SHSelfHostIndex

Nextcloud Desktop Sync vs Pydio Cells Sync

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
NE Nextcloud Desktop Sync Official desktop sync client for Nextcloud VS PY Pydio Cells Sync Desktop synchronization client for Pydio Cells servers
FeatureNextcloud Desktop SyncPydio Cells Sync
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseGPL-2.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageC++C
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM256 MB128 MB
Deploymentbinarybare-metal, binary
GitHub stars★ 3,812★ 44
First released20162019
ReplacesDropbox, OneDriveDropbox, OneDrive

Why pick each one

Choose Nextcloud Desktop Sync if…

  • Released under the GPL-2.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Active community (3.8k GitHub stars)
  • Written in C++
Nextcloud Desktop Sync details

Choose Pydio Cells Sync if…

  • Tight Cells integration
  • Cross-platform desktop app
Pydio Cells Sync details

Frequently asked questions

Is Nextcloud Desktop Sync or Pydio Cells Sync better?

Nextcloud Desktop Sync is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Pydio Cells Sync if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Nextcloud Desktop Sync and Pydio Cells Sync free and open-source?

Yes. Nextcloud Desktop Sync is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Pydio Cells Sync under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Nextcloud Desktop Sync and Pydio Cells Sync with Docker?

Nextcloud Desktop Sync: check the project docs for container support. Pydio Cells Sync: check the project docs for container support.

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