Nextcloud
The most popular self-hosted cloud platform for file storage, collaboration, and communication.
Open source alternative to:
Nextcloud is the world's most popular open-source, self-hosted cloud platform. It started as a file sync and share solution (like Dropbox or Google Drive) and has evolved into a comprehensive productivity suite with files, calendar, contacts, email, talk (video/chat), and hundreds of apps available through the Nextcloud App Store.
Nextcloud Files provides desktop sync clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android. Files can be shared with granular permissions, encrypted, and version-controlled. The platform integrates with ONLYOFFICE and Collabora Online for in-browser document editing, effectively replicating the full Google Workspace experience on your own infrastructure.
With over 34,000 GitHub stars and licensed under AGPL-3.0, Nextcloud is the gold standard for self-hosted cloud storage. It is deployable on any Linux server, available as a one-click install via Docker, and maintained by Nextcloud GmbH with an active enterprise support offering. For organizations wanting to replace Google Drive and the broader Google Workspace, Nextcloud is the most complete solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can Nextcloud do that Google Drive and Google Workspace cannot?
Nextcloud is a self-hosted cloud platform, so your files, calendar, contacts, mail, and chat all live on hardware you control instead of in Google's data centers. It started as a file sync and share tool and has grown into a full productivity suite with hundreds of apps from the Nextcloud App Store. Because it is open source under AGPL-3.0, you can integrate it with other self-hosted services and never depend on a vendor's roadmap.
Can I edit documents in Nextcloud without sending them to a third party?
Yes. Nextcloud integrates with ONLYOFFICE and Collabora Online for in-browser document editing, replicating the Google Docs experience on your own infrastructure. Files can also be shared with granular permissions, encrypted, and version-controlled. This keeps document editing fully in-house while offering real-time collaborative editing.
Which clients and deployment options does Nextcloud support?
Nextcloud offers desktop sync clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus mobile apps for iOS and Android, so files stay in sync across all your devices. It deploys on any Linux server and has a one-click Docker install, making it accessible on a VPS or home NAS. With over 34,000 GitHub stars and enterprise support from Nextcloud GmbH, it is the standard for self-hosted cloud storage.
OpenAltFinder Score
Project Details
Repository details
Updated 9/18/2026, 8:00:29 AM
View RepositoryRepository activity
Compare Nextcloud with
Similar open source alternatives
Paperless-ngx
Self-hosted document management system with OCR, full-text search, and automatic tagging for your paper documents.
Google Drive
SafeBucket
Self-hosted file sharing platform with direct S3 uploads, SSO, and role-based access control.
Dropbox
Twake Drive
The open-source alternative to Google Drive.
Google Drive
Syncthing
Continuous file synchronization program that syncs files directly between your devices — no cloud required.
Dropbox
OpenCloud
OpenCloud is an open-source platform for file management, sharing, and team collaboration. It's easy to deploy, fully self-hostable, and built for modern, privacy-first workflows.
Google Drive
ownCloud
ownCloud is the pioneering open-source file sync and sharing platform. Self-host your cloud for files, calendars, contacts, and collaboration — your data.
Google Drive