The paperless-ngx alternative without your own server
paperless-ngx is a brilliant piece of open source. It also demands a server, Docker, updates, and backups, and with them the weekends many people would rather spend differently. That is exactly the part paless takes off your hands. You keep the full intelligence of the paperless-ngx engine while it runs for you on European infrastructure, protected by European law.
And you gain Pal, the EU sovereign AI inside the vault. It answers questions about your documents with the sources cited, composes emails with the right attachments, and fills in forms. Nothing goes out without your approval.
How paless and paperless-ngx compare
| Feature | Self-hosted paperless-ngx | paless |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Your own server, Docker, and configuration | Create an account and start |
| Operations and maintenance | Updates, backups, and monitoring are on you | Run entirely for you |
| Engine | paperless-ngx on your hardware | The same paperless-ngx engine, hosted in the EU |
| AI assistant | Automatic tagging, no assistant | Pal answers questions with sources, composes emails, and fills in forms |
| Location and law | Your own server, your responsibility | Exclusively European infrastructure, no access under the US CLOUD Act |
| Security | Entirely up to you | AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, stored with multiple redundancy |
| Cost | Free, plus your own hardware and time | Plans from 9 € per month, with a free trial week |
| Data export | Full control over your files | Export back to a self-hosted instance at any time |
Move in with a single .zip upload
You upload your standard .zip export from paperless-ngx and paless does the rest. Tags, correspondents, and document dates arrive intact. Your migration doesn't count against your monthly quota during your first 30 days. This covers up to 5,000 documents, and our support team will find a solution for larger archives.
And there is no lock-in. You can export your data back to a self-hosted instance at any time.
Learn more in the migration section on the homepage.
When paperless-ngx remains the better choice
If you enjoy self-hosting, want control over every component, and consider maintenance part of the hobby, paperless-ngx remains an excellent choice. It is open source, free, and backed by a strong community. For everyone who would rather not spend their time on operations and backups, there is paless.
Common questions about switching
What makes paless different from hosted paperless-ngx offerings?
The hosting is only the baseline. On top of it you get Pal, the EU sovereign AI that answers questions about your documents with sources cited, composes emails and fills in forms, plus a vault stored with multiple redundancy and a team that handles updates, backups, and security.
Can I bring my existing paperless-ngx archive?
Yes. You upload your standard .zip export and every tag, correspondent, and document date is imported intact. During your first 30 days the migration does not count against your monthly quota, which covers up to 5,000 documents.
Can I leave again if I decide to self-host after all?
Yes. You can export your data back to a self-hosted instance at any time. Your sovereignty, our management.
Where are my documents stored?
Exclusively on European infrastructure, stored with multiple redundancy across separate European data centers, encrypted with AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit. No transfer to the US, no access under the US CLOUD Act.
What does paless cost?
Plans start at 9 € per month, with a discount for yearly billing. There is a free trial week, and the Kickstarter launch comes with time limited Founder’s Pricing for early backers.
Ready for paperwork that does itself?
The campaign launches on Kickstarter, with time limited Founder’s Pricing for early backers.