SHSelfHostIndex

Nextcloud Desktop Sync vs Syncthing

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 Syncthing Continuous peer-to-peer file synchronization
FeatureNextcloud Desktop SyncSyncthing
Deploy effortRead-the-docs project≈5-minute setup
Health score88 · Excellent100 · Excellent
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseGPL-2.0MPL-2.0
LanguageC++Go
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM256 MB128 MB
Deploymentbinarydocker, binary, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 3,872★ 88,884
First released20162014
ReplacesDropbox, OneDriveDropbox, Resilio Sync

What are Nextcloud Desktop Sync and Syncthing?

Nextcloud Desktop Sync

The Nextcloud desktop client keeps files synchronized between your computer and a Nextcloud server, with selective sync and virtual files support. It is the primary way to sync folders from desktop platforms.

  • Folder synchronization
  • Selective sync
  • Virtual files support
  • Cross-platform

Syncthing

Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program that syncs files between two or more devices directly, without a central server. It is ideal for individuals who want private, serverless sync across their own machines. It is distributed as a single binary and also runs well in Docker.

  • Fully decentralized peer-to-peer sync
  • TLS-encrypted transfers
  • No cloud account required
  • Cross-platform with mobile apps

Read the full Syncthing guide →

Nextcloud Desktop Sync vs Syncthing: key differences

Nextcloud Desktop Sync is written in C++, while Syncthing is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Nextcloud Desktop Sync versus MPL-2.0 for Syncthing. Syncthing is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Nextcloud Desktop Sync. Syncthing is the more established project (first released 2014), while Nextcloud Desktop Sync arrived in 2016. Syncthing has the considerably larger community, at 88,884 GitHub stars versus 3,872. Syncthing lists first-class Docker deployment; Nextcloud Desktop Sync does not.

Why pick each one

Choose Nextcloud Desktop Sync if…

  • Released under the GPL-2.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Active community (3.9k GitHub stars)
  • Written in C++
Nextcloud Desktop Sync details

Choose Syncthing if…

  • No central server needed
  • Very private by design
  • Lightweight and reliable

Watch out for

  • No web file browsing
  • Not a sharing platform
Syncthing details

Frequently asked questions

Is Nextcloud Desktop Sync or Syncthing better?

Neither is universally better. Syncthing has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Nextcloud Desktop Sync and Syncthing free and open-source?

Yes. Nextcloud Desktop Sync is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Syncthing under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Nextcloud Desktop Sync and Syncthing with Docker?

Nextcloud Desktop Sync: check the project docs for container support. Syncthing: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Nextcloud Desktop Sync or Syncthing?

Syncthing has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Nextcloud Desktop Sync. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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