Alternatives / Microsoft OneDrive

Open-source alternatives to Microsoft OneDrive

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

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Written by Maxime DERAME

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Why look for a Microsoft OneDrive alternative?

Microsoft OneDrive provides cloud storage, file synchronization, sharing, collaboration, and Microsoft 365 integration. People look for alternatives when they want self-hosting, data sovereignty, private cloud infrastructure, secure sharing, end-to-end encryption, on-premises deployment, WebDAV or S3 storage, and less dependence on Microsoft cloud services.

#1

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
#2

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
#3

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
#4

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
#5

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
#6

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
#7

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
#8

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
#9

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
#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
#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
#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

Compare Microsoft OneDrive alternatives

ToolStarsLicenseSelf-hostedPricing
PuterAGPL-3.0YesFree and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0; hosted services may be offered separately.
SpacedriveFSL-1.1-ALv2YesSource available under FSL-1.1 with Apache-2.0 future relicensing; verify current hosted terms.
NextcloudAGPL-3.0-or-laterYesFree and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0-or-later; hosted and enterprise services may be paid.
EnteAGPL-3.0YesOpen-source clients and server; hosted storage plans may be paid.
SeafileAGPL-3.0 server / GPL-2.0 client / Apache-2.0 componentsYesOpen-source components are self-hostable; commercial editions and hosted services may be paid.
FilestashAGPL-3.0YesFree and self-hostable; requires an existing storage backend and optional commercial services may exist.
OpenCloudApache-2.0 backend / AGPL-3.0 web componentsYesOpen source and self-hostable; commercial support or hosted services may be available.
PapraAGPL-3.0YesFree and self-hostable under AGPL-3.0; hosted services may be offered separately.
Sync-inAGPL-3.0-or-laterYesFree and self-hostable; verify current hosted and deployment options.
ownCloudApache-2.0 backend / AGPL-3.0 web clientYesOpen-source components are self-hostable; commercial offerings and support are available.
Twake DriveAGPL-3.0YesOpen source and self-hostable; hosted services may be offered separately.
FirefilesAGPL-3.0YesFree and self-hostable; requires an external object-storage backend.

Which one should you choose?

Want the closest complete open-source OneDrive replacement

Nextcloud combines desktop and mobile synchronization, sharing, permissions, versioning, office collaboration, communication tools, and a large app ecosystem.

Nextcloud

Want a lighter modern self-hosted drive

Sync-in focuses directly on storage, synchronization, sharing, collaborative spaces, search, WebDAV, and office integrations.

Sync-in

Want maximum synchronization performance

Seafile has a long history of efficient synchronization for large libraries and team storage.

Seafile

Already have S3, WebDAV, or SFTP storage

Filestash provides a unified web interface over S3, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Samba, and other storage backends.

Filestash

Want encrypted photo and video storage

Ente focuses on end-to-end encrypted photo and video backup, albums, sharing, and cross-device synchronization.

Ente

Want document archiving instead of full file sync

Papra is designed for searchable document archives, tagging, metadata, and automated ingestion.

Papra