Nextcloud
Self-hosted productivity platform for files, calendar and collaboration — a European alternative to Google Workspace.
Overview
Nextcloud is a Stuttgart, Germany-based European company building cloud storage, collaboration, and open source software since 2016. As an EU-headquartered provider, Nextcloud operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive for European teams.
Why European teams pick Nextcloud
Teams in Europe pick Nextcloud when they want a cloud storage provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Germany law, operating since 2016. Compared with Dropbox and Google Drive, Nextcloud avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
See more EU cloud storage tools or browse other startups from Germany.
About
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hostable productivity platform developed in Germany, covering files (sync and share), calendar, contacts, video calls, collaborative document editing, and 200+ apps through its app store. It is deployed by thousands of organisations across Europe including universities, government agencies, and enterprises as a replacement for Google Workspace and Dropbox. Because Nextcloud is entirely self-hosted, all data remains on infrastructure you control — a Hetzner VPS, an on-premise server, or your own data centre. The Community Edition is free under AGPL; Nextcloud Enterprise adds support, compliance features, and performance optimisations. Nextcloud is the most widely deployed self-hosted collaboration platform in Europe.
Details
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Stuttgart, Germany
Categories
Other EU startups like Nextcloud
- PocketbaseBulgaria — Open-source backend in a single file — a European alternative to Firebase.
- NocoDBGermany — Open-source Airtable alternative that turns databases into smart spreadsheets.
- BaserowNetherlands — Open-source no-code database and Airtable alternative — built in the Netherlands.
- PortainerNew Zealand — Container management UI for Docker and Kubernetes — a New Zealand/European alternative to Rancher.
- NetdataGreece — Open-source real-time infrastructure monitoring — an alternative to Datadog.
- NotesnookGermany — Zero-knowledge encrypted note-taking app — an alternative to Evernote.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nextcloud?
Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hostable productivity platform developed in Germany, covering files (sync and share), calendar, contacts, video calls, collaborative document editing, and 200+ apps through its app store. It is deployed by thousands of organisations across Europe including universities, government agencies, and enterprises as a replacement for Google Workspace and Dropbox. Because Nextcloud is entirely self-hosted, all data remains on infrastructure you control — a Hetzner VPS, an on-premise server, or your own data centre. The Community Edition is free under AGPL; Nextcloud Enterprise adds support, compliance features, and performance optimisations. Nextcloud is the most widely deployed self-hosted collaboration platform in Europe.
What does Nextcloud do?
Nextcloud is self-hosted productivity platform for files, calendar and collaboration — a european alternative to google workspace. It is listed under cloud storage, collaboration, and open source on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European cloud storage tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from Dropbox and Google Drive.
Is Nextcloud a good European cloud storage alternative?
Nextcloud is a fit for European businesses evaluating cloud storage options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with collaboration and open source use cases.
Is Nextcloud GDPR compliant?
Nextcloud is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Germany's data protection authority, the Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI). Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Nextcloud to disclose customer data the way they can with Dropbox and Google Drive. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from Dropbox to Nextcloud?
Most teams move to Nextcloud from Dropbox and Google Drive because they want EU data residency without giving up the core cloud storage workflow. Nextcloud's Germany base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Nextcloud with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is Nextcloud based?
Nextcloud is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. The company was founded in 2016. Its main website is https://nextcloud.com.