Top online services for writing texts with several people

What is a collaborative writing service?

A collaborative writing service is an online platform that allows several people to work together on the same text document in real time. These services offer features that facilitate collaboration, such as the ability to work on the same document simultaneously, comment and review the document in real time, track changes made by different team members, and add annotations. Collaborative writing services are used for various tasks, such as writing reports, creating presentations, writing blog posts, and writing technical documents. Team members can work together from different locations and internet-connected devices, which makes remote collaboration easier and can improve productivity.

Why are these services beneficial?

Online collaborative writing services allow:

• real-time collaboration;
• improving productivity with tools such as spelling and grammar checking;
• accessibility from any device connected to the Internet;
• online document security and backup to prevent data loss, as well as time and cost savings by reducing the need to meet in person or travel.

Differences between a collaborative space and a writing service

• a collaborative space is an online environment that allows a group of people to work together on a common project by sharing documents, comments and tasks. This can include writing texts, but also other forms of collaborative work such as project planning, creating spreadsheets, managing tasks, etc.;
• an online writing service is a tool specifically designed for collaborative writing. Team members can work on the same document simultaneously and see changes in real time. Online writing tools can include features like spelling and grammar checking, word suggestions, and real-time collaboration.

What are the benefits of using online collaborative copywriting?

• real-time collaboration : online services allow users to work on the same document simultaneously, in real time. This enables more efficient, faster and synchronized collaboration;
• ease of communication : online collaboration tools allow users to communicate easily and instantly, without having to leave the document being written. This facilitates the resolution of problems and questions, as well as the exchange of ideas and suggestions;
• ability to work remotely : online collaborative writing services allow users to work on the same document from different places, which is particularly convenient for teams working remotely or from different sites;
• change history : online collaborative writing services save a history of all changes made to the document, allowing users to track the evolution of the text, revert to a previous version if necessary, and clearly identify who did what ;
• automatic synchronization : online collaborative writing services automatically save changes made to the document, which prevents any loss of data and allows users to work with complete peace of mind;
• cost reduction : Online collaborative writing services can be less expensive than traditional word processing software because they do not require software installation or on-site maintenance.

What are the disadvantages of using online collaborative copywriting?

• internet connection required : to be able to work on an online document, it is necessary to have a stable and fast internet connection. If the connection is slow or unstable, it can cause synchronization problems and delays in collaboration;
• security risks : Working online involves storing data on remote servers, which can pose security risks. It is important to choose a reputable online collaborative writing service and take appropriate security measures to protect sensitive data;
• dependence on service providers : Online collaborative writing services are often provided by third parties, which means that users are dependent on service providers for availability and quality of service. If a service provider encounters problems, this may cause delays in the collaboration;
• functionality limits : Although online collaborative writing services offer many features, some advanced features of traditional word processing software may be missing. Users must therefore ensure that the features offered by online collaborative writing services meet their specific needs;
• necessary adjustment : the use of online collaborative writing may require some adaptation by users. Users should familiarize themselves with the service’s interface, collaboration features, keyboard shortcuts, etc.

Top paid collaborative writing software

1. Google Workspace (formerly G Suite): offers a full suite of online collaboration tools, including Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides;
2. Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365): offers a full range of online collaboration tools, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
3. Dropbox Paper : an easy-to-use online collaboration tool for writing texts, taking notes and planning projects;
4. Who P : an online collaboration tool with built-in word processing, spreadsheet and chat features;
5. Confluence : an online collaboration tool designed for software development teams, but which can also be used for writing documents;
6. Asana : a project management tool that offers collaboration features for writing texts and planning projects;
7. Notion : an online collaboration tool that offers note-taking, project management and database creation features.

Top free collaborative writing software

1. Google Docs : a free online word processing tool offering real-time collaboration features;
2. Microsoft Word Online : a free online version of Word offering collaboration features;
3. Dropbox Paper : a free version of the online collaboration tool that offers word processing and note taking features;
4. Zoho Writer : a free online word processing tool offering collaboration features;
5. Etherpad : an open source and free collaborative text writing tool;
6. OnlyOffice : a free online word processing tool offering collaboration features;
7. JotForm : a free online form builder tool that offers collaboration features for writing texts.