Nextcloud vs Syncthing
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Dropbox. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Nextcloud
TOP PICKA full self-hosted cloud: files, sharing, and more.
Nextcloud is the most complete open-source Dropbox replacement — file sync and sharing plus calendars, contacts, and an app ecosystem — all on a server you control. It is the best all-round fit when you want Dropbox-style features without the cloud.
Syncthing
Continuous peer-to-peer file sync with no cloud.
Syncthing keeps folders in sync directly between your own devices, peer-to-peer and encrypted, with no server and no cloud in the middle. It is the purest self-owned option — brilliant for device-to-device sync, though it is sync only, not a sharing suite.
Side by side
| Nextcloud | Syncthing | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 90 | 92 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | No | Yes |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Pricing | Free / open-source (self-host); paid support/hosting optional | Free / open-source |
Nextcloud is Macrostack's recommended Dropbox alternative, so it's our pick here.
Nextcloud
Strengths
- +Closest all-round Dropbox replacement
- +Sync, sharing, and an app ecosystem
- +You own 100% of the data
Trade-offs
- −You run and back up the server
- −Fuller stack than a pure sync tool
Syncthing
Strengths
- +No server or cloud at all
- +Peer-to-peer and encrypted
- +Very light and reliable
Trade-offs
- −Sync only — no web sharing/links
- −Devices must be online to sync
More Dropbox head-to-heads
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.