Docspell
Self-hosted, open-source document organiser that OCRs files and fills in tags and metadata automatically.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, Self-hosted, Android
Is Docspell free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- AGPL-3.0
Checked on Docspell's site Oct 29, 2026
Switch from Docspell to
All 2- MaMayan EDMS
Open source
- PaPaperwork
Open source
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 2
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Docspell
Docspell is a self-hosted web app for sorting the pile of documents that arrives from scanners, email and downloads. Uploaded files are converted to searchable PDF/A, run through Tesseract OCR and analysed to suggest correspondents, dates, tags and other metadata, which you then confirm. Several files can be handled as one item, and a query language, bookmarks and custom dashboards help find things later. It can read mailboxes over IMAP, accept uploads through anonymous upload links, an Android app, a command-line tool or an SMTP gateway, and send reminders for due dates. Multiple users can share an account, with two-factor login and OpenID Connect support, and everything is available through a REST API. Docspell is AGPL-licensed and free. Its own docs note the trade-offs: documents can't be edited or versioned, and permissions are not fine-grained.
Best for: Self-hosters and families who want automatic metadata and many ways to feed documents in.
Pros and cons
What works
- Suggests tags and metadata from document text
- Many import paths: IMAP, upload links, CLI, Android app
- Uploaded originals are never modified
Why people leave
- No document versioning or editing
- No fine-grained permission management
- Smaller community than Paperless-ngx
Docspell vs Mayan EDMS and Paperwork
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Docspell | Mayan EDMS | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Open source | Open source |
| Verified price | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, Self-hosted, Android | Web, Self-hosted | Linux, Windows |
Top Docspell alternatives
See all 2- 1MaMayan EDMS64.8
Supports versioning and fine-grained permissions that Docspell lacks.
- 2PaPaperwork61.8
Simple desktop app if you don't want to run a server at all.
Why people left Docspell
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Docspell, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Docspell: common questions
What is Docspell?
Docspell: Self-hosted, open-source document organiser that OCRs files and fills in tags and metadata automatically. Best for self-hosters and families who want automatic metadata and many ways to feed documents in. Available for Web and Android, and you can host it yourself.
Is Docspell free?
Yes. Docspell is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Docspell open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at eikek/docspell. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Docspell run on?
Docspell is available for Web, Self-hosted and Android.
What are the best alternatives to Docspell?
The highest-ranked Docspell alternatives right now are Mayan EDMS and Paperwork. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Docspell vs Mayan EDMS: what's the difference?
Both Docspell and Mayan EDMS are free and open source. Only Docspell runs on Android.