Business files are scattered across one person's Drive, someone else's WhatsApp and a USB stick, and nobody knows which version is the right one. Nextcloud stores your files, contacts and calendars on a server you choose. It syncs them across your devices and lets you share only what you want with whoever you want.
Who this is NOT for
If you already pay for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, it works for you and nobody on your team will look after a server, don't switch. If you install it yourself, backups, updates and security for ALL your company data become your job. If that server dies without a backup, nobody will hand anything back to you. And if you plan to modify it and offer it to your clients over the internet, read the license first: the AGPL requires you to give them the source of your modified version.
It isn't just another Drive. It's a platform with hundreds of apps on top: calendar, contacts, mail, video calls, online office and even an AI assistant that, according to their site, runs locally. That's its strength and also the most common trap: people install everything on day one and end up with a system nobody understands. Start with Files only and add an app when a real need shows up. The project isn't at risk of being abandoned: it has been around since 2016, has about 37k stars and got changes a few hours ago. But it has about 3,800 open issues and PRs, which tells you how big it is. Its motto, 'a safe home for your data', only holds if someone backs that home up.
Your first step
Go to nextcloud.com/signup, open a free account with one of their providers, upload a real business folder and share a link with someone on your team. Once you see whether they use it, decide whether hosting it yourself is worth it.
The Nextcloud implementation guide
The project belongs to Nextcloud and it is free: the link beside asks for nothing. The guide to set it up without getting lost is ours: step by step, common mistakes and a checklist. Leave your email and we will send it.
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