Open source alternatives to Dropbox

What Dropbox does

Dropbox stores your files on its servers and keeps them in sync across your computers, phones and the web. Files can be shared through links or shared folders, and earlier versions can be restored. The desktop app can keep files online-only to save disk space, and Dropbox Backup copies chosen folders and external drives to your account. Dropbox encrypts files at rest with 256-bit AES and protects transfers with TLS.

Why people look for an alternative

• Free plan limits. Dropbox Basic is free with 2 GB of space, and since March 2019 a Basic account can be logged in on at most three devices at a time. Paid plans remove the device limit.
• Who holds the keys. Dropbox says it does not offer client-side encryption or let you create your own private keys. End-to-end encryption exists only for team folders on the Business Plus, Advanced and Enterprise plans, and file metadata stays in plain text.
• Data location. Storage servers are in the United States, with servers in Australia, the EU, Japan and the UK only for eligible customers. Moving a team’s data requires certain business plans with at least 10 licenses and annual billing, and you cannot choose the new location.
• Limited history on smaller plans. Version history covers 30 days on Basic, Plus and Family, and longer only on business plans.

What to compare in an alternative

1. Sync clients. Two-way desktop sync on every operating system you use, mobile apps, and files on demand if your disk is small.
2. Encryption. Whether encryption happens on your device, and whether file names and sizes are protected too.
3. Hosting. Self-hosting effort (database, upgrades, backups) or a provider you trust, and where the data sits.
4. History and recovery. Version history and trash retention that you set yourself.
5. Sharing. Links with passwords and expiry, upload links and guest access.

Which one to choose

Nextcloud is the broadest replacement, with mature clients, many hosting providers and optional end-to-end encryption, at the cost of a PHP stack to maintain. Seafile is the choice when sync speed and reliability matter most, and it can encrypt individual libraries with a password. ownCloud Infinite Scale and OpenCloud are Go servers that need no database and suit organizations already using OpenID Connect; existing ownCloud users can stay on ownCloud Classic. Sync-in is a lighter platform that keeps files readable on disk and comes with desktop sync clients. Pydio Cells targets organizations and adds workflow automation, but SSO and LDAP are paid. If privacy is the main reason you are leaving, Peergos encrypts contents, names and sharing relationships on your device and can be self-hosted or used on its paid service.

If you only need your own devices to stay in sync, Syncthing does it without any server. Our guide to file storage and sync explains the differences in more detail.