Dropbox vs Nextcloud
Dropbox and Nextcloud are both file storage & sharing tools. Dropbox is aimed at small businesses and freelancers, while Nextcloud is aimed at enterprise and developers. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $12 | Open source |
| Starting price | $11.99/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses, Freelancers | Enterprise, Developers |
| Platforms | web, macos, windows, linux, ios, android | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2007 | DE · 2016 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Dropbox if
Creative professionals and teams needing reliable sync across platforms.
- Best-in-class sync reliability
- Great for large creative files
- Suite of add-on products
Look elsewhere if: Teams already paying for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 storage.
Choose Nextcloud if
Organizations needing self-hosted collaboration.
- Full data control
- All-in-one suite
- Open source
Look elsewhere if: Teams wanting zero maintenance.
Dropbox vs Nextcloud pricing
Dropbox
- Basic$02 GB
- Plus$11.99/mo$9.99/mo billed yearly; 2 TB, 1 person
- Standard$18/user/mo$15/mo billed yearly; from 3 TB team storage
- Advanced$30/user/mo$24/mo billed yearly; 3+ users, from 15 TB, SSO, E2E
- EnterpriseCustomEnterprise security and dedicated support
Nextcloud
- Community$0Self-hosted, AGPL
- Enterprise Standard€71.29/user/yr100+ users min; excl. VAT; €53.17 at 200+
- Enterprise Premium€104.99/user/yr100+ users; extended support
- Enterprise Ultimate€204.75/user/yr100+ users; Assistant, Flow, 24/7
- Talk Standard€42/user/yr100+ users
Dropbox · Key features
- Reliable cross-platform file sync
- Sharing, file requests and transfers
- Version history and file recovery
- Dropbox Dash AI search
- Replay video review and Sign e-signature
- Admin controls and security
Cons
- Small free tier (2 GB)
- Pricier than bundled alternatives
- Product sprawl
Nextcloud · Key features
- File sync and share
- Office editing via Collabora/OnlyOffice
- Talk chat and video
- Calendar and contacts
- End-to-end encryption
- Apps ecosystem
Cons
- Self-hosting effort
- Performance tuning
- UI less polished than Google
Dropbox vs Nextcloud: FAQ
Do Dropbox and Nextcloud have a free plan?
Yes, both Dropbox and Nextcloud have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Dropbox or Nextcloud?
Dropbox lists small businesses as a core audience, while Nextcloud is aimed more at enterprise and developers.