Ready to administer your personal server?
There are two options worth looking into – Nextcloud and ownCloud. Their association is stunning and can be confusing. It’s worth mentioning that although they have some similarities, they do have some differences too.
But before we jump in to compare and contrast the two, here’s a short history lesson concerning each one.
OwnCloud Backstory
Frank Karlitschek initiated a project known as ownCloud during an announcement at a Keynote talk in 2010 hosted by KDE. When it rolled out, its main takeaway was to give individuals and businesses full data control for them not to depend on alternative cloud hosting options. This triggered ownCloud Inc’s creation.
Regrettably, he, including a considerable number of developers departed from ownCloud Inc. He did not give any reason as to why they departed. They only hinted that the main problem that the business model they designed wasn’t complimenting a non-proprietary model.
Nextcloud Backstory
After departing from ownCloud Inc, in 2016, he founded Nextcloud Enterprise – a non-proprietary version of its predecessor with a unique design. Both are strikingly alike, nonetheless, Nextcloud considerably evolved, increasing its reputation significantly outpacing ownCloud.
He and his team are constantly working on making it operate like MS Office 365 and/or Google docs platforms. Since it resembles its own cloud storage, it provides automated administering and business-class nextcloud server options.
Comparisons
- Control panel – logging into your dashboard, they are both identical. There are slight modifications but the two interfaces look identical
- Groupware support – assist task management, file and information sharing, and much more
- Self-hosting as an option – deploy seamlessly without choosing premium solutions
- Multiplatform – caters for pc, mac, iOS, and android
Distinctions
- Licensing – ownCloud operates under two licenses. AGPLv3 for the basic plan and its own commercial license for its business plan. Nextcloud’s AGPLv3 license serves both commercial and business plans
- Unique characteristics – ownCloud has an array of unique features only if you have a premium subscription. On the flip side, Nextcloud has unique features for basic, standard, and premium subscriptions. An additional feature for premium members is the inclusion of technical support when performing enterprise deployments
- Documentation – ownCloud has a readily deployable configuration file for its enterprise edition. In contrast, Nextcloud has its configuration file on GitHub’s repository – can be a little problematic to locate
So, Who is the Undisputed Champ?
Knowing Nextcloud and owncloud comparisons and distinctions, there is no outright winner. Each has its own unique features and also talking points. But having the knowledge of what both have to offer, you can feel comfortable choosing to host your own cloud storage server.
