Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Nextcloud VS Syncthing

Compare Nextcloud VS Syncthing and see what are their differences

Nextcloud logo Nextcloud

With Nextcloud enterprises host their own secure cloud solution for storage, collaboration & communication from any device, anywhere.

Syncthing logo Syncthing

Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...
  • Nextcloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18

Nextcloud features and specs

  • Open Source
    Nextcloud is open source, meaning the source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. This promotes transparency and community contributions.
  • Privacy and Control
    Users have complete control over their data since Nextcloud can be self-hosted. This mitigates privacy concerns associated with third-party cloud services.
  • Extensibility
    Nextcloud offers a wide range of apps and plugins that can extend its functionality, such as calendar, contacts, office, and media apps.
  • Collaboration Tools
    Nextcloud includes integrated solutions for file sharing, collaborative editing, and communication, which are useful for both personal and enterprise use.
  • Security Features
    Nextcloud provides robust security features like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security updates.

Possible disadvantages of Nextcloud

  • Setup Complexity
    Setting up and maintaining a Nextcloud instance can be technically challenging, especially for users without a background in server management.
  • Performance Issues
    Depending on the hardware and configuration, Nextcloud might experience performance issues, particularly under heavy load or with extensive use of additional apps.
  • Resource Intensive
    Nextcloud can be resource-intensive in terms of CPU, memory, and storage, especially when additional features and apps are enabled.
  • Dependency Management
    Managing dependencies and ensuring compatibility with other installed software can be cumbersome, requiring regular updates and maintenance.
  • Limited Official Support
    While there is a strong community, official support can be limited or costly, which may be a disadvantage for enterprise environments requiring reliable assistance.

Syncthing features and specs

  • Open Source
    Syncthing is open-source software, making it free to use and allowing for community contributions. This fosters transparency and continuous improvement.
  • Privacy
    The software uses peer-to-peer communication, meaning your files are not stored on a third-party server, enhancing privacy and security.
  • Cross Platform
    Syncthing is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, ensuring broad compatibility.
  • Real-time Sync
    The software offers real-time synchronization, which ensures that changes are immediately propagated across all devices, minimizing data inconsistencies.
  • Version Control
    Syncthing provides file versioning features, which can help recover older versions of files in case of accidental deletion or changes.

Possible disadvantages of Syncthing

  • Complex Setup
    Initial configuration and setup might be complex for users who are not technically inclined, requiring a certain level of understanding of network concepts.
  • Resource Usage
    Real-time syncing and continuous operation can consume significant system resources, affecting performance, especially on less powerful devices.
  • No Native Mobile Experience
    While Syncthing is available on Android, there is no official iOS app, which limits its usability for users on Apple's mobile platform.
  • Network Dependency
    Effective synchronization depends on the availability of a reliable network connection, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Self-Management
    Unlike cloud-based solutions, Syncthing requires users to handle their own backups, security, and maintenance, which can be time-consuming and complex.

Nextcloud videos

Here are 5 Reasons I ❤️ Nextcloud | TLG

More videos:

  • Review - Pros and Cons of NextCloud
  • Review - Nextcloud is AWESOME... but?

Syncthing videos

Why We Use Syncthing, The Open Source Private File Syncing Tool instead of NextCloud

More videos:

  • Review - Setup and Review of SyncThing, The Open Source File synchronization tool
  • Review - Syncthing for Syncing Both Computers & Phones

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nextcloud and Syncthing)
Cloud Storage
44 44%
56% 56
File Sharing
41 41%
59% 59
Encrypted Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing And Backup
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Nextcloud and Syncthing

Nextcloud Reviews

12 Best Self-hosted Chat Platforms For Team Communication
Below is a curated list of the 12 best self-hosted messaging apps like MirrorFly, Mattermost, Zulio, Nextcloud, and Rocket.chat that offer unique collaboration features and lets you take full control of your data.
Best Cloud Storage Services for Linux
Another general tip is – if you can, self-host your data. Use Nextcloud and/or Cryptomator. You will have the most control over your data this way. You’ll also have the most features, tools, extensions, integrations, etc. with Nextcloud. You won’t be limited to some features based on the plan you’re paying for. However, there’s a learning curve for this. You’ll need to know...
Source: linuxstans.com
20+ Picasa Alternatives And Best Similar Apps Like Picasa 2022
Nextcloud is far more than a photo hosting application and the best Picasa alternative, but its photo management stands out thanks to phone apps you can use for opt-in synchronization. Instead of sending your pictures to Google Photos or Apple cloud storage, you can send them to your Nextcloud install.
6 cPanel Alternatives
Nextcloud was forked from ownCloud in 2016. They share mostly the same native features and workflow. However, Nextcloud is more popular for a few notable reasons.
5 open source webmail clients for browser-based email
The mail plugin doesn't provide a mail server. It's just a webmail client, but it connects to a variety of mail systems. If you run Nextcloud on a server you have sudo or root access to, it's possible to setup Postfix or a similar mail server, and use the Nextcloud mail app as the front end. Best of all, Nextcloud devs have refrained from reinventing the wheel, and use...
Source: opensource.com

Syncthing Reviews

15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
With this tool, you can synchronize files between multiple computers without hassles. Syncthing is not very different from rclone as it also supports command-line functionality. Also, it’s a free and open source application with all source code available on GitHub.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Syncthing should be more popular than Nextcloud. It has been mentiond 836 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Nextcloud mentions (293)

  • Down the Rabbit Hole of creating a Home Lab
    Nextcloud - File hosting and collaboration. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • 5 Awesome Nextcloud Alternatives
    If you've been using Nextcloud, you might be reconsidering your options. Perhaps Nextcloud is resource-intensive for your infrastructure, or maybe you'd prefer a simpler solution that matches your specific needs. Thankfully, multiple self-hosted solutions exist, providing various features ranging from strong security to user-friendly interfaces. Let's explore five solid alternatives you can consider. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • 5 Awesome ownCloud Alternatives
    Nextcloud started as a fork of ownCloud, and it quickly became a strong alternative. It gives users the ability to synchronize files seamlessly, while at the same time offering extensive collaboration options. Besides file storage, Nextcloud lets you create documents, manage calendars, and host video conferences, covering most business collaboration needs. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Top 10 European Open-Source Projects to Watch in 2025
    Why It Matters Follows strict European privacy and security rules. Used by businesses and governments to free themselves from depending on US-based cloud providers. Completely extendable, including email, chat, and document editing tools. Discover further: Official Website Nextcloud. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • A Look at Firefox Forks
    There's an extension called floccus [1] that can sync bookmarks between numerous different browsers (including both Firefox/Gecko and Chromium/Blink based) and plug into a user-controlled NextCloud [2] or Linkwarden [3] instance running on a local homelab server. However, I try to minimize the number of installed extensions to reduce my own browser fingerprint. As others have replied, Firefox sync works... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
View more

Syncthing mentions (836)

  • Feds Link $150M Cyberheist to 2022 LastPass Hacks
    SyncThing[1] works very well for syncing with Android devices, but IIRC doesn't work with iOS. [1] https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Calendar.txt
    I recommend https://syncthing.net/ Works with all file formats, from photos and movies to text files. Cross platform, Linux, Windows, Android, probably also Mac and BSD. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • All Kindles can now be jailbroken
    What are some "killer" applications that would tempt the casual Kindle user to jailbreak the device? I can see someone has ported syncthing [1], which could be convenient for syncing the contents of the device. But probably still too much work compared to using e.g. Calibre and a USB cable a few times per year. [1] https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • The Home Server Journey - 6: Your New Blogging Career
    If complete self-hosting is a must, I now need some file server capable of generating shareable links, to be used in my Markdown image components. In summary, Syncthing is great for Dropbox-style backups, but can't share links, NextCloud is too resource-heavy and Seafile is interesting but apparently has proprietary encryption, which left me with the lightweight Filebrowser. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Magic Wormhole: get things from one computer to another, safely
    Maybe syncthing fits your use case better? https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nextcloud and Syncthing, you can also consider the following products

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

FreeFileSync - FreeFileSync is a free open source data backup software that helps you synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

ownCloud - ownCloud is an open source project enabling businesses to host their own cloud storage while maintaining regulatory and compliance needs.

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

rsync - rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the "rsync algorithm" which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync.