystem: Jira for development tracking, Trello for boards, Bitbucket for code. For software teams, this integration between documentation and development is valuable for team collaboration.
Where Confluence shows its age: the interface feels dated compared to Paper's clean design. It works but isn't pretty. Navigation gets clunky with deep hierarchies. And the learning curve is steeper: new users need time to understand spaces, macros, and templates.
Pricing is free for small teams (up to 10 users), then $6.05/user/month for Standard. That's reasonable for the enterprise features you get.
Use Confluence if you're in a larger organization, use Atlassian tools, or need robust permissions. Skip it if you want modern UX and simplicity.
Centralise information and collaborate with your team in one place with Confluence.
Zoho Docs
Zoho Docs is part of Zoho's productivity suite, competing directly with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. It's less known but surprisingly capable.
Zoho Writer (the document editor) does collaborative editing similar to Paper and Google Docs. Multiple people can write simultaneously, comment, and track changes. The interface is clean, though not as polished as Paper's minimalism.
What's interesting: Zoho Docs integrates with the broader Zoho ecosystem. Connect to Zoho CRM for customer data, Zoho Projects for task tracking, or Zoho Mail for email. If you use Zoho's suite, this integration is valuable for productivity workflows. If you don't, it's less relevant.
The feature set matches Google Docs: tables, images, formatting options, version history. Zoho adds some extras like document approval workflows and advanced sharing permissions. For business teams, these features help with formal documentation processes.
Zoho's advantage is pricing. The free tier is generous: 5GB storage and basic collaboration. Paid plans start at $3/user/month for Zoho Workplace (includes email, docs, storage), which undercuts Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 significantly.
The downside: Zoho's ecosystem is less popular than Google or Microsoft, so integrations with third-party tools are more limited. And honestly, the interface feels a bit dated compared to modern alternatives.
Use Zoho Docs if you're considering Zoho's full productivity suite and want to save money. Skip it if you're happy with Google or need a single document tool without committing to an ecosystem.
Notion
Notion goes way beyond Paper's simple docs, offering flexible workspaces that combine notes, databases, and projects. It's become the go-to all-in-one workspace for teams.
Notion can do what Paper does (collaborative documents with comments and sharing), but it adds databases, kanban boards, calendars, and wikis. This flexibility lets you build exactly what your team needs. Start with meeting notes (like Paper), then expand to project trackers, knowledge bases, or company wikis.
The building blocks approach is powerful. Each page contains blocks: text, headings, images, databases, embeds. You can mix and match to create custom layouts. Paper is just linear documents. Notion is a canvas for structured and unstructured content perfect for building a second brain.
Collaboration works well: real-time editing, comments, @mentions, and version history. The permissions system is more granular than Paper: share pages publicly, with specific people, or limit to workspace members.
Notion integrates with hundreds of tools via Zapier and native connectors. Connect to Slack, Google Drive, Figma, GitHub, whatever your team uses. Paper's integration list is tiny in comparison.
Where Notion requires adjustment: the learning curve is steeper than Paper. New users face a blank page and need to understand blocks, databases, and relations. Paper is simpler: open doc, start typing. Notion rewards investment but demands more upfront effort.
Pricing is free for individuals, $10/user/month for teams. That's more than Paper (free with Dropbox), but you get significantly more capability for note-taking.
Use Notion if you want flexible workspaces that go beyond simple docs. Stick with Paper (or try Google Docs) if you just need straightforward collaborative writing.
Supernotes
Supernotes takes a card-based approach to note-taking and collaboration. It's different from Paper's document model but worth considering for personal knowledge management.
Supernotes organizes information as cards: bite-sized notes that link together. Each card can contain text, images, or checklists. You connect cards by tagging or explicitly linking them, creating a web of interconnected knowledge. This feels different from Paper's linear documents but works well for certain workflows.
The collaboration is smooth. Share cards with teammates, comment on specific parts, and see updates in real-time. The permissions are simple: share cards individually or entire collections perfect for team collaboration.
What I appreciate: Supernotes focuses on simplicity and speed. Creating a card is instant, linking is easy with hashtags or @mentions, and the interface stays out of your way. Paper tries for simplicity too, but Supernotes takes it further by ditching traditional document structure.
The markdown support is solid for technical users. Write in markdown or use the visual editor, whichever you prefer. Export to Markdown keeps your data portable.
Supernotes works well for research, project notes, or knowledge management where you're building interconnected ideas. It's less suited for traditional long-form documents (meeting agendas, reports) where Paper's document model makes more sense.
Pricing is interesting: free for unlimited cards (with some limits on features), $12/month for the full feature set. That's a bit pricey for a note-taking tool, but the lifetime pricing option ($299 one-time) appeals to users who prefer not subscribing forever.
Use Supernotes if you want interconnected notes and like the card-based model. Stick with Paper or Google Docs if you need traditional document structure.
A beautifully-designed note-taking tool that was originally developed for students.
How to Switch from Dropbox Paper
Leaving Paper is straightforward since it's a simple document tool. Here's how to migrate without headaches.
Export Paper Docs to Markdown
Paper lets you export individual docs to Markdown or Word format. Go to each doc, click the menu, and choose Export. Markdown is preferable because it's portable and importable into most modern tools.
Unfortunately, there's no bulk export option. If you have lots of Paper docs, this manual process is tedious. Set aside time or recruit teammates to help export in parallel.
Import to Your New Tool
Most alternatives handle Markdown import: - Google Docs: Upload Markdown files, they convert to Docs format - Notion: Import Markdown files directly, preserving formatting - Confluence: Import requires conversion but handles Markdown reasonably well
Test import with a few docs first to verify formatting translates correctly before importing everything.
Reorganize Folder Structure
Paper uses folders to organize docs. Your new tool might use different organization: - Google Docs: Folders in Google Drive - Notion: Pages and subpages - Confluence: Spaces and page hierarchies
Don't blindly copy Paper's structure. This is a chance to improve organization based on what worked and what didn't.
Update Shared Links
If you shared Paper docs via links in Slack, email, or other places, those will break after migration. Update important shared docs with new links from your alternative platform.
Prioritize frequently accessed or customer-facing docs first.
Reconfigure Integrations
If you used Paper's Slack integration or embedded Dropbox files, reconfigure those in your new tool. Most alternatives integrate with Slack and Dropbox, so the functionality should transfer.
Keep Paper Read-Only Temporarily
Don't immediately delete everything from Paper. Keep it accessible for a week or two after migration in case you discover you missed something. This safety net reduces stress about losing content.
Once you verify all critical docs migrated successfully, you can stop using Paper.
Which Dropbox Paper Alternative Should You Choose?
Paper's stagnation makes switching more appealing. Here's where to land based on your needs.
If you want free and reliable: Google Docs is the obvious choice. Free with Google accounts, actively developed, excellent collaboration. It's basically Paper but better in every way.
If you need enterprise features: Confluence offers robust permissions, templates, and integration with Atlassian tools. Worth the learning curve for larger organizations.
If you want more than docs: Notion provides databases, wikis, and flexible workspaces alongside collaborative documents. The most powerful alternative but requires learning.
If you're budget-conscious: Zoho Docs undercuts competitors on pricing ($3/user/month) while delivering solid collaborative editing. Worth considering if cost matters.
If you like card-based notes: Supernotes offers a different paradigm for organizing knowledge. Great for interconnected ideas, less so for traditional documents.
Honestly, for most teams leaving Paper, Google Docs makes the most sense. It's free, familiar, actively maintained, and improves on Paper's collaboration without adding overwhelming complexity. You can switch today with minimal friction.
If you need more than documents (databases, projects, wikis), Notion is worth the learning curve. If you're in an enterprise, Confluence provides features Paper never tried to offer.
The main thing: don't stick with Paper just because it's familiar. Its lack of development and uncertain future make investing in actively maintained alternatives a smart move in 2026.