Nextcloud
German open-source self-hosted platform for files, calendar, contacts, Talk, and office collaboration with full data ownership
Quick Overview
| Company | Nextcloud GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Cloud Storage / Collaboration Platform |
| Headquarters | Stuttgart, Germany |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Centers | Self-hosted (your choice) or managed providers |
| Open Source | Yes (AGPL) |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes (depends on hosting) |
| Main Features | File sync, calendar, contacts, Nextcloud Talk, Nextcloud Office, apps marketplace |
| Pricing | Free (self-hosted) / Enterprise plans available |
| Best For | Organizations and individuals wanting complete control over their data and collaboration tools |
| Replaces | Google Workspace, Dropbox |
Detailed Review
Nextcloud is a German open-source self-hosted productivity platform founded in 2016 by Frank Karlitschek in Stuttgart. Karlitschek, who previously created ownCloud, started Nextcloud with a team of core ownCloud developers to create a truly community-driven, privacy-focused alternative to cloud giants like Google and Microsoft. Since then, Nextcloud has grown to become the most popular self-hosted cloud platform, used by millions of individuals, thousands of organizations, and several European governments.
Complete Data Ownership
The fundamental value proposition of Nextcloud is complete data ownership. Unlike cloud services where your files reside on someone else's servers and are subject to their terms of service and jurisdiction, Nextcloud runs on infrastructure you control. This can be a home server, a VPS from a European provider like Hetzner, or enterprise-grade infrastructure in your own data center. Your data never touches Nextcloud GmbH's servers unless you explicitly choose one of their managed hosting partners.
This architecture makes Nextcloud ideal for organizations with strict data residency requirements. German hospitals, French schools, Swedish government agencies, and countless European businesses use Nextcloud precisely because they need to guarantee that their data stays within their jurisdiction and under their control. The software handles everything from file synchronization to end-to-end encryption, allowing organizations to meet GDPR requirements while retaining full ownership of their data.
Beyond File Storage
While Nextcloud started as a file sync and share solution, it has evolved into a comprehensive collaboration platform. Nextcloud Files handles file storage with desktop and mobile sync clients that work seamlessly across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The web interface allows access from any browser, with features like file versioning, comments, and sharing via public links or with specific users.
Nextcloud Groupware adds calendar and contacts functionality with CalDAV and CardDAV support, allowing integration with virtually any calendar or contact application. Mail integration connects your email accounts for a unified inbox. Nextcloud Talk provides video conferencing, screen sharing, and chat, serving as a self-hosted alternative to Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Nextcloud Office, powered by Collabora or ONLYOFFICE, enables collaborative document editing directly in the browser.
App Ecosystem
The Nextcloud App Store contains hundreds of apps that extend functionality. You can add password managers, note-taking apps, Kanban boards, music players, photo galleries, and much more. For enterprise users, there are apps for CRM, project management, and compliance auditing. The extensibility means that Nextcloud can be tailored to specific organizational needs rather than forcing everyone into a one-size-fits-all solution.
Nextcloud also offers integration with external services through its federated sharing capability. This allows users on different Nextcloud instances to share files with each other as easily as if they were on the same server. This federated model supports the vision of a decentralized cloud where individuals and organizations can collaborate without all data flowing through a central corporate provider.
Enterprise Features
For organizations that need professional support, Nextcloud offers Enterprise plans with guaranteed response times, security advisories, and direct access to engineering support. Enterprise features include Global Scale for clusters serving millions of users, Outlook integration, LDAP and Active Directory support, and advanced audit logging. The German federal government, the city of Geneva, and many Fortune 500 companies rely on Nextcloud Enterprise.
Nextcloud GmbH's business model is based on enterprise subscriptions rather than advertising or data monetization. The core software remains completely open source under the AGPL license, ensuring that the community can always fork and continue development if the company changed direction. This alignment of incentives means that improvements made for enterprise customers benefit the entire community, and community contributions benefit enterprise users.
Alternatives to Nextcloud
Looking for other European cloud storage and collaboration platforms? Here are some alternatives worth considering:
ownCloud
German file sync with infinite scale architecture
Seafile
German file sync with high performance
Proton Drive
Swiss encrypted cloud storage
Tresorit
Swiss end-to-end encrypted file sync
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Nextcloud is completely free and open source software licensed under the AGPL. You can download, install, and use it without any cost. However, you will need to provide your own hosting (server, storage, bandwidth), which does have associated costs. Enterprise support plans are available for organizations that need professional assistance.
Installing and maintaining Nextcloud requires some technical knowledge, particularly for security and performance optimization. However, many hosting providers offer one-click Nextcloud installations or managed Nextcloud services. Once installed, the user experience is straightforward and similar to other cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.
Nextcloud provides alternatives to most Google Workspace features: Files for Drive, Calendar and Contacts for Google Calendar/Contacts, Talk for Meet, and Office for Docs/Sheets/Slides. Email can be integrated but is typically handled by a separate mail server. For many organizations, Nextcloud provides a viable complete replacement with full data ownership.
Nextcloud has a strong security track record with regular security audits, a bug bounty program, and prompt security updates. It supports two-factor authentication, server-side encryption, and end-to-end encryption for files. However, ultimate security depends on how you configure and maintain your server, including keeping the software updated and following security best practices.
Nextcloud was forked from ownCloud in 2016 by the original ownCloud founder and core developers. Since then, both projects have diverged significantly. Nextcloud is fully open source with no proprietary enterprise version, while ownCloud has both community and enterprise editions. Nextcloud has focused more on collaboration features (Talk, Office), while ownCloud emphasizes scalability with its Infinite Scale architecture.
Popular options include European cloud providers like Hetzner, OVHcloud, or Scaleway for VPS hosting. You can also use Nextcloud-specific managed hosting providers that handle installation and maintenance. For home use, a Raspberry Pi or NAS device can work well. The choice depends on your technical comfort level, performance needs, and budget.