ownCloud vs Nextcloud vs FileCloud

What is a private cloud server?

A private cloud is a self-hosted file storage and sharing portal, kept on the user’s or organization’s internal servers. These solutions (also called on-premises or on-prem) offer users more control over setup, bandwidth, storage, and security. In comparison, an online, cloud-hosted solution controls these settings, with few options for customization.

How is ownCloud useful for cloud storage?

ownCloud is an open-source, self-hosted cloud storage service. Recent improvements to the source code have focused on security initiatives and feature optimization, including mobile access and desktop sync. FileCloud offers all this and more as part of enterprise packages.

Is ownCloud a private cloud?

Yes, ownCloud is a private, self-hosted cloud solution. Users can access an open-source, community version or opt for advanced features and support through ownCloud’s enterprise package. Similarly, FileCloud is available as a community or enterprise edition, with pricing tiers for "Essentials" or "Advanced" use cases, to address compliance, security, and collaboration needs.

What are the best alternatives to ownCloud?

FileCloud is a secure, reliable, and fast alternative to ownCloud, especially for users looking for a feature-rich platform that offers enterprise-grade security and support. Features include DLP, granular permissions, multi-tenancy, and endpoint backup, among others.

Why Nextcloud vs ownCloud?

ownCloud and Nextcloud are frequently compared by system admins and tech users for file hosting, data sharing, and security services. These solutions share many similarities, since Nextcloud is a fork of ownCloud. They are both decent options, depending on the organization's priorities. FileCloud is strong competitor, with a robust feature stack and competitive pricing for Education, Government, and Service Providers.

ownCloud vs Nextcloud – which is better?

Both services provide open-source, on-prem file storage and sharing. Nextcloud differs significantly from ownCloud by supporting a wider variety of user applications. ownCloud and Nextcloud users can access advanced enterprise features and support, but these packages require a subscription fee

Is Nextcloud better than ownCloud?

ownCloud and Nextcloud both have enterprise-grade features that promise security and reliability. ownCloud focuses on support and security upgrades, whereas Nextcloud has developed a robust array of user apps. FileCloud provides an even richer set of features, focusing on data sovereignty and governance as well as compliance support.

Is ownCloud faster than Nextcloud?

Nextcloud offers more applications and integrations which can slow it down temporarily. However, ownCloud users frequently cite issues with updates crashing or bogging down their systems. You can avoid both potential headaches through FileCloud, which provides secure, fast access with even more advanced features.

		Clear All FileCloud Enterprise Server	SharePoint Server	Sharefile On-premises (Enterprise Plans Only)	ownCloud	OpenText Content Suite Platform	M-Files (Standard)	Hyland OnBase	NextCloud Enterprise (Basic)	CTERA	Kiteworks
Overview ⌃
	On-Premises/Cloud/Hybrid	On-Prem, Hybrid	On-Prem, Hybrid	On-Prem, Hybrid	On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid	On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid	On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid	On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid	On-Prem	On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid	On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid
Pricing ⌃
	Pricing (1,000 Users/Year)	$72,000	N/A	N/A	60,000 EUR	Not published	>$460,000	Not published	28,500 EUR	N/A	$180,000
	Pre-paid Contracts (Up to 4 years)		N/A	N/A		Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	N/A
	Storage	Unlimited	Enterprise	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Enterprise
	Unlimited Licensed External Users
Single-tenant vs multi-tenant.	Region-Specified, Dedicated Single-Tenant Hosting – Fully Isolated Data-Layer Protection	N/A
	Support for Network Shares with NTFS Integration for VPN-less secure access
	Enable compliance with ITAR, CJIS, EAR, DoD Cloud Computing SRGs, FIPS 140-2, IRS-1075 + Other Regulations	Advanced									Enterprise
	Optimized Multi-Site Architecture (high-performance, scalable and redundant data access in distributed data center environments)	Advanced									Enterprise
Secure File Sharing & Remote Access ⌃
Easily access files by logging in through the web browser or using the mobile app.	Access Files from Web Browser & Mobile Devices (iOS, Android)
Sync your files using a desktop client, available across Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems.	Desktop Sync on Windows, Mac, Linux
Set up a virtual drive to gain access to files without taking up space on your hard drive.	Map Virtual Drive on a PC/Mac for Remote Files										Enterprise
Restrict shares to view-only, limit uploads or downloads, enable further sharing, disable deletion, and manage shares even after sending.	Hyper-Secure File Sharing (view, download, upload, share, sync, delete & manage)
Gain greater control over shares by setting as public (with or without password protection) or private (must have a FileCloud account). You can also set expiration dates on share links.	Public, Private, Time-Limited Shares
Share files using QR codes for esier mobile access.	QR Code File Sharing
Control access to data by applying granular permissions to folders, sub-folders, and files based on user, group, or global policies.	Granular & Sub-Folder Sharing Permissions										Enterprise
Control which files and folders sync with Selective Sync to improve performance and efficiency and view share analytics.	Selective Folders Sync & Share Analytics
Upload large files without worrying about size limits or types. Specialized files across industries are supported.	Upload/Share Large Files, No Size Limit		250 GB	10 GB to 100 GB		5 GB per file	1 MB per object				2 GB
Pause and resume large uploads.	Resumable Uploads
Preview file types within FileCloud without needing to download the file.	Built-in File Preview (Office, DICOM, AutoCad, Email, etc.)
Preview CAD files without opening a new window or program via Autodesk integration.	CAD File Viewer	Advanced
Users can download Office files stored in FileCloud as PDFs.	Download as PDF / One-click PDF Downloads
Accessibility is supported through VPAT compliance via shortcut key commands, high-contrast visual modes, and themes.	Keyboard Accessibility (VPAT)
Directly connect to gateway storage modes (network shares, cloud connectors) for real-time syncing and better collaboration with remote teams, clients, and partners.	Real-time Sync of Network Shares
Create, preview, edit, and share Zip files/folders. Apply password-protection to achieve Zero Trust while sharing data.	Zero Trust File Sharing®
Secure Content Collaboration & Productivity ⌃
Create a shared "workspace" for files and folders, so teams with access can freely collaborate according to set permissions.	Team Folders – Workspace for Projects or Teams
Support streamlined collaboration with detailed share links and file-related actions.	File Sharing, Requests, Commenting, Tagging & Notifications
Open and edit files saved in FileCloud with Microsoft Office and Google Docs for real-time collaboration and co-authoring.	Co-Author Microsoft Office & Google Docs
Ensure only one person can make changes to a file; Admins can manage locked files directly so no files are permanently checked out/locked.	File Locking and Lock Management (via MS Office/FileCloud for Office)
Protect your files against data loss. FileCloud stores an unlimited number of file versions without using up your storage space.	Unlimited File Versioning										Enterprise
Security, Data Protection & Residency ⌃
Fine-tuned admin capabilities ensure you maintain control over your users, groups, accounts, and data.	Enterprise Console, RBAC, Group/User Policy Management & Account Transfer
View list of connected devices, and leverage that view to remotely wipe data or block users in case of suspicious activity or device loss.	Device Management (Remote Wipe, Block, Inventory)				Enterprise
Track user and file activity and create/export reports to comply with regulations, strengthen security, and gain business insights.	Audit Trail & Reporting – User/File Activities										Enterprise
Apply advanced encryption methodologies to protect data in storage (at rest) and when sharing (in transit).	Encryption (Data at Rest/in Transit)
Prevent data loss and protect business operations by automatically backing up and restoring files across devices.	Endpoint Backup
Streamline multiple user credentials into one for easier access across systems.	Single Sign-On/SAML Support										Enterprise
Host your data in the region of your choice for better uptime/preformance and to comply with regulatory requirements. Data Residency	Keep Your Data in a Region Where You Want It
A heuristic file content scanning engine blocks ransomware to prevent data loss and protect business operation.	Ransomware Protection				Enterprise
Automatic virus and malware scanning secures uploaded files and helps protect business finances, operations, and reputation.	Anti-Virus/Malware Protection										Enterprise
Bring and manage your own encryption key to ensure you are the only one you can decrypt and read your data.	Bring Your Own Encryption Key
Use multiple layers of authentication (user/password combination + email/OTP/SMS) to secure login access and protect data.	Two-Factor Authentication for External Users	Advanced
Consolidate and monitor alerts and audits across different platforms/apps/services in a centralized dashboard to ease security management.	Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Integration	Advanced			Enterprise
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) enables pattern searching through all files and folders to identify and secure PII for better data governance.	Personal Identifiable Information (PII) Pattern Search	Advanced							Upgrade		Enterprise
Data Leak Prevention ⌃
Control and secure your data with rule-based alerts, notifications, and actions triggered by file or user activity.	Rule-based Management of Users, IP Address, Metadata, Sharing, File Information & More
Incident reports/alerts provide advance warning of unauthorized access/activity, compliance documentation, and system information.	Alert and Security Incident Reporting				Enterprise						Enterprise
Streamline, automate, and classify uploaded content with metadata tags to strengthen data security.	Smart Classification (in conjunction with DLP)	Advanced					Enterprise				Enterprise
Data Compliance ⌃
Enable the FIPS 140-2 encryption standard published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for government-level security.	FIPS 140-2 Compliant Encryption Module	Advanced									Enterprise
Centralized dashboards connect security, admin, and content governance tools with regulatory requirements	Compliance Center Configuration Management, Dashboards, and Reports (HIPAA, GDPR, ITAR, PDPL, NIST 800-171)	Advanced			Enterprise		Enterprise				Enterprise
Published resources provide guidance on configuring the environment to comply with CMMC, NIST 800-171, FINRA, CJIS,GxP+ requirements.	Additional Compliance Standard Support (CMMC, NIST 800-53, GxP+)	Advanced
Data Classification ⌃
Apply default metadata labels or build custom ones to suit your unique industry needs and automate content classification.	Pre-built & Custom Content Classification labeling for Industry Verticals	Advanced									Enterprise
Classify sensitive/PII data with metadata, which can then be leveraged for Smart DLP, retention, or other governance needs.	Sensitive and PII Content Classification	Advanced									Enterprise
Automate scanning of content across different file types to label data and apply appropriate management policies.	OCR Scanning, Indexing, Labeling/Classification via Built-in & Custom Patterns	Advanced							Upgrade		Enterprise
Create classification rules using a Regular Expressions (Regex) or a visual, no-code builder. Test rule performance with built-in simulator.	Regex & Visual Builder with playground for Classification Rules	Advanced
Integrate OpenAI to support classification rule building based on natural language.	AI-powered Classification	Advanced
Digital Rights Management ⌃
Protect confidential files from unsolicited viewing with restricted viewing mode/container.	Client-Based Document Viewer (Secure Docs)	Advanced			Enterprise						Enterprise
Utilize the Screenshot and Print Protection feature to prevent recipients from taking screenshots or printing sensitive data	Client-Based Screenshot/Print Protection (Secure Docs)	Advanced			Enterprise						Enterprise
Send files in-browser view-only without native client download	Protected Web-Based View-Only Access (Secure Web Viewer)	Advanced
Control access to files with expiration dates, sharing as view-only (unable to download), or revoking access (read/download) after distribution.	Access Management & Expiry Controls (Secure Web Viewer & Secure Docs)	Advanced									Enterprise
Data Governance & Content Lifecycle Management ⌃
Manage metadata sets to meet industry terminology, set metadata extraction policies, and automate metadata tagging.	Metadata Management – Default/Custom Metadata sets, Extraction & Tagging										Enterprise
Admins maintain control over default, custom, and built-in metadata sets.	Controlled Access to Metadata										Enterprise
Search using simple keywords and complex Regular Expression (Regex), by file name or file content, inside files.	Content Search (Full-Text)										Enterprise
Search for text in images and PDF files using Optical Character Recognition (OCR).	Content Search (OCR)	Advanced							Upgrade		Enterprise
Automate classification of uploaded content with metadata tags to streamline content management, strengthen governance, and improve productivity.	Smart Content Classification	Advanced					Enterprise				Enterprise
Set retention policies that automatically retain or archive files once certain critera are met to ease the burden of content management.	File Retention & Archival Policies	Advanced			Enterprise						Enterprise
Automate the retention, archival, and/or deletion of content to comply with industry/government record-keeping requirements.	Content Lifecycle Management – Admin, Legal Hold, Retention, & Archival	Advanced			Enterprise						Enterprise
Content Workflows ⌃
Build custom workflows to manage content without relying on IT help or coding expertise.	No-Code Workflow Builder
Manage all workflows from one centralized dashboard, share effective workflows with teams, and optimize business processes.	Workflow Manager (Update/Edit/Share Workflows)
Built-in user actions and notifications help guide content through a workflow, increasing efficiency and reducing context switching.	User Actions and Notifications				Enterprise						Enterprise
Approval workflows are designed to facilitate the approval process and can be automated to improve efficiency.	Approval Workflows & Workflow Automation	Limited			Enterprise						Enterprise
Customization & Branding ⌃
Change the language of the platform to reflect the local language used by your teams to improve accessibility/ease-of-use.	Local Language Support – German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic & Chinese
Use a mail server connected with your domain/URL to extend your digital brand and build rapport with clients, customers, and partners.	Custom Mail Server								Upgrade
Run your content collaboration platform under your business domain/URL to increase brand recognition.	Custom Domain								Upgrade
Reinforce your brand by applying your custom logo, colors, and background images to dashboards and login portals.	Custom Web Branding – Use Your Own Logo, Color & Background Images
Customize communications (Terms of Service/Policies) to reinforce connections with global clients and employees	Custom Communication, ToS, & Policies								Upgrade
Distribute FileCloud desktop client software to endpoint devices and ease configuration burdens.	Desktop Clients – MSI Installer and Mass Deployment Support										Enterprise
Switch from the Gregorian (English) calendar format to Hijri format to update date and calendar display	Hijri Calendar (Customization & Branding)
Key Integrations – MS Office, Salesforce and 3rd Party Integrations ⌃
Automatically upload large file attachments to FileCloud and share links through Outlook.	Microsoft Outlook Add-on
Open, edit, and save files stored in FileCloud using Microsoft (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides).	Microsoft 365 & Google Docs Integration
Open, edit, and save files stored in FileCloud using OnlyOffice or Collabora via Open Document Format (odt, odp, ods, odg) or Office Open XML formats (docx, pptx, xlsx).	OnlyOffice/Collabora Integration								Upgrade
Integrate WebDAV protocols, so users can create, change, and move documents on the server.	WebDAV Integration
Leverage FileCloud's developer-friendly APIs to integrate with third-party or custom applications.	Developer APIs										Enterprise
Enable in-platform delivery and receipt of SMS text messages (mainly for authentication/access authorization requests).	SMS Gateway Integration										Enterprise
LIntegrate with Microsoft Active Directory (AD) or LDAP to synchronize user accounts and groups across platforms.	Active Directory & LDAP Support										Enterprise
Use your favorite tools and apps with integration support.	Third Party Apps Integration										Enterprise
Integrate your McAfee CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) services to cover policy enforcement and application across connected devices.	CASB Support – McAfee	Advanced
Integrate your Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to monitor alerts and audit events in one place to ease security management.	Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Integration	Advanced			Enterprise
Use FileCloud to securely store and share content (sensitive files: quotes, competitor information, and sales collateral) derived from Salesforce.	Salesforce Integration (On-prem/Hybrid Storage Available within Salesforce)	Advanced									Enterprise
Create a smooth bridge between file storage and secure sharing in Microsoft Teams via FileCloud share links.	Microsoft Teams Integration	Advanced
Hybrid Cloud, Site Replication & Data Redundancy ⌃
Connect your private and public clouds to create a hybrid solution and improve redundancy, access, and collaboration.	Server Sync – Sync/Backup Local File Server to Cloud	Advanced		Enterprise							Enterprise
Create a main FileCloud site that is replicated across secondary sites to support disaster recovery, latency reduction, and ease of access.	ServerLink – Multi-Site Replication (Branch Office, Cloud to Local)	Advanced
On-Premises & Cloud Storage Support ⌃
Integrate your network storage solutions like CIFS, SAMBA, and NFS to reduce migration costs and carry over network share permissions.	Network Share Integration (CIFS, SAMBA & NFS)										Enterprise
Use cloud connectors to integrate securely with on-prem or private cloud infrastructure.	Storage Connectors (Google Cloud, Azure, S3, EMC ECS, AWS, Wasabi, Alibaba, Digital Ocean+)										Enterprise
Make the home directory automatically available to users when they login via network share.	Smart Mount – Simplify Access to Network Shares										Enterprise
Integrate your network shares and NTFS permissions to streamline migration and ensure continuity of access across your user base.	Network Share Integration with NTFS Permissions
Deployment & Flexible Infrastruture ⌃
Maintain complete control over your data by hosting a private cloud on your IT infrastructure and behind your firewalls.	Full On-Premises			Enterprise							Enterprise
Manually host your own data on Windows or Linux servers to maintain control over your data.	Self-hosted on Windows (native) and Linux										Enterprise
Self-host your data with cloud storage provided by IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) providers.	Self-Hosted on AWS, Azure, Alibaba, GovCloud & IaaS Providers										Enterprise
Integrate with your existing storage solution, including a Network File System (NFS), Common Internet File System (CIFS), or object storage service.	Bring Your Own Storage (NFS,CIFS & Object Storage)										Enterprise
Host your data on a secured network that is completely isolated from other networks for maximum security.	DoD NIPR, SIPR , Air-gapped & Dark-site Network	Advanced
Use pre-built FileCloud images to streamline deployment with your preferred IaaS provider.	Pre-Built Images in Cloud Marketplaces – AWS, Azure, Alibaba & Digital Ocean
Improve uptime, reduce latency, and support disaster recovery with HA architecture in FileCloud.	High Availability Architecture	Advanced									Enterprise
Use the same FileCloud instance to run multiple sites: no latency, reduced file storage costs, and the ability to customize each site.	Multi-Tenant Setup	Service Provider
Allow FileCloud to host your site on a dedicated/isolated instance for private, secure cloud storage.	Dedicated, Single-Tenant Hosting (Private Cloud)	N/A
Allow FileCloud to host your site in an isolated data center region within AWS to meet stringent government compliance requirements.	AWS GovCloud Hosted – Managed by FileCloud	N/A									Enterprise

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Key Differences, Pricing, and Feature Comparison

Introducing File Sharing Solutions: ownCloud vs Nextcloud vs FileCloud

ownCloud

Nextcloud

FileCloud

Comparison of Features and Pricing - ownCloud vs NextCloud vs FileCloud

A Brief Overview of ownCloud

A Brief Overview of Nextcloud

A Brief Overview of FileCloud

For a comprehensive comparison of FileCloud vs. other vendors, check out our Competitive Comparison Table.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a private cloud server?

How is ownCloud useful for cloud storage?

Is ownCloud a private cloud?

What are the best alternatives to ownCloud?

Why Nextcloud vs ownCloud?

ownCloud vs Nextcloud – which is better?

Is Nextcloud better than ownCloud?

Is ownCloud faster than Nextcloud?

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