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7 self-hosted options

Open-source alternatives to Dropbox

The best open-source alternatives to Dropbox are Nextcloud, Syncthing and Seafile.

About Dropbox: A cloud file hosting service that syncs folders across devices.

Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Dropbox without giving up the features you rely on.

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    Nextcloud

    nextcloud/server

    Access and share your files, calendars, contacts, mail and more from any device, on your terms.

    FeaturedFile Sync & StoragePHP
  2. Rank 2:

    Syncthing

    syncthing/syncthing

    Syncthing is an open source peer-to-peer file synchronisation tool.

    File Sync & StorageGoDocker
  3. Rank 3:

    Seafile

    haiwen/seafile

    File hosting and sharing solution primary for teams and organizations.

    File Sync & StorageC

Why switch

Why teams move off Dropbox

Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.

  • Own your data

    Your data lives on a server you control, not on Dropbox's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.

  • No per-seat pricing

    Open-source alternatives to Dropbox are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.

  • Customize and extend

    Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.

Full ranking

All 7 Dropbox alternatives

Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.

  1. 1

    Nextcloud

    Access and share your files, calendars, contacts, mail and more from any device, on your terms.

  2. 2

    Syncthing

    Syncthing is an open source peer-to-peer file synchronisation tool.

  3. 3

    Seafile

    File hosting and sharing solution primary for teams and organizations.

  4. 4

    Cloudreve

    File management and sharing system, supports multiple storage providers.

  5. 5

    ownCloud

    All-in-one solution for saving, synchronizing, viewing, editing and sharing files, calendars, address books and more.

  6. 6

    Filestash

    Web file manager that lets you manage your data anywhere it is located: FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Git, S3, Minio, Dropbox, or Google Drive.

  7. 7

    Puter

    Web-based operating system designed to be feature-rich, exceptionally fast, and highly extensible.

FAQ

Dropbox alternatives: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

What is the best open-source alternative to Dropbox?

Nextcloud is the most popular open-source alternative to Dropbox, with 37,003 GitHub stars. Syncthing and Seafile are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.

Is there a free alternative to Dropbox?

Yes. All 7 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Dropbox replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.

Can I self-host an alternative to Dropbox?

Yes. Syncthing, Cloudreve and ownCloud ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.

How do I migrate from Dropbox?

Start by exporting your data from Dropbox, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.