Nextcloud All-in-One vs Pydio Cells
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Nextcloud All-in-One | Pydio Cells |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,480 | ★ 2,252 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Dropbox, Box, Google Drive |
What are Nextcloud All-in-One and Pydio Cells?
Nextcloud All-in-One
Nextcloud All-in-One is the official streamlined way to deploy Nextcloud and its companion services through a single management container. It targets users who want Nextcloud with sane defaults and minimal setup. It is deployed via Docker.
- One mastercontainer manages everything
- Bundled office, backups and AV
- Automatic updates and backups
- Sensible production defaults
Pydio Cells
Pydio Cells is a content collaboration platform for organizations, offering file sharing, workspaces, and access controls. It is designed for teams and enterprises needing governed document collaboration. It is deployed via Docker or native binaries.
- Workspace-based collaboration
- Granular access control
- Built-in search and metadata
- Mobile and desktop clients
Nextcloud All-in-One vs Pydio Cells: key differences
Nextcloud All-in-One is written in PHP, while Pydio Cells is built with Go. Pydio Cells is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Nextcloud All-in-One. Pydio Cells is the more established project (first released 2018), while Nextcloud All-in-One arrived in 2022. Nextcloud All-in-One has the considerably larger community, at 10,480 GitHub stars versus 2,252.
Why pick each one
Choose Nextcloud All-in-One if…
- Much simpler than manual setup
- Backup and update built in
- Officially supported
Watch out for
- Less flexible than manual install
- Requires Docker socket access
Choose Pydio Cells if…
- Strong enterprise features
- Modern Go codebase
- Good access governance
Watch out for
- Heavier than simple tools
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Nextcloud All-in-One or Pydio Cells better?
Nextcloud All-in-One is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Pydio Cells if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Nextcloud All-in-One and Pydio Cells free and open-source?
Yes. Nextcloud All-in-One is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Pydio Cells under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Nextcloud All-in-One and Pydio Cells with Docker?
Nextcloud All-in-One: yes. Pydio Cells: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Nextcloud All-in-One or Pydio Cells?
Pydio Cells has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Nextcloud All-in-One. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.
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