ownCloud vs Nextcloud vs FileCloud

Key Differences, Pricing, and Feature Comparison

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Introducing File Sharing Solutions for 2022:

ownCloud vs Nextcloud vs FileCloud

ownCloud

ownCloud is an open-core (not entirely open-source) file sharing and hosting platform often used by small teams and individuals. ownCloud has a heavy focus on security and has recently released new features for server and web options, including improved UI, faster speeds, and company branding options.

Nextcloud

Nextcloud is a file storage and sharing system that was forked out of ownCloud in 2016. While ownCloud is open-core, Nextcloud is entirely open-source, which means those looking to change the code itself will enjoy working with Nextcloud. Nextcloud has many features and is used in many European countries for its hosting and collaboration tools.

FileCloud

FileCloud is a hyper-secure file sharing and storage system with on-premises and online hosting options, along with a host of data governance features. With recent releases like a Compliance Center, workflow automation, and collaboration integrations (Microsoft Teams, Google Docs, and OnlyOffice), FileCloud is a feature-rich solution for enterprises, governments, and public organizations.

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Comparison of Features and Pricing - ownCloud vs NextCloud 2022

ownCloud vs Nextcloud vs FileCloud

The ownCloud Nextcloud debate is significant in the file sharing world. Both platforms have a powerful base for enterprise file sharing and support for add-on apps and customer service. Nextcloud, however, has been seeing more growth in the past few years compared to ownCloud. Therefore, while ownCloud is still a major player, it seems that Nextcloud has taken a strong lead.

What About FileCloud?

While we discuss ownCloud and Nextcloud features, we’ll also go over FileCloud’s similarities, and show why we think FileCloud is the better alternative for many reasons including its security, customization, and pricing. Below, you’ll find a chart detailing FileCloud vs Nextcloud vs ownCloud enterprise edition pricing and features.

ownCloud NextCloud Comparison

ownCloud vs Nextcloud vs FileCloud
2022 Feature and Pricing Comparison

FileCloud
ownCloud vs Nextcloud
FileCloud ownCloud Nextcloud
Hosting Options & Features
On Premise/Self-Hosted yes yes yes
Multi-Tenancy yes no no
ServerSync – Sync/backup Local File Server to the Cloud (Extra Cost) yes no no
ServerLink – Multi-Site Replication (Extra Cost) yes no no
Storage, Sync & Backup Features
Storage Sync yes yes yes
Large File Support, max file size yes yes yes
Supported Local Storage yes yes yes
Storage Limitation Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Endpoint Backup (Multiple folders) yes no yes
Mobile Features
Mobile OS Compatibility iOS, Android, Windows Phone iOS, Android iOS, Android
iOS, Android Media backup yes no no
Activity Streams, Comments yes no no
Offline Sync yes yes yes
Desktop Clients
Desktop Sync – Cross Platform (Windows, Mac, Linux) yes yes yes
Desktop Drive – Cross Platform (Windows, Mac) yes yes yes
Microsoft Office Add-on yes no no
Cloud Features
File Sharing yes yes yes
Secure Access yes yes yes
Granular Sub Folder Permissions yes yes yes
Team Folders yes yes yes
Free Limited Users yes yes no
Document Web Edit (Collabora) yes yes yes
Document Web Edit (Office Online Server) yes yes yes
DICOM Medical Images Preview (e.g. X-rays, Scans) yes no yes
Customization
Customization, Branding Custom branding, White label, Emails, ToS Policies etc Custom branding, White label, Emails, ToS Policies etc Custom branding, White label, Emails, ToS Policies etc
Security, Access Control & Existing File Systems Integration
Integrate – Existing Home Directories yes yes yes
NTFS Support yes yes yes
Network Share Support yes yes yes
Network Share Versioning yes no no
Active Directory Support yes yes yes
Multiple Active Directory yes no no
Single Sign-On yes yes yes
Built-in Ransomware Protection yes yes Using External Apps
SAML Authentication yes yes yes
Data At Rest Encryption yes yes yes
Two Factor Authentication(2FA) yes yes yes
File Locking yes yes yes
Compliance & Data Governance
Integrated Compliance Dashboard yes no no
Simplified Compliance Configurations yes no yes
ITAR Compliance yes no no
HIPAA Compliance yes yes yes
FINRA Compliance yes no no
GDPR Compliance yes yes yes
GDPR Pattern Search (Extra Cost) yes yes yes
FIPS 140-2 (U.S. government security standard) yes no yes
Extensibility
API Support yes yes yes
Zapier Integration yes yes yes
Chrome Browser Extensions yes yes yes
Sharepoint plugin no yes yes
E-signature Under Development no yes
Amazon S3/OpenStack Support yes yes yes
Audit & Admin Tools
Access and Monitoring Control yes yes yes
Mobile Device Management (Block devices, remote wipe, notification to devices) yes yes yes
Audit Reports yes yes yes
Geo IP Access Reports yes no no
File Analytics & Reporting (Summary of Client Applications per OS & Type, User Shares, Active Files Managed, File Type Distribution) yes yes yes
Role Based Administration yes yes yes
Based on public information available as of 3/21/2022. All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

ownCloud NextCloud Pricing Comparison

The chart above shows that both ownCloud and Nextcloud are missing important features (or these features must be purchased separately). Costs can soar further if you want to add stringent security features like DLP, DRM, smart content classification, or compliance support. Some features are available across all three products, but when examined closely, ownCloud and Nextcloud are missing many relevant features that clients often need.

Flexible Deployment

You can host FileCloud Server on-premises for complete data control with powerful encryption capabilities that can protect files at rest and in transit. You’ll be able to share sensitive financial and enterprise information securely, whether you’re sharing internally or externally. Alternatively, you can deploy FileCloud as a private cloud or hybrid solution — you choose the region where your data is hosted.

ownCloud offers similar deployment flexibility, but security options may not be as robust as you’d like. Nextcloud features are being rolled out at an increasing rate, but you can only run it as an on-prem solution. In FileCloud vs Nextcloud, FileCloud’s flexibility and deployment options make it a superior option by navigating away from a one-size-fits-all model and enabling clients to choose the model that works best for their business.

FileCloud vs ownCloud vs Nextcloud Files on Demand

Accessing files on demand is a major feature for a file storage and sharing platforms like ownCloud, Nextcloud, and FileCloud. Don’t get us wrong, ownCloud and Nextcloud are well-rounded solutions, providing easy access to files and strong security features. However, FileCloud also provides all these features as well as data leak prevention, unlimited file versioning, unlimited free client accounts, and more. With FileCloud’s emphasis on hyper-security, data governance, and compliance solutions, it performs above the rest.

Secure File Sharing

Now that you have ownCloud or Nextcloud files on demand, you may want to collaborate and share them with internal employees or teams as well as external clients, contractors, and project stakeholders in a secure fashion. In a head to head ownCloud Nextcloud comparison, they both offer time-limited shares as well as public and private options. FileCloud also offers granular sharing options, all within an inuitive interface. Share files, folders, and subfolders, without compromising your security.

FileCloud File Sharing Options

However, there is an important security distinction between FileCloud vs Nextcloud: with FileCloud, you can leverage an unlimited number of free client accounts. This makes it easy to share files securely with external recipients, without running up the cost of your deployment for additional licenses. Similarly, FileCloud vs ownCloud reveals another FileCloud strength: embedded file upload forms. This makes it easy for people to upload necessary documents to a secure page, without even needing to send a share link.

Enhanced Team and Client Communication

FileCloud’s simple, yet extensive client portal makes it easy for your clients and internal teams to access and edit necessary files anywhere and anytime. Gone are the long hours on a phone or waiting for an email response — users will be able to log in to your portal software at their convenience, creating a dynamic and seamless experience.

A secure document sharing portal enhances team and client communication by providing a centralized platform for safe file exchanges. It ensures that all shared documents are encrypted and accessible only to authorized users, facilitating seamless collaboration. This secure environment fosters trust and efficiency, streamlining communication across teams and with clients.

Access is a key component of a CCP, and certainly a critical point for communication and collaboration. It should come as no surprise that ownCloud, FileCloud, and Nextcloud files on demand appear to function similarly. Each offers a user portal where individuals can access recently opened files in an activity view. They can also choose to open their own files or work in a shared folder location. In FileCloud, this is called Team Folders.

FileCloud Team Folders

Beyond File Sharing

The latest features within Nextcloud suggest that Nextcloud is focusing increasingly on extending the security functions of the app and enabling a digital workplace. ownCloud has its own array of security features, but for some of these, like ownCloud remote wipe, you must upgrade to the enterprise edition. This feature comes with NextCloud and FileCloud standard editions.

This is an important distinction, because NextCloud, FileCloud, and ownCloud remote wipe offers a critical element of control over data, regardless of the device it was uploaded by. In the event of suspicious activity or a lost device, admins need to be able to wipe data from devices remotely. Additionally, admins should be able to block users or IP addresses remotely. FileCloud supports all these admin capabilities and more, thanks to the comprehensive audit logs, admin reports, and the Geo-IP map.

FileCloud is also inclined toward innovative functionality, digital workflows, automation, and an easy-to-use interface. FileCloud’s 21.2 and 21.3 versions released many new features, including Workflow Automation, an integrated Compliance Center for ITAR, HIPAA, and GDPR, and integrations for Microsoft Teams, OnlyOffice, and Google Docs. In a Nextcloud vs FileCloud comparison, Nextcloud either doesn’t offer these kinds of compliance or integration support or you have to upgrade to access these features.

FileCloud Compliance Center

Workflow Automation with FileCloud

FileCloud wants to make work not only better, but easier. That’s where Workflow Automation comes into play. Workflow Automation lets users automate certain tedious but important administrative tasks like approvals, sign offs, and document reviews.

Workflow Automation often requires an entirely new (and expensive) system to install, but with FileCloud, it’s part of the platform. Users can create workflows with a drag-and-drop, no-code design that anyone can use—no IT experience required.

Drag-and-Drop workflow

These workflows are available for review within a dashboard, where users can see all running workflows and address any errors in automation.

Customization and Branding

FileCloud is a truly flexible solution that puts control back in the hands of the client, even over details like customization. Nextcloud and ownCloud customization options are more limited for the basic paid plans. To gain access to certain options, such as adding a logo to the mobile app or customizing the text of Terms of Service and UI notifications, you may have to upgrade to an enterprise plan. In comparison, these options come automatically with FileCloud’s standard plan.

Furthermore, FileCloud supports full customization of multi-tenant sites. ownCloud customization is feasible, but the multi-tenancy in ownCloud is based on segmenting the data (not the sites) or running up multiple instances (thereby running up your costs).
 
 
FileCloud Customization

Website/Documentation

As a relatively new software offering, Nextcloud lacks clear user instructions and has an online manual with limited information. FileCloud, on the other hand, has been available for years and has well-established development, testing, and support teams. Between FileCloud vs Nextcloud, FileCloud has a clear advantage thanks to its top-rated support and documentation.

Multi Tenancy Support

FileCloud supports multi tenancy and reduces the overhead of maintaining multiple instances for data and access abstraction.

Advanced Offline Sync

Control exactly which local folders are synced to which remote folders and in which direction, with our offline sync functionality.

FileCloud ServerLink

FileCloud ServerLink (cross-site replication) can seamlessly replicate any FileCloud site to another location of your choice.

Metadata Management

FileCloud offers powerful metadata management features to help you classify files using tags and custom metadata sets. Search patterns make identifying personally identifiable information (PII) simple and easy.

Powerful Administration

Utilize an extensive administrative dashboard, detailed audit logs, advanced reports and much more. Admins have full control over user groups, file/folder access and can assign permissions or restrictions whenever the need arises.

FileCloud Drive

Your remote files on server will always stay available on the local drive of your computer. FileCloud Drive automatically syncs all your files to your local system.

Granular Permissions

FileCloud supports specific sharing within folders and sub-folders. Set folder permissions, restrict access to certain users or groups, and hide folders from unauthorized users.

Free Client Accounts

FileCloud uniquely offers free, unlimited client accounts for sharing confidential files with clients, vendors and the like. You’ll only ever pay for your employee or full user accounts!

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FileCloud is the Superior File Sharing and Storage Solution

FileCloud offers competitive pricing and robust features to upscale your business:

• Free external client/ partner accounts
• High ROI compared to ownCloud & Nextcloud
• Award-winning customer support

Gartner recognizes FileCloud

  • 2018 Magic Quadrant for Content Collaboration Platforms
  • Gartner’s Peer Insights Customers’ Choice Award – 2018, 2019, 2020, & 2021

“FileCloud is by far the best on-premise file sharing solution.”

FileCloud Comes with a Great Support Team

Customers are our top priority at FileCloud. We believe there is little more important than excellent customer support. Here’s what a customer has to say about us:

“We migrated from CentOS servers to Ubuntu servers to be in a supported configuration. One of your support personnel helped us with the migration. We ran into some problems during the migration and it ended up taking three attempts but in the end, all was successfully migrated. I just wanted to let someone there know that your team was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable and went above and beyond what was required to help us get moved over.”

~Jeremy Jones Application Delivery Engineer

“We love FileCloud’s simplicity, mobile apps, and above all, responsiveness of FileCloud team”

FAQs: ownCloud vs Nextcloud

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, with stronger security, faster development cycles, and a better price point.

How much does ownCloud cost?
ownCloud offers a free, open-source community version, but to get support, users must opt for a standard or enterprise package (price by quote). Alternatively, ownCloud online (hosted by ownCloud) is available for 15 euros/user/month (1-5 users), or 13 euros (teams with 5+ users). In comparison, FileCloud costs only 3.5 euros/user/month.

How much does Nextcloud cost?
Nextcloud also offers enterprise plans, priced for teams of 100+ users. Basic costs 3 euros/user/month, Standard costs around 5.4 euros, and Premium is just over 7.9 euros (functional add-ons incur a separate fee.) Though cheaper than ownCloud, it still doesn’t compare to FileCloud: 3.7 euros/user/month, with advanced features already included.

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.

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, but FileCloud is far superior, with more features, faster development, and competitive pricing.

What do I delete to reset Nextcloud vs ownCloud?
To reset Nextcloud and trigger the install wizard, find and delete this file: /yourWWWfolder/config/config.php
Resetting ownCloud involves several steps (restart services, set up new databases, etc.) To clear version history, delete this file, replacing “user” with an existing username:
rm datapath/user/files_versions
FileCloud provides clear documentation to help users reset data.

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 (you can get more for less with FileCloud.)

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.
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. Some of these features include DLP, granular permissions, multi-tenancy, and endpoint backup, among others.

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. However, FileCloud is still able to offer more for less across their solution tiers, with innovative tools to address compliance, security, and collaboration needs.

"Aviation giant, Piper Aircraft, secures data with FileCloud. Piper Aircraft, global leaders in aircraft manufacturing, thrives on managing volumes of proprietary data and keeping data secure at all times using FileCloud"

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