What is the main difference between Nextcloud and ownCloud?

Nextcloud and ownCloud are both cloud file sync & share tools but differ in their approach, features, and target audience. Compare their GitHub stats, technology stack, and community adoption to make the best choice.

Which is better: Nextcloud or ownCloud?

The choice between Nextcloud and ownCloud depends on your specific needs, technical requirements, and team preferences. Both are quality open source solutions with active communities.

Can I migrate from Nextcloud to ownCloud?

Migration between Nextcloud and ownCloud is possible but requires careful planning. Consider data export/import capabilities, feature parity, and potential workflow changes.

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Nextcloud vs ownCloud

Learn how Nextcloud and ownCloud differ in their key features, development activity, technology stack and community adoption, so you can decide which of these cloud file sync & share tools is best for you.

Nextcloud

Nextcloud offers on-premises file sync, sharing and collaboration platform with advanced security and privacy features.

Visit Nextcloud Read more

36,998stars+278(+0.8%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
12 hours ago
Repository age
10 years
Version
v35.0.1
License
AGPL-3.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
nextcloud/server

Sponsor Nextcloud onnextcloud.com

ownCloud

Self-hostable file platform for enterprises needing data sovereignty, real-time document collaboration, and compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other regulations.

Visit ownCloud Read more

2,143stars+32(+1.5%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
19 hours ago
Repository age
7 years
Version
v8.2.1
License
Apache-2.0
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
owncloud/ocis

Detailed Comparison

Both Nextcloud and ownCloud have their unique strengths and serve similar purposes effectively. Consider your specific needs regarding popularity, growth, activity, technology, maturity, licensing and features when making your decision.

Nextcloud wins

Community & Popularity

Nextcloud significantly outpaces ownCloud in community adoption with 36,998 stars compared to 2,143 stars on GitHub. This 17.3x difference suggests Nextcloud has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, Nextcloud has 5,256 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

ownCloud wins

Growth Momentum

ownCloud is growing faster, adding 32 stars in the last 30 days (+1.5%) against adding 278 stars for Nextcloud (+0.8%). ownCloud is the smaller project of the two, so it is closing the gap rather than extending a lead.

Comparable

Development Activity

Both projects show recent activity, with Nextcloud last updated 12 hours ago and ownCloud 19 hours ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

Both tools share common technology foundations, being built with JavaScript, CSS, Bash, Typescript, SCSS, Vue, PHP. However, they differ in their additional technology choices: ownCloud leverages Python, Golang.

Nextcloud wins

Project Maturity

Nextcloud has been in development longer, starting 10 years ago, compared to ownCloud which began 7 years ago. This 3.2-year head start suggests Nextcloud may have more mature features and established processes.

Comparable

Licensing

The projects use different licenses: Nextcloud is licensed under AGPL-3.0 while ownCloud uses Apache-2.0. Consider the licensing requirements when choosing for your project.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Cloud File Sync & Share. However, they also have distinct specializations: Nextcloud also focuses on Collaborative Workspaces.

Comparable