Nextcloud

Nextcloud is a German self-hostable, open-source cloud storage and collaboration platform.

Ad-Free Privacy Friendly Open Source European Self-Hostable Energy Efficient Free of Charge Real-time Collaboration Works Offline Open Data
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Description

Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hostable platform for file storage, collaboration, and communication, designed to provide users and organisations with full control over their data. Founded in 2016 as a fork of ownCloud, Nextcloud emphasises privacy, digital sovereignty, and flexibility, allowing deployment on private servers or through trusted providers.

Nextcloud is highly extensible with countless apps installable on top of its core functionality. This makes Nextcloud an alternative to all kinds of collaboration tools, such as Video Conferencing (Nextcloud Talk), Office Suites (through Collabora or OnlyOffice) or calendars.

Nextcloud’s core software is fully open-source, enabling users to host their own instances and maintain complete data ownership. Administrators can define granular access controls for files, folders, and apps, including LDAP/OpenID integration and guest access management.

In 2025, Nextcloud became the first cloud software platform to earn the Blauer Engel ecolabel, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. The platform has seen increased adoption by European public sector organisations, driven by concerns over reliance on U.S. cloud providers and the need for digital sovereignty.

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Sustainability Features of Nextcloud

Ad-Free - Services that do not display advertisements to users, ensuring a cleaner and more private experience.

Nextcloud is ad free and does not monetise user-data.

Privacy Friendly - It does not track users unnecessarily.

Nextcloud does not track users or sell personal data, ensuring a private and secure experience with optional end-to-end encryption.

Open Source - Free and Open-Source Software

Nextcloud’s core software is fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and community-driven development.

European - Based in Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy and labor regulations.

Nextcloud is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.

Self-Hostable - Services that can be hosted by users, giving full control over data and enhancing privacy.

Nextcloud is designed to be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.

Energy Efficient - Hardware or services designed to consume minimal energy, reducing environmental impact.

Nextcloud became the first cloud software platform to earn the Blauer Engel ecolabel, emphasizing environmental responsibility.

Free of Charge - The services provided can be used for free.

Some third party providers offer free plans with up to 5GB of storage. The self-hostable community edition is free and without licensing costs.

Real-time Collaboration - Users can collaborate in real-time.

Nextcloud allows for real-time same-document collaboration.

Works Offline - Works even without internet connection

Nextcloud syncs files to your device. You can edit files offline, and changes will sync automatically once you reconnect to the internet.

Open Data - Supports open data standards and transparency, allowing users to access and control their data.

Nextcloud is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and OpenDocument formats.

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Summary

Nextcloud is a leading open-source, self-hosted platform for file storage and collaboration, including video conferencing. It offers robust privacy, digital sovereignty, and flexibility. Nextcloud's commitment to open-source principles, end-to-end encryption, and sustainability makes it a compelling alternative to proprietary cloud services.

Sustainability Score
92

More Sustainable Alternatives for Cloud Storage and Video Conferencing and Office Suites

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OpenTalk

A German GDPR compliant video conferencing service.

OpenTalk offers a free tier with meetings of up to 30 minutes length and 5 participants.
OpenTalk can be self-hosted, giving full control over data and privacy.
OpenTalk allows users to join meetings without creating an account or registering.
OpenTalk by Heinlein is based in Berlin, Germany.
OpenTalk does not show ads to its users.
OpenTalk comes with end-to-end encryption and does not engage in data mining for advertising.
OpenTalk is open source under the EUPL (European Public License).
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Collabora

Collabora is an open-source, online office suite built on LibreOffice.

Collabora is free of charge for testing and home use.
Collabora clients allow you to create, edit, and save documents offline. Changes sync with your Nextcloud or other cloud storage when you reconnect.
Collabora is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and OpenDocument formats.
Collabora can be self-hosted, further ensuring data sovereignty and privacy
Collabora is open-source with a strong focus on digital sovereignty and user control.
Collabora is GDPR-compliant, with no data mining or tracking. For some reason, internally, the tools may use Google products for communication and sharing information. It's unclear what information is shared and why the team doen't trust open-source alternatives.
Collabora is based in the United Kingdom, ensuring compliance with GDPR
There is no advertising, data mining, or tracking in Collabora.
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LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a widely used offline, open-source office suite.

LibreOffice does not require registration, ensuring user anonymity.
LibreOffice is free and open-source software, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
LibreOffice works fully offline, reducing reliance on cloud services and internet connectivity.
The Document Foundation is based in Europe, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
LibreOffice does not collect or transmit user data, ensuring privacy and security.
LibreOffice can be self-hosted, especially through solutions like Collabora Online, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
LibreOffice is free of charge for all users, including individuals, students, and non-profits.
LibreOffice does not show ads to its users.
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CryptPad

CryptPad is a French secure, collaborative Google Docs alternative.

CryptPad allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
CryptPad is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free collaborative experience.
Cryptpad is fully open-source, allowing for community review and contributions, ensuring transparency and trust.
Cryptpad is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Cryptpad is designed with privacy as a core principle, using end-to-end encryption for all user data.
Cryptpad can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Cryptpad offers a free tier, with optional paid plans for additional features and to support the project.
Cryptpad supports open data standards and is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and open document formats.
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Tresorit

Tresorit is a Swiss end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service with a focus on security.

Tresorit uses end-to-end encryption (zero-knowledge), meaning files are encrypted locally before upload, and only the user holds the decryption keys.
Tresorit is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Tresorit avoids unnecessary data consumption, focusing on efficient and secure file storage without AI-driven bloat.
Tresorit offers a free, basic plan with up to 3GB of encrypted storage.
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pCloud

pCloud is a Swiss secure cloud storage service with lifetime plans.

pCloud does not track users unnecessarily, and its optional zero-knowledge encryption ensures that files are encrypted locally before being uploaded to the cloud.
pCloud is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
pCloud offers 10GB of unencrypted storage with a free account and promises that it will be free forever.
pCloud offers affordable plans that allow users to pay for storage once and use it forever (or as long as the company exists).
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Wire

A Swiss secure messaging and video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption.

Wire offers a free tier, mainly for messaging. For video conferencing one has to opt for one of the paid tiers.
Wire can be self-hosted, giving organizations full control over their data and privacy.
Wire's service is ad-free for all its free and paid tiers, it's funded through enterprise plans.
Wire offers end-to-end encryption for all communications and does not perform data mining for advertisement, ensuring user privacy and security.
Wire is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Wire is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance the code.
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Jitsi

An open-source video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption, widely used for secure meetings.

Jitsi is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance the code.
Jitsi allows anyone to join meetings without registration. Unfortunately, creating a meeting on the public instance (meet.jit.si) now requires a Google, GitHub, or Facebook account. Self-hosted instances can be configured to allow anonymous meeting creation.
Jitsi is free to use for everyone, with no participant limits or mandatory fees for basic features.
Jitsi does not engage in data mining for ads and comes with end-to-end encryption for calls with two participants.
Jitsi can be fully hosted on your own servers, giving complete control over data and privacy.
Jitsi is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free experience.
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Whereby

A Norwegian privacy-focused video conferencing tool with no account required.

Whereby offers a free plan with no participant limits.
Whereby allows users to join meetings without registration.
Whereby is based in Norway, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Whereby offers end-to-end encryption for small meetings (peer-to-peer), ensuring user privacy and security.
Whereby is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free video conferencing experience.
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OnlyOffice

OnlyOffice is an open-source office suite with self-hosting options and GDPR compliance.

OnlyOffice supports open data standards, allowing users to control and access their data.
OnlyOffice is ad free and does not monetise user-data.
OnlyOffice is open-source software, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
OnlyOffice desktop clients work fully offline, reducing reliance on cloud services and internet connectivity.
OnlyOffice is developed by a Latvian company, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
OnlyOffice does not collect or transmit user data unnecessarily, ensuring privacy and security.
OnlyOffice can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
OnlyOffice offers a free community edition for all users.
OnlyOffice allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
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