OpenFilz

OpenFilz is an open-source document management platform for organizing, finding, and working with files. It provides virtual folders, metadata, version history, full-text search, and filters. Its AI assistant can answer questions based on users’ files and help locate, summarize, file, or rename documents; it supports local models and commercial model APIs. Teams can edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents in a browser through OnlyOffice, and manipulate PDFs by merging, splitting, rotating, or rearranging pages. Workflows include approval statuses, tasks, due dates, and reminders. E-signatures support multi-signer envelopes, templates, one-time codes, and PAdES seals without a per-signature fee. Deployment options include on-premises, private or public cloud, and air-gapped environments, with Docker Compose and Kubernetes mentioned. The free Community edition is self-hosted and released under AGPL-3.0. Enterprise is listed at €12 a month, billed €12 /user/month; it adds secure sharing, migration connectors, trusted e-signatures, OCR, and support. Records archive is an add-on.

OpenFilz combines document management with AI assistance, workflows, office editing, and e-signatures. Consider the self-hosted Community edition or the paid Enterprise plan based on the added capabilities you need.

OpenFilz may suit teams that need document organization, search, workflows, and browser-based office editing. Its deployment options include on-premises and air-gapped environments.

OpenFilz is an open-source document management system for teams that need more than a shared file store. It is most compelling for organizations that want control over deployment and can run their own infrastructure. Community is broad for a free self-hosted edition; Enterprise adds paid security, sharing and support capabilities.

Overview

OpenFilz brings organization, editing, approval workflows and signatures into one document platform. Virtual folders, metadata, versioning, search and filters give teams several ways to keep files findable as their collections grow. Its range is ambitious, but the self-hosted Community edition makes operational responsibility part of the bargain.

Deployment can be on-premises, in private or public clouds, or in an air-gapped environment, with Docker Compose and Kubernetes support. Storage options include local filesystems, Amazon S3 and MinIO; identity can use OIDC-compatible providers, with native Keycloak support. That flexibility matters to organizations with infrastructure constraints, but is less useful to teams looking for a service that removes deployment and administration work.

Key features

Documents, AI and office work

The AI assistant can answer questions grounded in users’ files and find, summarize, file or rename documents. Support for local models as well as commercial model APIs gives organizations a choice in how they provide AI, rather than tying the feature to a single model source. Browser-based collaborative editing covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint through OnlyOffice; PDF tools handle merging, splitting, rotating and reorganizing files.

Workflows and signatures

Workflows include approval statuses, tasks, due dates and reminders, which can help teams track document processes alongside the files themselves. Enterprise adds notifications and comments. E-signatures support multi-signer envelopes, templates, one-time codes and PAdES seals, with no per-signature fee—a useful distinction for teams sending signatures regularly.

Connections and controls

REST, GraphQL, MCP, TUS uploads and webhooks provide options for integrations and custom development. Migration connectors cover SMB, SharePoint, OneDrive, Drive, Box, Dropbox and CMIS, while official SDKs include Java, Python, TypeScript and C#. Security capabilities include OIDC/JWT authentication, audit trails, WORM mode, customer keys, encrypted backups and antivirus scanning. OCR-powered search is a capability, while Enterprise adds OCR, scoped agent access, advanced RBAC, secure sharing, backup and disaster recovery, and support with an SLA. Records archive costs extra.

Pricing

Community is the clear fit for teams that can operate a self-hosted system and want the core document and collaboration features without a license charge. Enterprise is priced per user and makes more sense when secure sharing, stronger administration, OCR or formal support are requirements. The lower-cost plan gives up those enterprise additions; no seat, storage or trial-duration limits are stated for either plan.

OpenFilz also offers a 15-day trial. The published Enterprise price is €12 per user per month; no renewal terms are stated.

Platforms

OpenFilz supports Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, web, API and self-hosted deployment. The API and deployment options broaden its reach beyond a browser-based document tool, though mobile access is also supported.

Who it's for

OpenFilz suits organizations that want document management, office editing, workflow and e-signature functions in one system, especially those with requirements around hosting location or network isolation. It is also a credible fit for teams that want to connect existing repositories through migration connectors or build integrations against its APIs and SDKs. Teams that cannot take on self-hosting, or need Enterprise controls and support but not a per-user plan, should compare other options.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free Community edition includes AI, workflows, Office editing, e-signatures and PDF tools, making it unusually capable for teams prepared to self-host.
• Pros: On-premises, cloud and air-gapped deployment, plus several storage and identity choices, suit organizations with infrastructure constraints.
• Pros: E-signatures have no per-signature fee, and the feature set includes multi-signer envelopes and templates.
• Cons: Community is self-hosted, so its zero price does not remove the work of deploying and operating the platform.
• Cons: Secure sharing, advanced RBAC, support and SLA, backup and disaster recovery, and OCR are Enterprise additions; records archive is another add-on.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Cloud Document Management Software.

• LogicalDOC is another freemium, open-source option with a free Community edition, basic access control, advanced search, a web UI, and SOAP and REST APIs; consider it if those capabilities better match your needs.
• DocuWare is a paid alternative with trial access and cloud plans sized for four or 15 users; choose it if those defined team sizes and cloud storage allowances suit your organization.
• Doxis offers custom-fit licensing, unlimited licenses or subscription pricing, and cloud, on-premises or hybrid deployment; consider it if those licensing and deployment models are a better fit.
• Foxit DMS is freemium and includes DMS with Foxit PDF Editor and eSign subscriptions; consider it if you already use or want those Foxit subscriptions.
• Hyland AP Automation is a paid enterprise AP automation option; choose it when accounts payable automation is the priority.
• Box is freemium and offers an Individual plan with 10 GB storage, a 250 MB file upload cap, one file version and five signature requests per month; consider it if those stated individual-use limits meet your needs.
• Generis CARA is a paid alternative with a £65 per-user monthly Core plan; consider it if that plan’s terms suit your requirements.
• eQuorum ImageSite is a paid alternative with a free trial; consider it if you want to evaluate that option.

Verdict

Choose OpenFilz if your team wants a broad document platform with AI, editing, workflows and e-signatures, and can manage its own deployment or justify Enterprise’s per-user additions. Its strongest reason to choose is the breadth of the free self-hosted Community edition; its clearest reason to look elsewhere is the operational burden of running it, particularly if you need enterprise support and controls.