Open-Source Alternatives to Dropbox Business / Box
Based on our dataset, the self-hostable open-source alternatives to Dropbox Business / Box are Nextcloud Hub and Seafile. The Dropbox Business / Box plan we benchmark is Standard/Advanced ($18-$24/user/mo).
Data last updated . How we check.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | License | RAM in starter config | Needs Postgres / Redis | Migration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud Hub | AGPL-3.0 | 1024 MB | Yes / Yes | Easy |
| Seafile | GPL-2.0 | 512 MB | No / No | Easy |
Nextcloud Hub
Self-hosted file sync, collaborative Office docs, calendar, contacts, and video calls
- Native macOS, Windows, iOS & Android auto-sync apps
- Mount cheap Hetzner Storage Box or Cloudflare R2
- Password-protected client share links
Docker image nextcloud:stable. GitHub: nextcloud/server (27.8k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://nextcloud.com
Seafile
High-performance C-based file sync and share platform with block-level deduplication
- 5x faster sync on huge media folders than PHP clouds
- Client-side end-to-end library encryption
- Virtual drive client streams files on demand
Docker image seafileltd/seafile-mc:latest. GitHub: haiwen/seafile (12.4k stars when our data was last updated). Website: https://www.seafile.com
Switching from Dropbox Business / Box
- Pick an alternative above and open its comparison page for the cost breakdown.
- Generate a free starter
docker-compose.ymlin the stack builder. - Test it on a small server with a copy of your data before moving the team over.
- Check the migration notes in the table, and the official docs of the tool you pick.
More detail: Replace Dropbox Business / Box guide.
FAQ
What are the open-source alternatives to Dropbox Business / Box?
In the StackSwitcher dataset, the self-hostable open-source alternatives to Dropbox Business / Box are Nextcloud Hub, Seafile.
Which Dropbox Business / Box plan does StackSwitcher compare against?
We benchmark Dropbox Business / Box Standard/Advanced ($18-$24/user/mo). The main pain point we note: Paying $18-$24 per user every month for storage you could host yourself on S3-compatible object storage.
How much RAM does Nextcloud Hub need when self-hosted?
Our starter Docker config budgets 1024 MB of RAM for Nextcloud Hub plus Postgres and Redis. Real needs depend on your usage.
How much RAM does Seafile need when self-hosted?
Our starter Docker config budgets 512 MB of RAM for Seafile. Real needs depend on your usage.
Config templates are MIT licensed and provided "AS IS", with no warranty of any kind and no liability. Prices and specs are informational estimates from our dataset, so check the vendor and project sites before you decide. See the Terms & No Warranty disclaimer.