OpenCloud vs OpenCloud Files
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?
OpenCloud
Modern open-source file platform from ownCloud team
VS
OpenCloud Files
Lightweight self-hosted file sync and sharing platform
| Feature | OpenCloud | OpenCloud Files |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,792 | ★ 2,083 |
| First released | 2025 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Dropbox, Google Drive |
Why pick each one
Choose OpenCloud if…
- Modern, fast codebase
- Lightweight footprint
- Permissively licensed
Choose OpenCloud Files if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenCloud or OpenCloud Files better?
Neither is universally better. OpenCloud has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are OpenCloud and OpenCloud Files free and open-source?
Yes. OpenCloud is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OpenCloud Files under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenCloud and OpenCloud Files with Docker?
OpenCloud: yes. OpenCloud Files: yes.