Syncthing vs Nextcloud

Both keep your files up to date across devices without handing them to a cloud storage service. Syncthing syncs them straight from machine to machine, with no server. Nextcloud is a full cloud on a server of your own: files, calendars, contacts and apps.

By Jorge Aguilar · Checked against the official documentation; not a lab test · Updated October 30, 2026

Guide: Syncthing Guide: Nextcloud GitHub Syncthing (opens in a new tab) GitHub Nextcloud (opens in a new tab)

Side by side.

Comparison of Syncthing and Nextcloud, with data from their guides
Item	Syncthing	Nextcloud
Who it is for	For anyone who wants to keep the same folders on several computers without paying for or depending on a cloud storage service.	For anyone who wants their own cloud for files, calendars and contacts and can set aside time to maintain a server.
Systems	Built for the common systems: there are binaries for Windows and macOS (signed), Linux and a Docker image. The community maintains variants for Android and other interfaces.	64-bit Linux server: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 recommended; also Ubuntu 24.04, RHEL 9, Debian 13, SLES, openSUSE, CentOS Stream and Alpine. All-in-One runs wherever Docker does. Clients: Windows 10+, macOS 12+, Linux, iOS and Android.
License	MPL-2.0 Open source with copyleftMPL-2.0: weak, file-level copyleft. You can use it and combine it with other code; changes to MPL files must be shared under the same license.	AGPL-3.0 Open source with copyleftAGPL-3.0 or later: strong copyleft. If you modify Nextcloud and offer it over a network, you must publish your changes under the same license.
RAM	Not documented	minimum: 128 MB Per processrecommended: 512 MB Per process
CPU	Not documented	Not documented
Disk	Not documented	Not documented
Figures leave out	Not documented	The database, the cache, the apps, concurrent users and how many PHP processes run at once: the docs do not model them.
Install	3 steps (1 with a command) see steps	4 steps (0 with a command) see steps
Repo and docs	GitHub (opens in a new tab) · Documentation (opens in a new tab)	GitHub (opens in a new tab) · Documentation (opens in a new tab)
On this site	Full guideNot in the server calculator	Full guideCheck whether your machine can handle it

The figures come as-is from each repo's documentation and are never added across different scopes. A dashed label means that figure is not the total (per process, per user, from an example…): the guide explains each one. "Steps" counts the steps in the guide, not how long it takes.

Which one fits you.

Pick Syncthing if…

You only want the same folders on several computers, with no account and no server.
You do not want to pay for, or depend on, a cloud storage service.
You want only the devices you authorize to connect, with the traffic protected by TLS.

Watch out with Syncthing

You need at least one other device powered on for any syncing to happen.
Global discovery and relays are on by default: your device ID and ports are announced to public servers and, if traffic goes through a public relay, its operator sees your IP, your ID and the data volume.
Through a relay speed is much lower than on a direct connection. The Android versions and other interfaces are community projects, not part of the core.

Pick Nextcloud if…

Besides files, you want calendars and contacts on your own server.
You want to share and collaborate with other people, and extend it with apps like Calendar, Contacts, Mail and video calls.
You want official clients for iOS and Android, as well as Windows, macOS and Linux.
You can spend time maintaining a server, or you would rather hire a provider to host it.

Watch out with Nextcloud

It needs a database, a web server and PHP, or All-in-One, which packages it in Docker.
The All-in-One command mounts /var/run/docker.sock: the master container can create and manage other containers on your server.
The RAM figures in the documentation are per PHP process, not the server total.

What they share.

Sync files between your devices.
The software is free; the real cost is your hardware, electricity and your time.
Open source with copyleft (of different strength: see the table).
Both can run in Docker.

What neither does.

Syncing is not backing up: the Syncthing guide says so and points to a separate backup tool. With Nextcloud, backup is something you turn on (All-in-One includes an optional one with BorgBackup).
Neither guide measures sync speed; there are no lab tests behind them.

In short.

If all you need is for some folders to match across your computers, Syncthing is the least that gets it done. If you want a cloud with a calendar, contacts and sharing with others, and you accept running a server, Nextcloud.

This is guidance based on what the guides say, not a score or a test. If your case is critical, read the official documentation of both.

Where all of this comes from.

Checked against the official documentation; not a lab test. This comparison was put together on October 30, 2026 from each repo's guide, which were checked on October 29, 2026. Nothing was installed or measured. If something has changed, the project's documentation is the authority.

Syncthing

Nextcloud

How I review each repo.

Keep going.

Guide: Syncthing Guide: Nextcloud Check whether your machine can handle them All comparisons