An online document editor that keeps your work private
Wordpad Online is a free online document editor. Write with headings, lists, checklists, tables and pictures, keep as many documents as you need, and type Markdown shortcuts as you go. Everything saves in your browser as you write, with no account, and any document can be downloaded as a Word (.docx) file, PDF, Markdown, HTML or plain text.
How it works
- Write. Begin on the blank page, paste text from anywhere, or open a .md, .txt or .html file. Formatting is on the toolbar and in Markdown shortcuts: # and a space makes a heading, - a list.
- It saves itself. Each change is stored in your browser a moment later. “Saved” next to the title confirms it. Close the tab and your documents are there next time.
- Organise. The list on the left holds every document, most recently edited first. Search finds words inside documents, not just titles. Rename a document by editing its title.
- Export. Download turns the open document into a Word (.docx) file, a PDF, Markdown, a web page or plain text.
What you can do
- Headings, bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, text colour and highlight
- Bulleted and numbered lists, checklists, quotes, code blocks and divider lines
- Tables with header rows, pictures you paste or drop in, and links
- Markdown shortcuts while you type
- Any number of documents, searchable by title and text
- Autosave in your browser, with deleted documents kept for 30 days
- Find and replace, word and character count, reading time
- Focus mode and a dark theme
| Format | Extension | What you can do |
|---|
| Word document | .docx | Download |
|---|
| PDF | .pdf | Download |
|---|
| Markdown | .md | Open and download |
|---|
| Web page | .html | Open and download |
|---|
| Plain text | .txt | Open and download |
|---|
A Word download keeps headings, emphasis, colours, lists, tables, links and pictures, and opens in LibreOffice, Google Docs, Pages and Microsoft Word. For a PDF the browser builds the file itself, with the same fonts as the page and numbered pages. To print, use Print in the ⋯ menu.
Where your documents are kept
Documents never leave your device. They live in IndexedDB, the database your browser keeps for this site, so there is nothing to sign in to and nothing on a server to leak. The same storage also means they are not on your other devices, and clearing the site data for wordpadonline.com in the browser removes them. Private windows, and Safari’s clean-up of sites left unused for about a week, can remove them too. Download a copy of anything you cannot afford to lose.
Every editor works on the same documents in this browser: a note started here is in the list there too.
Convert a file in one step
Questions
Is there a free replacement for WordPad?
Wordpad Online is a free document editor that runs in any current browser, so it works on any computer or phone without installing anything. It covers everyday writing: headings, bold and italic, colours, lists, tables and pictures, with documents saved as you type and downloadable as Word or PDF files.
Is Wordpad Online free, and do I need to sign up?
There is nothing to pay and nothing to sign up for: the editor is ready when the page opens, and there is no limit on the number of documents.
Where are my documents saved?
In the storage your browser keeps for this site, on this device, a moment after each change. They are not uploaded to a server, so they do not appear on your other devices or in another browser. Clearing the site data for wordpadonline.com in your browser deletes them, so download anything you need to keep.
Can I export to Word (DOCX) or PDF?
Yes. Choose Download, then Word (.docx) for a file that keeps headings, bold, italic, underline, colours, lists, tables, links and pictures. For a PDF, choose Download, then PDF: the file is made in your browser, with page numbers, and saved like any download.
Can I write in Markdown?
Yes. Markdown shortcuts work while you type: # for a heading, - or * for a list, 1. for a numbered list, [ ] for a checklist, > for a quote and ``` for a code block. Markdown (.md) files open as formatted documents, and any document can be downloaded as Markdown.
Does it work offline?
Writing and saving keep working if the connection drops while the page is open. Loading the page, and the first Download, Open or Back up after it loads, need the internet.
Can I write on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The editor works in the browser on phones and tablets: the document list opens from the button at the top, the toolbar scrolls sideways, and documents save the same way as on a computer. Each device keeps its own documents, so download a file to move one across.