Nextcloud review

Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Nextcloud suits small businesses that want to keep their storage on infrastructure they control, and it pairs a free plan with entry pricing of €3. It costs less to start than most managed alternatives, but the server and its upkeep fall to you, so teams without admin time should look at a hosted option.

Key facts

Best for
Small businesses that want cloud storage with a free plan and a low starting price.
Price from
€3 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Free plan
Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Usage limits
Free self-hosted edition (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Tool type
Cloud-storage (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Nextcloud GmbH (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Germany (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2016 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Audience
Beginners, Small business, Enterprise
Pricing model
Free plan
Official website
nextcloud.com

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play
Elsewhere
WikidataLinkedIn

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Entry price of €3 sits well under the €13.15 across brands compared here.
  • A free plan is included, so a small team can start before spending anything.
  • Free self-hosted edition means the storage sits on infrastructure you control rather than a vendor's.
  • The product is aimed at small businesses as well as beginners and enterprise teams, per beginners, small business and enterprise.

Cons

  • Support runs on help centre and community only, so nobody is on the phone when a storage issue blocks work.
  • The listed €3 covers software, while Free self-hosted edition still leaves the server to run and maintain.
  • A free plan is available, but the only pricing figure published is €3, so the cost of a larger setup is not set out.
  • Cozy Cloud starts higher at €4 and hosts the service, which saves the admin work that Nextcloud hands to you.
Nextcloud

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Scored 9.2 / 10 by ForgeCue.

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Who it suits

  • Small businesses that already run a server and want their files on hardware they control.
  • Teams testing storage on a budget, since a free plan is included alongside €3.
  • Organisations that need cloud storage without a hosted provider holding the data.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Teams wanting a managed service, since Free self-hosted edition makes hosting and upkeep your own job.
  • Buyers who need direct human support, because help runs through help centre and community.
  • Those weighing a raw capacity trial, which 3-month free trial covers instead.

Intro and renewal prices

Nextcloud is a free plan product. There is a free plan, and the published entry point is €3. That figure covers the software, and it is the only plan price stated, so treat it as a starting point rather than a full cost of ownership: Free self-hosted edition describes a free self-hosted edition, which means the machine or hosting you run it on sits outside the licence price. Renewal pricing is not published as a separate figure, and no introductory offer is quoted, so there is no promotional price that later steps up. Compared with the field, €3 sits under the €13.15 across the brands ranked on price from, and Nextcloud ranks 19 of 307 on that measure. The nearest alternatives start nearby: CrashPlan for Small Business at $3.67 and Cozy Cloud at €4, so the entry price alone rarely decides it. What changes the bill is the hosting you add, the amount of storage you need and the admin work you take on. A free plan means a first month costs nothing beyond your own server, and a paid tier is only worth it when capacity, users or features outgrow what the free edition holds.

The company behind it

The product is maintained by Nextcloud GmbH, headquartered in Germany, and the company dates back to 2016. It is a cloud storage tool aimed at beginners, small business and enterprise, which spans beginners, small business and enterprise use. Support comes through help centre and community. That mix shapes who it works for. A small team that already runs its own server can pick up the free self-hosted edition and get storage on hardware it controls. Larger organisations can use the same product, though the facts list the audience rather than detailing separate tiers. Support is the sharper edge: help centre and community covers a help centre and a community, so most questions are answered in writing and are answerable by whoever administers the install. Businesses wanting someone to phone during an outage, or a provider who will host the service for them, are looking at a different product. The legal entity and German base also mean contracts and invoicing are handled in Germany rather than by a US vendor, which matters for teams that bill customers in that market.

How Nextcloud compares

Frequently asked questions

What does Nextcloud cost to start?+

Nextcloud starts at €3. That figure covers the software licence, not a hosted service, and the only plan figure published is that entry point. Budget separately for the hardware or hosting you run it on, plus the admin time to keep it updated.

Is there a free Nextcloud plan?+

Yes, Nextcloud offers a free plan, and Free self-hosted edition is what it covers. Paid tiers sit on top of that, with €3 as the published entry point. The free edition is the one you host yourself.

How does Nextcloud compare with CrashPlan for Small Business on price?+

Both are entry prices for the same category of product. Nextcloud starts at €3, CrashPlan for Small Business at $3.67, Cozy Cloud at €4. The gap between them is small, so the deciding factor is who runs the infrastructure.

Do I need my own server for Nextcloud?+

Nextcloud is a cloud storage product you can install on a server you control, and Free self-hosted edition describes the free self-hosted edition. Cozy Cloud is a hosted service priced from €4. Pick Cozy Cloud if you want someone else to keep it running.

What support does Nextcloud offer?+

Support is offered through help centre and community. The help centre covers common questions, and the community forum gives you other Nextcloud admins to ask. There is no phone or live chat option in the channels listed, which matters if you have nobody internal who can administer the server.

Who runs Nextcloud and where is it based?+

Nextcloud is built by Nextcloud GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany and was founded in 2016. The product is listed as a small-business tool, and it suits teams of all sizes once someone is comfortable running the server.

Is Nextcloud a subscription or a one-off?+

Nextcloud sells software rather than a hosted subscription, and the free plan model is the default way teams start. €3 is the published entry point, while Free self-hosted edition describes what the free edition covers. The recurring spend is what you pay for the machine or hosting underneath it, not for a licence renewal.

When should I pick Alibaba Cloud over Nextcloud?+

Nextcloud is for businesses that want their own storage on infrastructure they control and a free plan to start from. Alibaba Cloud suits buyers who want to evaluate raw capacity on 3-month free trial before committing to a build, with no self-hosting decisions to make.

Sources

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Nextcloud

Nextcloud

Small businesses that want cloud storage with a free plan and a low starting price.

9.2/10See alternatives

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