What is Cloud Storage & Sync?
Self-hosted cloud storage gives you complete ownership of your files, calendars, contacts, and documents. Nextcloud is a full Google Workspace replacement — file sync, collaborative document editing, video calls, and email integration all in one platform.
Unlike Dropbox or Google Drive, your data stays on your own server. You choose the storage capacity (no arbitrary plan limits), set your own sharing policies, and comply with any data residency requirements.
For simpler use cases, Syncthing provides peer-to-peer file sync without a central server. MinIO offers S3-compatible object storage for developers building applications that need scalable file storage.
$ apt list --installable
Popular Cloud Storage & Sync Software
Top open-source tools you can self-host on your VPS.
Nextcloud
Complete productivity platform. File sync, document editing, calendars, contacts, video calls, and hundreds of apps. The #1 self-hosted cloud solution.
Read our guideSeafile
High-performance file sync and share. Faster sync speeds than Nextcloud for pure file storage use cases. Built-in file versioning and encryption.
Official siteSyncthing
Peer-to-peer continuous file synchronization. No central server needed — files sync directly between your devices with end-to-end encryption.
Official siteMinIO
S3-compatible object storage for developers. Build applications with scalable file storage, backups, and data lakes on your own infrastructure.
Official siteVPS Specifications
What you need to run cloud storage & sync workloads.
$ top --providers --for=storage
Best Providers for Cloud Storage & Sync
Hand-picked based on specs, pricing, and suitability for cloud storage & sync workloads.
Contabo
Massive storage allocations — 200GB NVMe at $4.99/mo, unbeatable for file storage
Get Started
Hetzner
Add volume storage at $0.04/GB and 20TB bandwidth for heavy sync usage
Get Started
Hostinger
200GB NVMe on the KVM 4 plan with reliable performance for Nextcloud
Get Started$ man storage
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Nextcloud really replace Google Drive?
Yes. Nextcloud offers file sync, document editing (Collabora/OnlyOffice), calendars, contacts, and video calls. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android.
How much storage do I need?
It depends on your files. 50GB covers documents and photos for a single user. Families and small teams typically need 200-500GB. VPS providers like Contabo offer large storage affordably.
Is Nextcloud slow on a VPS?
With proper optimization (Redis caching, PHP OPcache, NVMe storage), Nextcloud performs well on a 2-4GB VPS. Initial setup with recommended tuning makes a big difference.
Can I access my files on mobile?
Yes. Nextcloud, Seafile, and Syncthing all have mobile apps for iOS and Android. Files sync automatically and are available offline.
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