# Best open source file sync and storage apps > The best open source file sync and storage app is Syncthing, with 89,175 GitHub stars, the MPL-2.0 license and a Docker image; Puter and Nextcloud are strong alternatives. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: Syncthing leads for startups, small business, enterprise and home use. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 14 apps in the file sync & storage category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source file sync and storage app? | | Picks | 25 | | Top pick | Syncthing (89,175 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sync | ## Top picks 10 of the 14 apps in the file sync & storage category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Syncthing](https://appsgit.com/apps/syncthing) (89,175 stars, MPL-2.0, Go, Docker): Syncthing has 89,175 GitHub stars, uses the MPL-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 223 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. - [Puter](https://appsgit.com/apps/puter) (43,656 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Puter has 43,656 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 2,363 commits in the last year; it replaces Dropbox. - [Nextcloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/nextcloud) (37,003 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP): Nextcloud has 37,003 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 7,289 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. - [Cloudreve](https://appsgit.com/apps/cloudreve) (28,799 stars, GPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Cloudreve has 28,799 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 108 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. - [ownCloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/owncloud) (8,833 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): ownCloud has 8,833 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 331 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. - [OpenCloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/opencloud) (6,095 stars, Apache-2.0, Go, Docker): OpenCloud has 6,095 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,695 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive. - [Seafile](https://appsgit.com/apps/seafile) (15,307 stars, GPL-2.0, C): Seafile has 15,307 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-2.0 license and had 39 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. - [Sync-in](https://appsgit.com/apps/sync-in) (1,789 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Sync-in has 1,789 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 756 commits in the last year. - [Unison](https://appsgit.com/apps/unison) (5,513 stars, GPL-3.0, OCaml): Unison has 5,513 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license and had 98 commits in the last year. - [Peergos](https://appsgit.com/apps/peergos) (2,530 stars, AGPL-3.0, Java): Peergos has 2,530 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 1,113 commits in the last year. ## Best for startups Ranked for startups on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites and recent commits. - [Syncthing](https://appsgit.com/apps/syncthing) (89,175 stars, MPL-2.0, Go, Docker): Syncthing has 89,175 GitHub stars, uses the MPL-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 223 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Puter](https://appsgit.com/apps/puter) (43,656 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Puter has 43,656 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 2,363 commits in the last year; it replaces Dropbox. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Cloudreve](https://appsgit.com/apps/cloudreve) (28,799 stars, GPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Cloudreve has 28,799 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 108 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Nextcloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/nextcloud) (37,003 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP): Nextcloud has 37,003 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 7,289 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For startups it also scores on an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [OpenCloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/opencloud) (6,095 stars, Apache-2.0, Go, Docker): OpenCloud has 6,095 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,695 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive. For startups it also scores on a Docker image, a permissive license (Apache-2.0), a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for small business and enterprise Ranked for small business and enterprise (the same order for each) on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Syncthing](https://appsgit.com/apps/syncthing) (89,175 stars, MPL-2.0, Go, Docker): Syncthing has 89,175 GitHub stars, uses the MPL-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 223 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox, and appsgit has a step-by-step deploy guide for it. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website, a commit in the last 90 days and an appsgit deploy guide. - [Puter](https://appsgit.com/apps/puter) (43,656 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Puter has 43,656 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 2,363 commits in the last year; it replaces Dropbox. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Nextcloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/nextcloud) (37,003 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP): Nextcloud has 37,003 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 7,289 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox, and appsgit has a step-by-step deploy guide for it. For small business it also scores on an open-source license, a project website, a commit in the last 90 days and an appsgit deploy guide. - [Cloudreve](https://appsgit.com/apps/cloudreve) (28,799 stars, GPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Cloudreve has 28,799 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 108 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. - [ownCloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/owncloud) (8,833 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): ownCloud has 8,833 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 331 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For small business it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license, a project website and a commit in the last 90 days. ## Best for home use Ranked for home use on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Syncthing](https://appsgit.com/apps/syncthing) (89,175 stars, MPL-2.0, Go, Docker): Syncthing has 89,175 GitHub stars, uses the MPL-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 223 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For home use it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Puter](https://appsgit.com/apps/puter) (43,656 stars, AGPL-3.0, TypeScript, Docker): Puter has 43,656 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 2,363 commits in the last year; it replaces Dropbox. For home use it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Cloudreve](https://appsgit.com/apps/cloudreve) (28,799 stars, GPL-3.0, Go, Docker): Cloudreve has 28,799 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 108 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For home use it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Nextcloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/nextcloud) (37,003 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP): Nextcloud has 37,003 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license and had 7,289 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For home use it also scores on an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [ownCloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/owncloud) (8,833 stars, AGPL-3.0, PHP, Docker): ownCloud has 8,833 GitHub stars, uses the AGPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 331 commits in the last year; it replaces Google Drive and Dropbox. For home use it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 14 apps in the file sync & storage category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is Syncthing free? Yes. Syncthing is open-source software released under the MPL-2.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan. ### Which open source file sync and storage app is best for a startup? Syncthing ranks first for startups, with 89,175 GitHub stars, the MPL-2.0 license and a Docker image; Puter and Cloudreve follow. The startups ranking adds points for Docker images, permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Which open source file sync and storage app is best for a small business? Syncthing ranks first for small business, with 89,175 GitHub stars, the MPL-2.0 license and a Docker image; Puter and Nextcloud follow. The small business ranking adds points for Docker images, open-source licenses, project websites, recent commits and deploy guides on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these file sync and storage apps with Docker? Yes, 6 of the 10 picks. Syncthing, Puter and Cloudreve publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. The others install from their own packages or source; follow each project's install guide. ### Are all of these file sync and storage apps open source? All 10 apps on this list are open source. You can self-host and modify each one under its license. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source note-taking app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-note-taking-apps) - [What is the best open source photo management app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-photo-management) - [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software) - [What is the best open source database tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-database-tools) - [What is the best open source CI/CD tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-ci-cd-tools) - [What is the best open source search engine?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-search-engines) - [What is the best open source survey and event tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-survey-tools) - [What is the best open source NVR?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-nvr) ## See also - [All file sync & storage apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/file-sync-storage) - [All groupware & calendars apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/groupware-calendars) - [All remote access apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/remote-access) - [Open-source alternatives to Google Drive](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/google-drive) - [Open-source alternatives to Dropbox](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/dropbox) - [Open-source alternatives to Google Docs](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/google-docs) - [Open-source alternatives to Google Workspace](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/google-workspace) - [Open-source alternatives to Microsoft 365](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/microsoft-365) - [Open-source alternatives to Google Calendar](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/google-calendar) - [Nextcloud vs Syncthing](https://appsgit.com/compare/nextcloud-vs-syncthing) - [Nextcloud vs ownCloud](https://appsgit.com/compare/nextcloud-vs-owncloud) - [Nextcloud vs Seafile](https://appsgit.com/compare/nextcloud-vs-seafile) - [How to self-host Syncthing with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/syncthing) - [How to self-host Nextcloud with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/nextcloud) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sync Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly. Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.