Awesome Self-hosted options replace Dropbox

For years, Dropbox has always been the king of cloud storage services. It provides enough free space for most users. However, the free that Dropbox brings to users is less attractive.

In March 2019, Dropbox 'quietly' set limits on the number of devices that can be used with a free account. Now you can only use three devices on a free account. For many people this is not a problem but others are looking for an alternative service.

1. Use multiple Dropbox accounts on the same computer
2. Ways to download and share data to Dropbox without an account
3. How to synchronize specific folders and share folders in Dropbox

What is Self-hosted?

Simply put, you can download and install any of the services on this list on your own server. If you are interested in privacy, Self-hosted service is a wise choice and a long-term investment.

However it also has drawbacks. If you install a self-hosted cloud service, you will have to do all the maintenance yourself. Here are some self-hosted cloud services you can consider.

1. OwnCloud.org

ownCloud was released in 2010 and is the first self-hosted Dropbox cloud service. Initially, the service focused only on cloud storage, but it has increased in scale in recent years.

From cloud storage to synchronization, ownCloud can do a lot of things that Dropbox can. It supports large files, automatic directory synchronization and file access control. If you are concerned about privacy, ownCloud also has end-to-end encryption support.

ownCloud multi-platform so you can use on Windows, macOS or Linux. In addition, it also has client software (client) for Android and iOS devices. Unlike desktop software for desktops, you will have to pay $ 0.99 to own ownCloud application.

Cloud storage and synchronization is just one of its basic features. When using ownCloud, you can access the Collabora office suite online, an alternative to Google Docs. In addition, you can find many add-ons for ownCloud including basic text file viewer, blood pressure monitor, ebook reader and many other add-ons.

In addition to the free, open source version that ownCloud provides to individuals, it also has a version for business users. This gives ownCloud a source of income to continue the work.

See also: How to install ownCloud on Windows

2. Nextcloud.com

Nextcloud is a branch of ownCloud with many similar features but also has its own features. One key difference is that ownCloud provides commercial incentives and Nextcloud is an open source project.

Although Nextcloud is completely open source, that doesn't mean it doesn't have an option for the business. The service provides a subscription-based enterprise product that makes data transfer easier and gives priority access to security updates. It also supports users to use the service more easily.

Like ownCloud, Nextcloud provides a free client application for platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Because Nextcloud is based on ownCloud, so many third-party apps for ownCloud also work with Nextcloud like CloudNotes, a remarkable app for iOS.

Like ownCloud, Nextcloud also provides an office suite. By default is the Collabora set, but you can choose another option if you want, like OnlyOffice. In addition, NextCloud has a separate App Store that allows you to add other functions.

If you don't want to run your own server, Nextcloud easily helps you find the Nextcloud server for free. Nextcloud offers different free storage capacity depending on the provider, but usually provides more than 2 GB of storage that Dropbox provides.

See also: How to create a private cloud using Nextcloud

3. Seafile.com

Seafile was born before ownCloud and NextCloud, but did not achieve the same popularity as the two services because it only focused on storage. Although this is the least feature option in the list, it compensates for its faster speed.

Over the years, Seafile has really gained a reputation for its fast speed. You get different speeds depending on the server and other factors, but if you regularly sync large files, you'll immediately see the difference between services.

Like ownCloud, Seafile offers free options and paid options. Client application is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android, iOS and completely free.

As mentioned above, Seafile only focuses on storage, so there is no office suite. You will receive advanced file version and screen capture. In addition, you also receive client-side terminal encryption if you want privacy.

Seafile has been a long-term project and it seems that developers do not intend to change this soon. Since it is completely open source, the project will still be feasible if developers maintain it.

All of these services have remarkable features. However, you should consider Nextcloud making the first choice. It not only provides most of the features, but also has a free server and is trialed.