Nextcloud vs Syncthing

Self-host pick — both replace Dropbox (File sync + sharing).

Both Nextcloud and Syncthing self-host as a replacement for Dropbox (File sync + sharing). Pick Nextcloud if you want a AGPL-licensed codebase (AGPL-3.0); pick Syncthing for MPL (MPL-2.0). Both run in roughly the same cost bracket — $5-10 vps plus disk for whatever you store; hetzner storage box pairs well vs $0 — peer-to-peer; no central server needed (relay is optional).

	Nextcloudopen-source	Syncthingopen-source
License	`AGPL-3.0`	`MPL-2.0`
Setup time	20min docker-compose (or AIO image)	5min (binary on each device)
Monthly cost	$5-10 VPS plus disk for whatever you store; Hetzner storage box pairs well.	$0 — peer-to-peer; no central server needed (relay is optional).
GitHub	nextcloud/server ★ 34.9k · last commit todayalive	syncthing/syncthing ★ 84.0k · last commit 1d agoalive
Replaces	Dropbox + 1 other	Dropbox

Good fit for

Nextcloud

Teams that also want calendar / contacts / talk in the same stack.

Weak at:Default install can feel slow; needs Redis + APCu tuning to feel snappy.

Syncthing

Solo / family use where you don't want a server at all.

Weak at:No web UI for end-users; no built-in sharing links.

In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli dropbox prints Dropbox's self-host options including both — how the CLI works →

FAQ

Which is easier to self-host, Nextcloud or Syncthing?

Nextcloud: 20min docker-compose (or AIO image). Syncthing: 5min (binary on each device).

What does each cost to run?

Nextcloud: $5-10 VPS plus disk for whatever you store; Hetzner storage box pairs well.. Syncthing: $0 — peer-to-peer; no central server needed (relay is optional).. Both projects are free and open source.

Do Nextcloud and Syncthing replace the same SaaS?

Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Dropbox.