Open-source alternatives to MEGA

14 genuinely open-source alternatives. The projects are compared by license, workflow, self-hosting, and pricing.

Last updated: September 23, 2026

Why look for a MEGA alternative?

MEGA combines client-side encryption, secure sharing, file synchronization, and cross-platform cloud storage. People look for alternatives when they want self-hosting, full control over encryption keys, open-source software, on-premises deployment, S3 or WebDAV storage, or auditable server-side code.

Puter

Self-hosted cloud OS with storage, apps, and developer APIs.

Puter is an AGPL-3.0 web-based operating environment with cloud storage, file management, applications, developer APIs, and a desktop-like interface.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0; hosted services may be offered separately.

Cloud file storage and web file manager
Desktop-style interface and APIs
Application ecosystem
Broader than a simple cloud drive
Less focused on traditional desktop synchronization

View on GitHub

Spacedrive

Local-first distributed file manager across devices and storage.

Spacedrive is a cross-platform distributed file manager that unifies files across devices and storage locations. Its current Functional Source License is source available rather than OSI-approved open source.

FSL-1.1-ALv2Self-hosted

Pricing: Source available under FSL-1.1 with Apache-2.0 future relicensing; verify current hosted terms.

Local-first and cross-platform
Distributed file library
Encrypted device communication
Not currently OSI-approved open source
Different model from a traditional cloud drive
Synchronization is still evolving

View on GitHub

Nextcloud

Mature self-hosted cloud storage and collaboration suite.

Nextcloud is an AGPL-3.0-or-later collaboration platform with file synchronization, sharing, version history, permissions, mobile access, WebDAV, office integrations, and a large application ecosystem.

AGPL-3.0-or-laterSelf-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0-or-later; hosted and enterprise services may be paid.

Mature ecosystem
Desktop/mobile sync, sharing, versioning, and WebDAV
Office and app integrations
Heavier infrastructure than simple file servers
Larger deployments require careful administration

View on GitHub

Ente

End-to-end encrypted photo and video backup.

Ente is an AGPL-3.0 encrypted cloud platform focused on private photo and video storage, automatic backup, albums, sharing, cross-platform clients, and self-hosting.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Open-source clients and server; hosted storage plans may be paid.

End-to-end encryption
Automatic photo backup and albums
Cross-platform and self-hostable
Primarily focused on photos and videos
Not a general-purpose team file suite

View on GitHub

Seafile

Fast self-hosted file synchronization and sharing.

Seafile is a self-hosted file synchronization and sharing platform with desktop and mobile clients, libraries, version history, permissions, and collaborative file workflows. Components use different open-source licenses.

AGPL-3.0 server / GPL-2.0 client / Apache-2.0 componentsSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open-source components are self-hostable; commercial editions and hosted services may be paid.

Fast synchronization
Strong performance with large libraries
Mature file sharing and versioning
Licensing differs across components
Less extensible than a broad collaboration suite

View on GitHub

Filestash

Universal web file manager for existing storage backends.

Filestash is an AGPL-3.0 web file manager that connects to S3, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Samba, and other existing storage systems, providing previews and a unified browser interface.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable; requires an existing storage backend and optional commercial services may exist.

S3, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, and SMB support
File previews and browser access
Self-hosted and extensible
Does not provide storage itself
Less turnkey than Google Drive

View on GitHub

OpenCloud

Modern sovereign file sync, sharing, and collaboration.

OpenCloud combines file management, synchronization, sharing, spaces, search, permissions, WebDAV, office integrations, and cloud-native infrastructure. Its backend and web components use different licenses.

Apache-2.0 backend / AGPL-3.0 web componentsSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open source and self-hostable; commercial support or hosted services may be available.

Data sovereignty focus
Modern cloud-native architecture
Sync, sharing, spaces, and office integrations
Multiple licenses across components
Younger ecosystem than Nextcloud

View on GitHub

Papra

Simple self-hosted document archive with search and tags.

Papra is an AGPL-3.0 document archiving platform for securely storing, searching, tagging, and organizing invoices, contracts, receipts, and administrative files.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0; hosted services may be offered separately.

Simple self-hosting
Search, tags, and metadata
Useful for administrative archives
Not a complete Drive replacement
No broad desktop synchronization
Limited collaboration

View on GitHub

Sync-in

Self-hosted file storage, synchronization, and team spaces.

Sync-in is an AGPL-3.0-or-later platform for file storage, synchronization, sharing, WebDAV, team spaces, search, permissions, and collaborative document integrations.

AGPL-3.0-or-laterSelf-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable; verify current hosted and deployment options.

File sync and team spaces
WebDAV, search, and permissions
Collaborative editing integrations
Younger ecosystem
Smaller community and integration ecosystem

View on GitHub

#10

ownCloud

Enterprise-oriented self-hosted file sync and sharing.

ownCloud Infinite Scale is a self-hosted file synchronization and sharing platform with spaces, permissions, sharing, and collaborative integrations. Its backend and frontend components use different licenses.

Apache-2.0 backend / AGPL-3.0 web clientSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open-source components are self-hostable; commercial offerings and support are available.

Mature file-sync ecosystem
Team spaces, sharing, and permissions
Designed for organizational deployments
Multiple licenses across components
More enterprise-oriented than consumer cloud storage

View on GitHub

#11

Twake Drive

Focused self-hosted cloud storage and file sharing.

Twake Drive is an AGPL-3.0 file storage and sharing platform from LINAGORA, with browser-based file management, collaboration, sharing, Docker deployment, and self-hosting.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Open source and self-hostable; hosted services may be offered separately.

Designed directly around the cloud-drive use case
Web file manager and sharing
Docker deployment
Smaller ecosystem than Nextcloud
Less mature desktop synchronization ecosystem

View on GitHub

#12

Firefiles

Self-hosted web file manager for S3-compatible storage.

Firefiles is an AGPL-3.0 web file manager that turns existing S3-compatible storage buckets into a browser-based cloud drive with previews and bulk uploads.

AGPL-3.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Free and self-hostable; requires an external object-storage backend.

S3 support and multiple buckets
Browser previews and bulk uploads
You control the underlying storage
Requires external storage
Not a complete synchronization platform
Smaller project

View on GitHub

#13

Peergos

Encrypted peer-to-peer filesystem with cryptographic permissions.

Peergos is an AGPL-3.0-core encrypted peer-to-peer filesystem with client-side encryption, secure sharing, versioning, applications, messaging, and user-controlled data.

AGPL-3.0 coreSelf-hosted

Pricing: Open-source core is self-hostable; hosted services and support may be offered separately.

Client-side encryption
Cryptographic permissions and secure sharing
Peer-to-peer architecture and self-hosting
Unusual architecture
Smaller ecosystem
More technical to deploy than traditional cloud drives

View on GitHub

#14

Hoodik

Lightweight encrypted self-hosted cloud storage.

Hoodik is a Rust/Vue cloud storage platform that encrypts files in the browser before upload, so the server stores protected content rather than plaintext files. Its current license is CC BY-NC 4.0.

CC BY-NC 4.0Self-hosted

Pricing: Source available for non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0; commercial use requires a separate agreement.

Client-side encryption
Lightweight Rust backend
Self-hosting, sharing, search, and Docker deployment
Not OSI-approved open source
Non-commercial restriction
Younger and smaller ecosystem

View on GitHub

Compare MEGA alternatives

Tool	Stars	License	Self-hosted	Pricing
Puter	—	AGPL-3.0	Yes	Free and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0; hosted services may be offered separately.
Spacedrive	—	FSL-1.1-ALv2	Yes	Source available under FSL-1.1 with Apache-2.0 future relicensing; verify current hosted terms.
Nextcloud	—	AGPL-3.0-or-later	Yes	Free and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0-or-later; hosted and enterprise services may be paid.
Ente	—	AGPL-3.0	Yes	Open-source clients and server; hosted storage plans may be paid.
Seafile	—	AGPL-3.0 server / GPL-2.0 client / Apache-2.0 components	Yes	Open-source components are self-hostable; commercial editions and hosted services may be paid.
Filestash	—	AGPL-3.0	Yes	Free and self-hostable; requires an existing storage backend and optional commercial services may exist.
OpenCloud	—	Apache-2.0 backend / AGPL-3.0 web components	Yes	Open source and self-hostable; commercial support or hosted services may be available.
Papra	—	AGPL-3.0	Yes	Free and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0; hosted services may be offered separately.
Sync-in	—	AGPL-3.0-or-later	Yes	Free and self-hostable; verify current hosted and deployment options.
ownCloud	—	Apache-2.0 backend / AGPL-3.0 web client	Yes	Open-source components are self-hostable; commercial offerings and support are available.
Twake Drive	—	AGPL-3.0	Yes	Open source and self-hostable; hosted services may be offered separately.
Firefiles	—	AGPL-3.0	Yes	Free and self-hostable; requires an external object-storage backend.
Peergos	—	AGPL-3.0 core	Yes	Open-source core is self-hostable; hosted services and support may be offered separately.
Hoodik	—	CC BY-NC 4.0	Yes	Source available for non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0; commercial use requires a separate agreement.

Which one should you choose?

Want the closest privacy-focused open-source MEGA alternative

Peergos combines client-side encryption, cryptographic permissions, secure sharing, versioning, peer-to-peer architecture, and self-hosting.

Peergos

Want the most complete self-hosted cloud platform

Nextcloud combines synchronization, sharing, versioning, collaboration, calendars, communication, and a large application ecosystem.

Nextcloud

Want fast file synchronization

Seafile focuses on efficient synchronization for large libraries and team storage.

Seafile

Want a lightweight encrypted self-hosted drive

Hoodik encrypts files in the browser before upload, although its CC BY-NC license makes it source available rather than open source.

Hoodik

Already have S3, WebDAV, or SFTP storage

Filestash provides a unified web interface over storage backends you already control.

Filestash

Want modern self-hosted synchronization and sharing

Sync-in combines desktop synchronization, shared spaces, secure sharing, search, WebDAV, and office integrations.

Sync-in

← Browse more software