What is the main difference between ownCloud and Seafile?

ownCloud and Seafile 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: ownCloud or Seafile?

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

Can I migrate from ownCloud to Seafile?

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

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ownCloud vs Seafile

Learn how ownCloud and Seafile 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.

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

2,121stars+30(+1.4%)

Last 30 days

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

Seafile

Open source file sync and sharing platform with custom properties, AI automation, collaborative editing, and enterprise-grade security for teams.

Visit Seafile Read more

15,244stars+116(+0.8%)

Last 30 days

Last commit
19 days ago
Repository age
14 years
Version
v9.0.5
Self-hosted
Yes
Repository
haiwen/seafile

Detailed Comparison

Both ownCloud and Seafile 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.

Seafile wins

Community & Popularity

Seafile significantly outpaces ownCloud in community adoption with 15,244 stars compared to 2,121 stars on GitHub. This 7.2x difference suggests Seafile has a much larger and more active community. In terms of developer contributions, Seafile has 1,676 forks, indicating strong developer engagement.

ownCloud wins

Growth Momentum

ownCloud is growing faster, adding 30 stars in the last 30 days (+1.4%) against adding 116 stars for Seafile (+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 ownCloud last updated 10 hours ago and Seafile 19 days ago.

Comparable

Technology Stack

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

Seafile wins

Project Maturity

Seafile has been in development longer, starting 14 years ago, compared to ownCloud which began 7 years ago. This 7.2-year head start suggests Seafile may have more mature features and established processes.

ownCloud wins

Licensing

ownCloud is licensed under Apache-2.0, while Seafile's license terms are not publicly specified.

Comparable

Use Cases & Features

Both tools serve similar use cases in Cloud File Sync & Share. However, they also have distinct specializations: ownCloud also focuses on Cloud Storage while Seafile extends into Document Management Systems, Secure Document Sharing.

Comparable