Content management in a collaboration system. Ease-of-use of shared content is facilitated. A URL is presented in a user interface. The system determines (e.g., based on user preferences) whether to display the content corresponding to the URL in a browser at the user device, or whether to display the content corresponding to the URL using a non-browser application. If the user device is configured to display the content corresponding to the URL using a non-browser application, then when the user clicks or touches or hovers, or otherwise indicates a selection of a URL, the system displays the content using the non-browser application. In this situation, the system retrieves the content from the collaboration system, stores a local instance of the content in local storage of the user device, and opens the local instance using the non-browser application. Local instance edits are synchronized with the collaboration system using a synchronization protocol.