# Nextcloud vs ownCloud

> Pick Nextcloud for a full collaboration suite with a large app ecosystem; pick ownCloud if you want a focused file-sync server, especially its newer Go-based Infinite Scale edition.

## Verdict

Nextcloud forked from ownCloud in 2016 and grew into a broad platform with files, calendar, contacts, Talk, office editing and hundreds of apps, which makes it the default choice for most self-hosters. ownCloud concentrates on file sync and share; the classic PHP server listed here is maintained, while new deployments are steered toward ownCloud Infinite Scale.

- Best for Nextcloud: An all-in-one self-hosted replacement for Google Workspace
- Best for ownCloud: Focused enterprise file sync and share

## Key differences

| Aspect | Nextcloud | ownCloud |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0. | ownCloud Server (core) is AGPL-3.0; ownCloud Infinite Scale is Apache-2.0. |
| History | Fork of ownCloud started in 2016 by ownCloud's founder and core developers. | The original project, now owned by Kiteworks. |
| Language/stack | PHP with MySQL/MariaDB, PostgreSQL or SQLite. | Classic server is PHP; Infinite Scale is a rewrite in Go. |
| Scope | Files plus Calendar, Contacts, Talk, Office, Mail and an app store. | Primarily file sync and sharing, with a smaller set of extensions. |
| Mobile apps | Official Files, Talk and other apps for iOS and Android. | Official iOS and Android file apps. |

## GitHub numbers

| Metric | Nextcloud | ownCloud |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 37,003 | 8,833 |
| Forks | 5,258 | 2,059 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 7,289 | 331 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Latest release | v35.0.1 | v11.0.1 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| License type | Open source | Open source |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Docker image | No | Yes |
| Repository | https://github.com/nextcloud/server | https://github.com/owncloud/core |

App pages: [Nextcloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/nextcloud), [ownCloud](https://appsgit.com/apps/owncloud)

## FAQ

### Is Nextcloud a fork of ownCloud?

Yes. Nextcloud was forked from ownCloud in 2016 and has developed independently since then.

### Can I migrate from ownCloud to Nextcloud?

Nextcloud documents a migration path from ownCloud classic servers, but it supports only specific version combinations. Check the Nextcloud admin manual for the matching versions before you start.

### What is ownCloud Infinite Scale?

It is ownCloud's next-generation server, rewritten in Go and released under Apache-2.0. It stores files without a relational database and is the recommended base for new ownCloud deployments.

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/compare/nextcloud-vs-owncloud
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.