Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ownCloud VS Syncthing

Compare ownCloud VS Syncthing and see what are their differences

ownCloud logo ownCloud

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

Syncthing logo Syncthing

Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...
  • ownCloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-21
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18

ownCloud features and specs

  • Open Source
    ownCloud offers an open-source version, allowing users to inspect, modify, and enhance the software according to their needs.
  • Data Privacy
    Users maintain complete control over their data as it can be hosted on their own servers, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.
  • Customizability
    The platform provides extensive customization options, enabling users to tailor it to their specific requirements.
  • Integration Capabilities
    ownCloud supports various integrations with third-party services and applications, enhancing its functionality.
  • Active Community
    A vibrant and active community contributes to continuous improvements, bug fixes, and the development of new features.

Possible disadvantages of ownCloud

  • Complex Setup
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex and may require technical expertise, which can be a barrier for non-tech-savvy users.
  • Maintenance Requirements
    Self-hosting ownCloud necessitates regular maintenance, updates, and security management, which can be time-consuming.
  • Performance Issues
    Performance can be impacted by the server's hardware capabilities and the efficiency of the network infrastructure.
  • Costs
    While the open-source version is free, the enterprise version, which offers more features and support, comes with a cost.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    In comparison to some proprietary cloud storage solutions, ownCloud may lack certain advanced features and ease of use.

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.

ownCloud videos

ownCloud Demonstration

More videos:

  • Review - Create Your Own Hosted Cloud Storage Server in Minutes - OwnCloud

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 ownCloud and Syncthing)
Cloud Storage
28 28%
72% 72
File Sharing
29 29%
71% 71
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 ownCloud and Syncthing

ownCloud Reviews

Best Top 12 MEGA Alternatives in 2024
ownCloud is an open-source file sync and share software for everyone from individuals operating the free ownCloud server, to large enterprises and service providers operating under the ownCloud Enterprise Subscription. ownCloud provides a safe, secure and compliant file sync and share solution – on servers you control.
6 cPanel Alternatives
ownCloud is a file sharing solution for teams looking to manage data outside of something like Google Drive. The personal cloud storage solution has dozens of stable plugins that further consolidate data for remote-based organizations:
13 Best Free Dropbox Alternatives for File Sharing
Owncloud is not as such a cloud service, but a software to create our own. Owncloud allows us to take advantage of an old equipment or a service that we have to use it as if it were Dropbox.
Source: brainyhubs.com
16 Tresorit Alternatives
Like Dropbox, this service will allow you to manage all elements from a browser tab. From it, you can manage them, divide them into folders, and even download them online. ownCloud is a synchronization tool and ‘backup’ file, which is especially useful for small and medium enterprises. Moreover, it is not only versatile and practical but also extremely safe.

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 seems to be a lot more popular than ownCloud. While we know about 836 links to Syncthing, we've tracked only 31 mentions of ownCloud. 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.

ownCloud mentions (31)

  • Automating My Cloud Workflow with OwnCloud, Docker, and GCP
    Hey folks! 👋 I'm Sahal, a software engineer currently diving deeper into the world of DevOps and cloud automation. Recently, I’ve been working on deploying my own cloud storage solution using OwnCloud — self-hosted, scalable, and privacy-friendly. Here’s a quick overview of what I’ve been hacking on. - Source: dev.to / 18 days ago
  • 5 Awesome ownCloud Alternatives
    If you've been using ownCloud, you might recently be reconsidering. Maybe you're frustrated by feature limitations, licensing costs, or concerned about its uncertain future since the acquisition. Switching solutions after a product changes ownership isn't unusual—products do sometimes deteriorate under new management. Luckily, there are strong options if you're looking for a reliable file syncing and sharing... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Roundcube Open-Source Webmail Software Merges with Nextcloud
    You might want to check out ownCloud[0] if you're purely interested in file sharing. Its all open source and you can run your own server. I can't attest to how well it runs currently, as I haven't used it for a few years, but I used it a couple years ago and it was pretty solid [0]: https://owncloud.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • What's your web browser based access to file system?
    I am not interested in complex cloud hosting systems like https://www.seafile.com/en/home/, https://nextcloud.com/, https://owncloud.com/. I run some cloud software (forgot the name) in the past and it was very inefficient at synchronizing, Seafile was great with synchronization, but recovery was painful. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • All Ford EV will have access to Tesla Supercharger network
    Also just because something is "free" doesn't mean it is cheaper. I can run a free Owncloud but it might be cheaper to pay someone else to run my server while I focus on my solution. USB-A could be patent free and USB-C may have a small royalty but the UX and cost of manufacture may make USB-C still cheaper. I would be curious what the end agreement money exchange between Ford and Tesla was but I don't think we... Source: almost 2 years ago
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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 / 3 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 ownCloud and Syncthing, you can also consider the following products

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

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

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

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

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

Microsoft OneDrive - Secure access, sharing & file storage