Nextcloud vs OwnCloud Infinite Scale
Self-host pick — both replace Google Drive (Cloud file sync + sharing for teams).
Both Nextcloud and OwnCloud Infinite Scale self-host as a replacement for Google Drive (Cloud file sync + sharing for teams). Pick Nextcloud 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 — $10-20/mo vps for 10-50 users; storage scales with attached block storage (~$10/tb-mo on hetzner) vs $10/mo vps for the app; storage attached separately.
| Nextcloudopen-source | OwnCloud Infinite Scaleopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Setup time | 30min docker-compose (Nextcloud AIO image bundles app + Postgres + Redis) | 20min single-binary or docker-compose |
| Monthly cost | $10-20/mo VPS for 10-50 users; storage scales with attached block storage (~$10/TB-mo on Hetzner). | $10/mo VPS for the app; storage attached separately. |
| GitHub | nextcloud/server | owncloud/ocis |
| Replaces | Google Drive + 1 other | Google Drive |
Good fit for
Nextcloud
Teams that want the full suite — files, calendar, contacts, talk, docs co-edit — under one login.
Weak at:Performance with very large libraries (>1M files) — needs Redis tuning + APCu and tends to feel sluggish vs. native Drive at scale.
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, Nextcloud or OwnCloud Infinite Scale?
Nextcloud: 30min docker-compose (Nextcloud AIO image bundles app + Postgres + Redis). OwnCloud Infinite Scale: 20min single-binary or docker-compose.
What does each cost to run?
Nextcloud: $10-20/mo VPS for 10-50 users; storage scales with attached block storage (~$10/TB-mo on Hetzner).. OwnCloud Infinite Scale: $10/mo VPS for the app; storage attached separately.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Nextcloud and OwnCloud Infinite Scale replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Google Drive.