Which cloud solution is best? ownCloud vs. Nextcloud compared

When storing files, security is always top of mind, especially when it comes to sensitive data. Hosting your own cloud service is a great way to ensure your files are secure. Two powerful solutions for self-hosted cloud storage are ownCloud and its spin-off Nextcloud.

Overview of ownCloud vs. Nextcloud

(Updated: March 2025)

ownCloud vs. Nextcloud in-depth comparison of the open-source clouds

On June 2, 2016, Frank Karlitschek, founder of ownCloud, left the financially weakening ownCloud project as did most of the developers. In the same year, the newly formed team released its own cloud solution, which focused more on collaboration. It was named Nextcloud. The software has been continuously expanded over the past few years and today, the platform is one of the most popular self-hosted collaboration solutions in the world.

Licensing issues were a significant factor in the split. The key difference between the two open-source clouds lies in their approach to licensing. This is because ownCloud restricts certain functionalities to its Enterprise edition, which requires a commercial license, whereas Nextcloud offers all of its components under the free AGPLv3 license. In what follows, we will explore the two cloud applications and the features that set them apart.

ownCloud

The ownCloud project was launched by Frank Karlitschek in 2010. It was intended to offer users a free alternative to commercial cloud services. Prior to this project, the German-born software developer had primarily been an active member of the KDE community, which is dedicated to the development of free software. At the heart of ownCloud is the server application ownCloud Infinite Scale, which can be installed on any server or web hosting space.

In terms of additional software, manufacturers have provided the following specifications for the current version of ownCloud:

When the ownCloud server is installed and set up, files can be uploaded to it using the desktop program. This is a Digital Guide article explaining how to do this on a Raspberry Pi. In addition to free desktop clients for macOS, Windows and Linux, there are also mobile apps for Android and iOS in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Using these applications, you can create your own local directory, which can be synchronized with the cloud server whenever and wherever you want (assuming you are connected to the internet). Thanks to the file-sharing feature, files can also be shared with other users (password-protected if necessary).

For businesses, the ownCloud team optionally offers professional, paid support, with two different subscription models available (as of March 2025):

• The Standard Subscription includes email support on business days and starts at €5.24 (just under $6) per user per month (for a minimum of 25 users). The price decreases as the number of users increases. This support model is tied to the standard free AGPLv3 license, meaning that all modifications to the cloud software must be shared with the community.
• The more expensive Enterprise Subscription, starting at €15.67 (around $17) per user per month (for a minimum of 25 users), is linked to the ownCloud Commercial License. It provides companies with global email and phone support, along with access to a range of exclusive enterprise features.

ownCloud offers various additional features that optimize the cloud’s usability. Here is an overview of the product:

The ownCloud plan is rounded off with various security features, although there are some minor differences between those included in the free version and the Enterprise edition.

Nextcloud

When Nextcloud was released for the first time in 2016 as an independent spin-off of ownCloud, it was essentially just an open-source version of the same software, but with a new design. Since then, Nextcloud GmbH, which includes Karlitscheck and other former ownCloud developers, has sped up their software redesign.

The basic application is Nextcloud Server and can be installed on almost any web hosting space or server. The development team recommends at least 512 MB of memory for stable cloud operation. Nextcloud does not differ significantly from its predecessor in terms of software requirements either.

Desktop clients are available for all common operating systems so that users can upload files onto the ready-to-use Nextcloud server. Windows and macOS users will find the installation files on the program’s website. Linux users (openSUSE, Arch Linux, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian) can find them in their Linux distribution’s package management. Free apps for Android and iOS can be used to access the server on mobile devices. The client allows one or more local folders to be synchronized with the server. Thanks to the file manager and file-sharing feature, all stored files can be easily viewed and shared with others in the cloud or via public links.

Since a commercial license does not align with the philosophy of the development team, all Nextcloud components are exclusively licensed under the free GNU AGPLv3 license. However, Nextcloud GmbH also offers paid enterprise plans (starting at 100 users) that include professional support, collaboration tools, and various integrations. Customers can choose from four different pricing models:

• Basic: Starting at €37.49 (around $40) per user per year (for a minimum of 100 users), this plan includes email support (response within three business days), access to the Nextcloud knowledge portal, and one year of long-term support.
• Standard: At €67.89 (around $75) per user per year, this subscription offers branding, installation review, phone support during official business hours, and one year of long-term support.
• Premium: Priced at €99.99 (around $110) per user per year, the Premium plan provides planning security for 5+ years, extended phone and email support, and assistance with scaling cloud storage if needed.
• Ultimate: Starting at €195 (around $210) per user per year, the Ultimate plan grants access to the full Nextcloud feature set, including 24/7 support, professional tool integrations, and a SIP bridge that connects Nextcloud Talk to professional IP telephony via a SIP provider.

Nextcloud is not just limited to uploading and downloading files, it is also packed with features that make it easy for both basic users and administrators to simplify file storage:

Thanks to its modular structure, one of the cloud storage platform’s strengths is its high degree of expandability. Nextcloud apps can be used to add a wide range of functionality to different Nextcloud areas such as “Integration”, “Multimedia”, “Office & Text” and “Authentication & Authorization”. Nextcloud lists all officially supported extensions in its app store. You will not only find documentation and download links for the over 200 extensions available, but also a guide on how to program modules.

Equally crucial to having an extensive range of features is the safeguarding of data stored within “private” clouds via the software. This is why Nextcloud provides operators with effective tools to ensure the best possible protection:

To test Nextcloud, you do not have to download and install the cloud software. On the website, you can try a demo of the software and try out the features listed here for one hour.

What are the main differences between ownCloud and Nextcloud?

In many respects, it has become clear that Nextcloud is much more ambitious than ownCloud when it comes to collaboration. Since the 2016 release, Nextcloud has evolved from a simple file syncing and sharing solution to a premium alternative to cloud suites like Microsoft 365. The differences in terms of file storage and file sharing are only minor.

Key differences come when you look at add-on and security features. On the one hand, ownCloud’s licensing policy ensures that certain components such as full-text search, workflow management or branding are only available to paid Enterprise customers. Nextcloud users do not have these limitations, as only support and update services cost extra.

With features such as integrated real-time document management or audio and video calling, Nextcloud has outshone its predecessor in terms of functionality just as it has in terms of security. Built-in brute force protection, easily implemented two-factor authentication and server-side file encryption are just a few of the Nextcloud security features worth mentioning.