Nextcloud Hosting Comparison

Here you will find more information on Nextcloud web hosting:

What is Nextcloud web hosting and what is it used for?

Nextcloud web hosting is a special cloud storage service that uses the Nextcloud software solution. Customers can rely on a performant and secure implementation of their own cloud storage. As the entire hosting is optimised for running the Nextcloud software and it comes pre-installed, the personal cloud is immediately available for use.

Managing data in a personal cloud is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to using commercial providers. With the decreasing prices of storage space on traditional webspace and servers, setting up one's own open-source software like Nextcloud or ownCloud has become an attractive option for managing data within one's own IT environment. In comparison to professional providers, this option means there are no limitations in functionality, and having a personal cloud solution is also financially competitive.

What is Nextcloud?

Nextcloud is software released under the AGPLv3 open-source license for managing files on a server. Users can access the secured data through a web interface and a dedicated client application for smartphones and desktop PCs. To ensure a central and consistent data repository at all times, servers and clients are regularly synchronised. Nextcloud's functionalities go beyond simple data storage and even offer special features for video conferences and office applications.

The project was created in 2016 as a fork of the popular ownCloud application, providing increased security and numerous additional features compared to its predecessor. Nextcloud was founded by the German software developer Frank Karlitschek along with a team of other professionals, who continuously advance the development of the cloud software under the Nextcloud GmbH umbrella. In 2021, Nextcloud confirmed its selection for a central role in building the European cloud solution GAIA-X.

Some of the features of Nextcloud include:

• Workflow management with assignment of specific roles for users and groups
• Clear monitoring of server performance, stability, and events
• Real-time collaborative editing of office documents
• Full-text search for text files stored on the server
• Synchronisation of local folders as remote backups
• Support for centralised management of contacts and calendars
• Audio and video communication with users and external parties
• Extension of functionality through modules and plugins

Another advantage of Nextcloud compared to other solutions is the provision of open-source licensed clients for various operating systems including Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Unix, and mobile devices running Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows Mobile.

Discover how Nextcloud differs from competitors:
Nextcloud vs ownCloud
HiDrive vs Nextcloud

What costs are involved in operating Nextcloud web hosting?

Since the use of Nextcloud itself is free, operating Nextcloud web hosting only incurs the costs for web hosting that need to be paid to the web hosting provider. The exact amount of costs depends on the scope of the selected Nextcloud web hosting plan.

For private users, the basic Nextcloud software is available for free. However, professional users who wish to utilise all features of the cloud solution often need to resort to partially paid interfaces. Additionally, setting it up on a server usually requires specialised personnel. The easiest and most cost-effective option is therefore to use a dedicated Nextcloud web hosting service, where the application is pre-configured. Companies looking to implement custom Nextcloud solutions may need to invest heavily in support contracts directly with Nextcloud.

What alternatives to Nextcloud are available?

There are several other interesting cloud solutions that are also available for free as open-source software. In addition to the direct competitor ownCloud from Germany, Seafile, a strong player from China, is also active in the market. Furthermore, various web hosts offer their own cloud storage solutions.

At Hosttest.de, suitable web hosting packages for other cloud solutions can also be found. These include:

ownCloud Hosting Comparison
HiDrive Cloud Storage Comparison

What requirements does Nextcloud have for web hosting?

Nextcloud uses a combination of PHP and Javascript server-side as programming languages. Only very minimal resources are required for basic operation. However, the requirements significantly depend on the number of users, the services used, as well as the storage capacity and number of files.

For the software to function, it requires a Linux OS, access to a database in MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, as well as a current Apache Webserver or NGINX Webserver with PHP enabled. Practically, these requirements are met by almost all professional web hosting providers, although complications and incompatibilities may arise in individual cases due to lack of support for necessary modules in Apache or PHP.

Further details on the technical requirements of Nextcloud web hosting can be found in the following table:

Detailed information on the technical requirements for the latest Shopware version can be found directly from the developer at: https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/installation/system_requirements.html

By opting for a specific Nextcloud web hosting, compatibility issues when using the cloud solution can be completely eliminated.

What criteria are important when comparing Nextcloud hosting providers?

Since Nextcloud Hosting involves a file server that is also suitable for applications such as file sharing, two factors play a crucial role and must be particularly considered in a comparison: storage space and traffic. In contrast to a web server, access times have a much less significant impact on latency and Server Response Time (SRT) as large files are primarily being transferred here. For Nextcloud Hosting, web space with SSD drives therefore only offers a minor advantage and can be neglected if they incur significantly higher costs compared to an HDD. Especially for backing up important data, the priority should instead be on storage capacity and a secure storage of backups in a RAID array. For this purpose, cloud hosting is particularly suitable as it offers above-average data security due to its multiple redundancies.

Tip: Also, explore Nextcloud VPS hosting as a powerful and self-administered cloud storage solution or check out the most popular Nextcloud alternatives.

Choosing a Nextcloud web hosting provider from the comparison ensures the optimal operation of a reliable cloud solution.