Nextcloud: The Next Generation File Sharing & Cloud Storage App

Nextcloud is open source cloud storage software that allows you to back up and store files to the cloud from anywhere. Think Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud, except that you have complete control over where and how your files are stored. Nextcloud application is similar to Dropbox and Google Drive but can be used on home-local computers or for off-premises file storage hosting.

The Nextcloud software essentially comes in two parts:

1. Server software which provides the backend infrastructure needed to store your files in the cloud. This can be installed on your own computer in your own in your home (self-hosted) or on a remote server operated and maintained by someone else (hosted).

2. Client software which is used to upload and access your files on a day-to-day basis. Client apps are available for Windows, iOS, Linux (many distros), and Android.

Features of Nextcloud

If you take the easy route and allow a Nextcloud partner to set up a fully-hosted cloud for you, then it controls which features are available to your account.

Free fully-hosted accounts typically restrict access to features such as file versioning and end-to-end encryption, while premium accounts usually provide full administrator access which allows you to install apps.

· Free and open source

· Self-hosted or hosted

· End-to-End encryption

· File versioning

· Easily share files

· Collaboration

· Stream media files

· Calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks

· Auto-upload photos from mobile devices

· Two-factor authentication

· Cross-platform

The desktop app

The desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux creates a Nextcloud folder which syncs all files placed in it across all devices configured to use your Nextcloud account. You can choose which folders get synced and ask for confirmation before uploading files over a specified size.

In Windows (but not macOS and Linux) you can right-click on files in the Nextcloud folder to share them.

Other than that, the desktop app is very similar on all platforms.

The web portal

Nextcloud’s more advanced features are available via the web interface. The exact features which are available very much depend on which apps you (or whoever has admin access for your account) have installed.

If you have administrator access, then you can choose from a huge list of apps to install.

The mobile apps

Mobile apps are available for Android and iOS. As already noted, the Android as is available outside the Play Store for the more Google-phobic of you out there.

Unlike with the desktop apps, files are not synced to local storage defaults. But you can choose to download files, upload files (accepting iOS’ usual built-in restrictions on this front), or sync any folders you like.

Final thoughts

Nextcloud is an insanely fully-featured cloud backup solution that works beautifully across multiple devices and platforms. Indeed, its potential feature set, easily expanded by administrators through a one-click app installation, puts the likes of Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud to shame.

The biggest pull, of course, is that Nextcloud apps provide you with total control over how and where your files are stored. This is a big privacy win, although the fact that end-to-end encryption remains at the “trial” stage does introduce privacy concerns when using third-party (hosted) storage space.