head to head · open source
Paperless-ngx vs Nextcloud
Paperless-ngx has 45,259 GitHub stars, 3,121 forks, 4 open issues and last shipped today. Nextcloud has 36,834 stars, 5,224 forks, 3,657 open issues and last shipped today. Paperless-ngx leads on adoption by 23% (45,259 vs 36,834 stars). Paperless-ngx is written in Python under GPL-3.0; Nextcloud is written in PHP under AGPL-3.0. Paperless-ngx has attracted 7% as many forks as stars, Nextcloud 14%. Paperless-ngx 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
| Paperless-ngx | Nextcloud | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 45K | ★ 37K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Python | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-09-18 | 2026-09-18 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.1K | ⑂ 5.2K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Paperless-ngx if
- You weight community size — 45K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- 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 Paperless-ngx
Paperless ngx is a community supported, GPL 3.0 licensed document management system written in Python that turns physical paperwork into a searchable, indexed online archive, and it is built for individuals, homelab operators and small teams who want to scan, index and archive their documents on infrastructure they control.
read the full Paperless-ngx overview →
About Nextcloud
Nextcloud is a self hosted cloud collaboration platform built in PHP, licensed under AGPL 3.0. It enables organizations and individuals to store, synchronize, and share files, contacts, calendars, and other data on infrastructure they control, replacing reliance on third party cloud services. The project lives in the open source cloud software ecosystem and serves as a decentralized alternative to proprietary suites like Dropbox, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365.
read the full Nextcloud overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Paperless-ngx or Nextcloud more popular?
Paperless-ngx has 45,259 GitHub stars and Nextcloud has 36,834. Paperless-ngx has the larger community by that measure.
Are Paperless-ngx and Nextcloud free?
Both are open source. Paperless-ngx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Nextcloud under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Paperless-ngx and Nextcloud?
Paperless-ngx is written in Python 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, Paperless-ngx or Nextcloud?
Choose Paperless-ngx if you want the larger community (45,259 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Nextcloud if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.