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Open-source alternative to Google Drive

Nextcloud is a free, open-source Google Drive alternative: your own cloud for files, calendars and contacts. Google Drive charges per user for business storage and keeps files on Google’s servers; Nextcloud keeps them on yours.

1 alternative Free app Our pick: Nextcloud

At a glance

App Good for Code Import from Google Drive Ease of use
Nextcloud Teams that want files, calendars and contacts in one private place Code Open source Import from Google Drive Partly Some setup

Why look for an alternative to Google Drive?

Google Drive is Google's cloud storage, with Docs, Sheets and Slides for editing in the browser. Every Google account gets 15 GB free, shared between Drive, Gmail and Google Photos; more space comes with a Google One or Workspace plan.

People look for an alternative for privacy, cost and control. Your files sit on Google's servers under Google's terms, Workspace is charged per user, and storage plans have fixed sizes to upgrade through. A self-hosted file app such as Nextcloud keeps every file on your own server, has no price per user, and its only storage limit is your server's disk.

How Nextcloud compares

Nextcloud

Your own cloud for files, calendars and contacts.

The most complete self-hosted replacement for Google Drive. It syncs files to computers and phones, shares them by link or with colleagues, and adds calendars, contacts, tasks and an app store. Editing documents in the browser needs an extra office app.

What you gain
  • No price per user, and no storage plan to upgrade
  • Files, calendars and contacts stay on a server you control
  • Files, calendars, contacts, chat and office tools in one place
What is different
  • Your storage is the size of your server's disk
  • Editing documents in the browser needs an extra office app
  • It feels slower than Google Drive on a small server, especially with many users
Some setup Open source · AGPL-3.0-or-later
Deploy Nextcloud About Nextcloud

Moving from Google Drive

Download your files with Google Takeout, which turns Google Docs, Sheets and Slides into Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. Put them in the Nextcloud desktop app's folder and it uploads them. Export your Google calendars and contacts as files and import them into Nextcloud's Calendar and Contacts apps. Shared links and sharing settings do not carry over, so share again from Nextcloud.

Questions

What is the best open-source alternative to Google Drive?

Nextcloud is the free, open-source alternative to Google Drive for storing and sharing files in the catalogue today. The most complete self-hosted replacement for Google Drive. It syncs files to computers and phones, shares them by link or with colleagues, and adds calendars, contacts, tasks and an app store. Editing documents in the browser needs an extra office app.

Can I edit documents in the browser like Google Docs?

Yes, once you add an office app such as Nextcloud Office or OnlyOffice. Several people can then edit the same document at once.

How much storage do I get?

As much as your server's disk holds. You can start small and add storage later, with no plan to upgrade.

Is it really free?

Yes, the app is free. To run them you need Cloudgate and a server. Use hosted Cloudgate, which can also provide the server, or install Cloudgate on a server of your own for free. Cloudgate's plans and prices are at cloudgate.octabyte.io/pricing. One server can run several apps.

Do I need a developer?

No. Cloudgate installs the app on your server and gives it a secure web address. You use it in your browser.