head to head · open source
Spacedrive vs Nextcloud
Spacedrive has 39,386 GitHub stars, 1,370 forks, 57 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. Nextcloud has 37,396 stars, 5,334 forks, 3,657 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Spacedrive leads on adoption by 5% (39,386 vs 37,396 stars). Spacedrive is written in Rust under Apache-2.0; Nextcloud is written in PHP under AGPL-3.0. Spacedrive has attracted 3% as many forks as stars, Nextcloud 14%. Nextcloud was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Spacedrive | Nextcloud | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 39K | ★ 37K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Rust | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-10-31 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 1.4K | ⑂ 5.3K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Spacedrive if
- You weight community size — 39K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Rust
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Nextcloud if
- You want the Nextcloud feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches PHP
- You evaluated both and Nextcloud fits your workflow better
About Spacedrive
Spacedrive One file manager for all your devices and clouds. Powered by a Virtual Distributed File System, complete with apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android v2.spacedrive.com • Discord • Getting Started What is Spacedrive? Spacedrive is a cross device data platform. Index files, emails, notes, and external sources. Search everything. Sync via P2P. Keep AI agents safe with built in screening. Content identity — every file gets a BLAKE3 content hash. Same file on two devices produces the same hash. Spacedrive tracks redundancy and deduplication across all your machines. Cross device — see all…
read the full Spacedrive overview →
About Nextcloud
Nextcloud Server ☁ A safe home for all your data. Why is this so awesome? 🤩 📁 Access your Data You can store your files, contacts, calendars, and more on a server of your choosing. 🔄 Sync your Data You keep your files, contacts, calendars, and more synchronized amongst your devices. 🙌 Share your Data …by giving others access to the stuff you want them to see or to collaborate with. 🚀 Expandable with hundreds of Apps ...like Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Video Chat and all those you can discover in our App Store 🔒 Security with our encryption mechanisms, HackerOne bounty program and two factor authentication…
read the full Nextcloud overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Spacedrive or Nextcloud more popular?
Spacedrive has 39,386 GitHub stars and Nextcloud has 37,396. Spacedrive has the larger community by that measure.
Are Spacedrive and Nextcloud free?
Both are open source. Spacedrive is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Nextcloud under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Spacedrive and Nextcloud?
Spacedrive is written in Rust and Nextcloud in PHP. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Spacedrive or Nextcloud?
Choose Spacedrive if you want the larger community (39,386 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Nextcloud if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.