How Nextcloud
stacks up

Why is Nextcloud the most popular self-hosted EFSS
and Content Collaboration Platform?

What makes Nextcloud
the best choice

Best security

Nextcloud is developed in a security-focused process as attested by a range of external experts and security pen-tests.

Industry-leading features include machine-learning based login protection, 2-factor authentication measures, brute force protection and unique capabilities like Video Verification, end-to-end and server-side encryption.

We put our money where our mouth is: our USD 10.000 security bug bounty program brings top security expertise in, keeping your data safe.

Largest ecosystem

As the most deployed self-hosted file sync and content collaboration platform, Nextcloud offers the widest range of add-on capabilities and integrations in the industry. Over 200 ‘apps’ offer powerful security capabilities, team productivity features and infrastructure integrations.

With Nextcloud you can eliminate a confusing mess of different SaaS platforms and the security, cost, compliance and productivity problems they bring with them.

Easiest to use

Powerful capabilities often result in complicated user interfaces, lowering productivity and hindering quick adoption in organizations. Without limiting their abilities, Nextcloud does not overwhelm users with unnecessary clutter. Our customers remark time and again how few support tickets it creates for their IT teams.

Accessibility features like keyboard and screenreader navigation, WCAG 2.1 compliant contrast and a dyslexia-friendly font are available only in the leading on-premises content collaboration platform!

How we stack up

See how Nextcloud compares to these popular closed-source services, and switch to a more open and transparent solution to protect your data!


Licensing	Open source	Proprietary	Proprietary	Open-core	Proprietary (SaaS)	Proprietary	Proprietary	Proprietary
Unlimited storage and amount of files	There are no limits on the Nextcloud side, only those imposed by the customer’s infrastructure. There are no limits on the Nextcloud side, only those imposed by the customer’s infrastructure. See more	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Included	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Varies per plan Varies per plan
Large file support	Included	up to 5 TB/file up to 5 TB/file	Yes (up to250 GB/file) Yes (up to250 GB/file)	Included	Up to 150 GB depending on plan Up to 150 GB depending on plan	Varies per plan Varies per plan	20 GB	25 GB
Self hosted / on premises	It can be hosted in an environment of your choice, including hybrid deployments. It can be hosted in an environment of your choice, including hybrid deployments. See more	Not included	Self-hosting is possible with SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE), but it does not provide the full Microsoft 365 suite, which is primarily cloud-based. Self-hosting is possible with SharePoint Server Subscription Edition (SE), but it does not provide the full Microsoft 365 suite, which is primarily cloud-based. See more	Included	Not included	Yes (SaaS) Yes (SaaS)	Not included	Not included
Global scalability	Single cluster: up to 100K active users. Global Scale: unlimited. Single cluster: up to 100K active users. Global Scale: unlimited. See more	Defined limits for groups, shared drives, and sharing permissions Defined limits for groups, shared drives, and sharing permissions See more	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	NA
Clients
Mobile clients	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	The free plan supports up to 3 linked devices (including mobile), with the option to unlink and replace devices. The free plan supports up to 3 linked devices (including mobile), with the option to unlink and replace devices. See more	Available operating systems
Auto upload image/video/other files	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	* No full autosync. Other files via external applications.* No full autosync. Other files via external applications.** No full autosync. Other files via external applications. * No full autosync. Other files via external applications. See more	* Only for desktop client* Only for desktop client** Only for desktop client * Only for desktop client See more	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Auto-upload for images and videos is available on paid plans, while broader file automation can be achieved via external apps and integrations.Auto-upload for images and videos is available on paid plans, while broader file automation can be achieved via external apps and integrations.*Auto-upload for images and videos is available on paid plans, while broader file automation can be achieved via external apps and integrations. Auto-upload for images and videos is available on paid plans, while broader file automation can be achieved via external apps and integrations. See more	Auto-upload for images and videos is available as an advanced or paid feature, while broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations.Auto-upload for images and videos is available as an advanced or paid feature, while broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations.*Auto-upload for images and videos is available as an advanced or paid feature, while broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations. Auto-upload for images and videos is available as an advanced or paid feature, while broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations. See more	Broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations.Broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations.*Broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations. Broader file automation can be achieved via third-party apps and integrations. See more	only through desktop sync clientsonly through desktop sync clients*only through desktop sync clients only through desktop sync clients See more
Desktop clients	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems	Available operating systems
LAN synchronization	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included	Included
Extensible with apps	Over 600 apps available Over 600 apps available See more	Included	Limited to Microsoft Apps Limited to Microsoft Apps See more	Over 80 apps available Over 80 apps available See more	Included	Not included	Included	Included
Server features
Unified search	Included	Cross-application search availability depending on the Google Workspace plan. Cross-application search availability depending on the Google Workspace plan. See more	Included	via integrations via integrations	Full-text search is included, with advanced capabilities depending on the plan, while cross-application search is limited and typically requires integrations. Full-text search is included, with advanced capabilities depending on the plan, while cross-application search is limited and typically requires integrations. See more	Included	Full-text search is available with advanced capabilities in paid plans, while cross-application search is limited and depends on integrations such as Microsoft 365. Full-text search is available with advanced capabilities in paid plans, while cross-application search is limited and depends on integrations such as Microsoft 365. See more	Included
File versioning	Included	Included	File versioning is supported for multiple file types, with the most advanced capabilities for Microsoft Office formats. File versioning is supported for multiple file types, with the most advanced capabilities for Microsoft Office formats. See more	Included	File versioning is supported, with limits (typically 25–50 versions) depending on the plan File versioning is supported, with limits (typically 25–50 versions) depending on the plan See more	Included	Included	File versioning is supported, with limits (typically 5–10 versions by default) depending on plan and configuration File versioning is supported, with limits (typically 5–10 versions by default) depending on plan and configuration See more
File locking / checkout	Included	Basic file locking in shared drives Basic file locking in shared drives See more	Included	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Included	Limited and not fully supported in the web UI or via WebDAV Limited and not fully supported in the web UI or via WebDAV See more	Included	Included
Multiple link shares	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Share note	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Dashboard	Included	Included	Sharepoint home provides a central overview of sites, activity, and content, functioning as a basic dashboard. Sharepoint home provides a central overview of sites, activity, and content, functioning as a basic dashboard. See more	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included
View PDF, Images, Video, Gallery	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Integrated Audio/Video/Text chat	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options
Integrated Groupware (Calendar/Contacts/Mail/Kanban)	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	* No native Kanban* No native Kanban* No native Kanban** No native Kanban * No native Kanban See more	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	via integrations	via integrations via integrations	Multiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple optionsMultiple options	No native KanbanNo native KanbanNo native Kanban No native Kanban See more	Multiple optionsMultiple options
Mobile calendar/contact integration	Supports both Android and iOS, with Android integration enabled via a third-party tool.Supports both Android and iOS, with Android integration enabled via a third-party tool. Supports both Android and iOS, with Android integration enabled via a third-party tool. See more	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Included	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Online Office web / Mobile apps	With Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE, Hancom Office or MS Office OnlineWith Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE, Hancom Office or MS Office Online With Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE, Hancom Office or MS Office Online See more	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Feature-limited in web and mobile UI compared to desktopFeature-limited in web and mobile UI compared to desktop Feature-limited in web and mobile UI compared to desktop See more	Multiple optionsMultiple options	MS OfficeMS Office MS Office See more	MS OfficeMS Office MS Office See more	MS OfficeMS Office MS Office See more	MS OfficeMS Office MS Office See more
Knowledge management	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included
Forms and surveys	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Included
User-managed groups	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Not included
File Drop (customer file upload)	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Inter-server sharing	Included	Not included	Supports cross-tenant sharing in cloud environments, but does not provide true inter-server federation, particularly for on-premise deployments. Supports cross-tenant sharing in cloud environments, but does not provide true inter-server federation, particularly for on-premise deployments. See more	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Workspace	Included	Partially available as shared drives Partially available as shared drives See more	Sharepoing can function as a collaboration workspace for content and document management. Sharepoing can function as a collaboration workspace for content and document management. See more	Not included	Not included	Included	Included	Not included
Accessibility
Keyboard / screen reader support	Included	Included	Included	Supports keyboard navigation and screen readers, with accessibility aligned to standard web guidelines, though compliance levels may vary. Supports keyboard navigation and screen readers, with accessibility aligned to standard web guidelines, though compliance levels may vary. See more	Included	Included	Included	NA
WCAG 2.2 support	AAA with optional theme AAA with optional theme See more	Limited Limited	Included	Not included	Limited Limited	Not included	Included	Not included
Dyslexia-friendly font	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Admin features
Access control lists	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Content workflow automation	Included	via integrations via integrations	Included	Limited to admins Limited to admins	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Limited to admins Limited to admins	Limited to admins Limited to admins	Limited to admins Limited to admins
Approval process workflow	Included	Supports approval workflows via integrated and third-party tools, with advanced capabilities depending on the Google Workspace plan. Supports approval workflows via integrated and third-party tools, with advanced capabilities depending on the Google Workspace plan. See more	Included	Not included	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Included	Not included	Not included
Cryptographic document signatures	DocuSign, EID-Easy and LibreSign DocuSign, EID-Easy and LibreSign See more	via integrations via integrations	Included	Not included	Varies per plan Varies per plan	Not included	Not included	Not included
Automatic script execution	Included	via integrations via integrations	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included
Impersonate users	Included	Included	Limited Limited	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Real-time notifications	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Not included
Monitoring web/API interface	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options	Multiple optionsMultiple options
Data retention policy support	Included	Not available for free plans. Supports configurable data retention policies, including long-term or indefinite retention, depending on the Google Workspace plan. Not available for free plans. Supports configurable data retention policies, including long-term or indefinite retention, depending on the Google Workspace plan. See more	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included
Long term support (5–10 years)	Included	N.A As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. See more	As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. See more	Included	N.A. As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. See more	N.A. As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. See more	N.A. As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. See more	N.A. As a hosted solution, updates are managed by the provider, with limited administrative control over rollout timing and features. See more
Branding	Easy self-service in UI or full custom CSS Easy self-service in UI or full custom CSS See more	Very limited Very limited	Included	Using paid ownBrander or manually changing CSS Using paid ownBrander or manually changing CSS See more	Varies per plan Varies per plan See more	Very limited Very limited	Very limited Very limited	Included
Compliance features
Audit trail	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Imprint and privacy links	Included	No native support for enforcing custom imprint or privacy links. No native support for enforcing custom imprint or privacy links. See more	Limited tenant customization, with no native support for enforcing custom imprint and privacy links across the platform. Limited tenant customization, with no native support for enforcing custom imprint and privacy links across the platform. See more	Included	Limited support for imprint and privacy links via customization and portals, but no native platform-wide enforcement. Limited support for imprint and privacy links via customization and portals, but no native platform-wide enforcement. See more	Limited support via branding and portals, with no native platform-wide enforcement of imprint and privacy links. Limited support via branding and portals, with no native platform-wide enforcement of imprint and privacy links. See more	No native support for enforcing imprint and privacy links; these must be managed externally. No native support for enforcing imprint and privacy links; these must be managed externally. See more	Included
Built-in data requests / account deletion	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Terms-of-service	Included	Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service; custom organizational ToS cannot be natively enforced within the interface. Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service; custom organizational ToS cannot be natively enforced within the interface. See more	Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service, with limited options to enforce custom organizational terms. Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service, with limited options to enforce custom organizational terms. See more	Not included	Enterprise plans allow limited customization of user agreements and branding, but do not support full platform-wide enforcement of custom Terms of Service. Enterprise plans allow limited customization of user agreements and branding, but do not support full platform-wide enforcement of custom Terms of Service. See more	Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service, with limited options to present custom terms in specific workflows. Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service, with limited options to present custom terms in specific workflows. See more	Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service, with no native support for enforcing custom organizational terms across the platform. Platform usage is governed by provider Terms of Service, with no native support for enforcing custom organizational terms across the platform. See more	Included
Security features
Server-side encryption	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included
Client-side / end-to-end encryption	Included	Supports client-side and end-to-end encryption, with availability and features depending on the plan and configuration. Supports client-side and end-to-end encryption, with availability and features depending on the plan and configuration. See more	End-to-end encryption available in specific services (e.g., Teams calls), with customer-managed key options, but not universally applied to all files End-to-end encryption available in specific services (e.g., Teams calls), with customer-managed key options, but not universally applied to all files See more	Provides end-to-end encryption with a primary focus on web-based use, while client support and full zero-knowledge capabilities may vary depending on implementation. Provides end-to-end encryption with a primary focus on web-based use, while client support and full zero-knowledge capabilities may vary depending on implementation. See more	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Video verification	Option to verify the recipient’s identity via a video call. Option to verify the recipient’s identity via a video call. See more	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Brute force hacking protection	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
NiST compliant password policy	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Web UI secured with CSP 3.0	Included	Included	Not included	Limited Limited	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Same-site cookie attribute	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Not included
File access control	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included
App access rights	Included	Included	Included	Limited Limited	Included	Included	Included	Not included
Authentication
Enforceable 2-factor authentication	U2F/OTP/SMS Signal/Telegram notifications U2F/OTP/SMS Signal/Telegram notifications See more	MFA/U2F/OTP/SMS notifications MFA/U2F/OTP/SMS notifications See more	MFA/U2F/OTP/SMS notifications MFA/U2F/OTP/SMS notifications See more	Included	SMS SMS See more	SMS SMS See more	SMS/U2F/OTP SMS/U2F/OTP See more	OTP/SMS OTP/SMS See more
ML-based suspicious login detection	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Limited Limited	Not included	Included	Not included
LDAP / AD	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Native SAML	Included	Included	Included	Not included	Included	Included	Included	Included
Auth via env variable	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Kerberos	Included	Not included	Only for on-premise scenarios. Only for on-premise scenarios. See more	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included
Storage
File storage (local / NFS)	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included
Object storage (S3 / Swift)	Included	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included
CIFS / Windows shares	Including Kerberos authentication. Including Kerberos authentication. See more	Not included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included	Not included	Included
SharePoint	2013/2016 2013/2016 See more	Not included	Included	2013/2016 2013/2016 See more	Not included	Included	Not included	Not included
Extensible storage	Included	Not included	Not included	Limited Limited	Not included	Included	Not included	Included

The information presented here is based on publicly available sources and reflects our knowledge as of 1 April 2026. We recognize that technology and services evolve rapidly. If you notice missing features or any inaccuracies, please let us know via our contact form.

Please note: End-to-end encryption implemented in a browser is not equivalent to true client-side encryption, as it does not fully protect data from the server and does not provide Zero-Knowledge Security. Security experts generally consider JavaScript-based encryption in the browser to be potentially unsafe.