Seafile vs OwnCloud Infinite Scale
Self-host pick — both replace Google Drive (Cloud file sync + sharing for teams).
Both Seafile and OwnCloud Infinite Scale self-host as a replacement for Google Drive (Cloud file sync + sharing for teams). Pick Seafile if you want a AGPL-licensed codebase (AGPL-3.0); pick OwnCloud Infinite Scale for Apache (Apache-2.0). Both run in roughly the same cost bracket — $5-10/mo vps for the app; storage is whatever block volume you mount (or s3 with the ce plugin) vs $10/mo vps for the app; storage attached separately.
| Seafileopen-source | OwnCloud Infinite Scaleopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Setup time | 20min docker-compose (Seafile + MariaDB + Memcached) | 20min single-binary or docker-compose |
| Monthly cost | $5-10/mo VPS for the app; storage is whatever block volume you mount (or S3 with the CE plugin). | $10/mo VPS for the app; storage attached separately. |
| GitHub | haiwen/seafile | owncloud/ocis |
| Replaces | Google Drive | Google Drive |
Good fit for
Seafile
Teams whose Drive use is dominated by sync — fast desktop client, very efficient on bandwidth, predictable performance at scale.
Weak at:Web preview / co-edit story — Seafile leans on file sync rather than browser editing; integrates with OnlyOffice but less polished than Nextcloud.
OwnCloud Infinite Scale
Larger orgs that need a Go-based, horizontally-scalable file backend with S3-compatible storage support.
Weak at:App ecosystem — Infinite Scale doesn't have Nextcloud's plugin marketplace; it's a file backend, not a suite.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli google-drive prints Google Drive's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Seafile or OwnCloud Infinite Scale?
Seafile: 20min docker-compose (Seafile + MariaDB + Memcached). OwnCloud Infinite Scale: 20min single-binary or docker-compose.
What does each cost to run?
Seafile: $5-10/mo VPS for the app; storage is whatever block volume you mount (or S3 with the CE plugin).. OwnCloud Infinite Scale: $10/mo VPS for the app; storage attached separately.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Seafile and OwnCloud Infinite Scale replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Google Drive.