7 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to Google Drive
The best open-source alternatives to Google Drive are Nextcloud, Seafile and ownCloud.
About Google Drive: Google's cloud file storage and sync service with built-in document editing.
Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Google Drive without giving up the features you rely on.
Top picks
- Rank 1:
Nextcloud
nextcloud/server
Access and share your files, calendars, contacts, mail and more from any device, on your terms.
FeaturedFile Sync & StoragePHP - Rank 2:
Seafile
haiwen/seafile
File hosting and sharing solution primary for teams and organizations.
File Sync & StorageC - Rank 3:
ownCloud
owncloud/core
All-in-one solution for saving, synchronizing, viewing, editing and sharing files, calendars, address books and more.
File Sync & StoragePHPDocker
Why switch
Why teams move off Google Drive
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 Google Drive's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.
No per-seat pricing
Open-source alternatives to Google Drive 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 Google Drive alternatives
Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
NextcloudFeatured
Access and share your files, calendars, contacts, mail and more from any device, on your terms.
File Sync & Storage - 2
Seafile
File hosting and sharing solution primary for teams and organizations.
File Sync & Storage - 3
ownCloud
All-in-one solution for saving, synchronizing, viewing, editing and sharing files, calendars, address books and more.
File Sync & StorageDocker - 4
OpenCloud
File Sharing and Collaboration Platform.
File Sync & StorageDocker - 5
Cloudreve
File management and sharing system, supports multiple storage providers.
File Sync & StorageDocker - 6
Pydio
Turn any web server into a powerful file management system and an alternative to mainstream cloud storage providers.
File Sync & Storage - 7
Syncthing
Syncthing is an open source peer-to-peer file synchronisation tool.
File Sync & StorageDocker
What is the best open-source alternative to Google Drive?
Nextcloud is the most popular open-source alternative to Google Drive, with 37,003 GitHub stars. Seafile and ownCloud are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.
Is there a free alternative to Google Drive?
Yes. All 7 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Google Drive 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 Google Drive?
Yes. ownCloud, OpenCloud and Cloudreve 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 Google Drive?
Start by exporting your data from Google Drive, 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.