Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Draftly.
Is there a free DOCX editor online?
Yes. Draftly is completely free to use, with no account and no sign-in required — open it and start writing.
Do I need to create an account or sign up?
No. There's no sign-up and no account. Open the editor and your document is ready.
Is my document data private and secure?
Your document is created and stored in your own browser, not on a server, unless you choose to share it. When you do, the file is stored in Cloudflare R2 and automatically deleted after 30 days. Draftly uses Google Analytics to understand site visits, but your documents and their content are never sent to it, and there are no ad-tracking scripts.
What file formats are supported?
Draftly creates and exports .docx files — the same format used by Microsoft Word — and can open an existing .docx or PDF file for editing. A PDF's layout comes across more roughly than a .docx's. Older .doc files aren't supported.
Is there a file size limit?
When documents are kept only in the browser tab (the default on computers), the tab can hold about 5 million characters, and a document with many large images can reach that. Turning on Remember my documents on this device (on by default on phones and tablets) keeps documents in your device's storage instead, which avoids this limit. A document you share is limited to 10 MB, which covers the vast majority of everyday Word documents.
Can I edit an existing Word document, or only create new ones?
Both. You can start a blank document or upload an existing .docx file, make your changes, and export it again. It works best with standard formatting — very complex layouts may look slightly different from the original.
Guide: Open a Word document online
Will my formatting (fonts, tables, styles) stay intact when I export?
Standard formatting — fonts, sizes, bold, italic, underline, text color, headings, bulleted and numbered lists, tables, images, and header and footer text — is preserved when you export. Page-number fields in headers and footers aren't kept. Very complex or unusual layouts may not translate perfectly.
Is this the same as Microsoft Word Online / Word for the web?
No. Draftly is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Microsoft. It's a free alternative for creating and editing .docx files in the browser, but it doesn't include every feature of the desktop Word app or Word for the web.
Does it work on mobile phones and tablets?
Yes. On a phone the editor switches to a continuous, easy-to-read view; on a tablet or desktop you get the full page-by-page layout.
Can I convert my document to PDF?
Yes. Choose Export, then PDF document (.pdf) to download a PDF file with your page size, margins and page breaks. It's made in your browser, so nothing is uploaded. To print on paper instead, choose Export, then Print.
How do I share a document with someone else?
Press Share to turn your document into a link and a QR code, or send it directly by email. Anyone with the link can view and download it — no account needed on their end either.
How long do shared links stay active before they expire?
30 days. After that, the shared copy is automatically removed.
Does it work offline?
You need an internet connection to load Draftly. Once it's open, your document is saved to your own device as you type, but the page itself isn't currently available offline.
Is there a limit on how many documents I can create?
No fixed limit — your documents are stored in your browser, so the only practical limit is your device's own storage.
Which browsers are supported?
Draftly works in modern browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge. For the best experience, keep your browser up to date.