3 Open Source alternatives to Google Drive in 2026
We compare 3 self-hostable tools you can deploy on your own server in minutes, with license, tech stack and a ready-to-copy docker-compose.
Quick comparison
Sorted by featured first, then GitHub stars as a tiebreaker — the same rule we use across the whole site.
Detailed profile of each alternative
Alternative to Google Drive, Dropbox
File cloud and collaboration, an alternative to Google Drive.
Alternative to Google Drive
File storage and sync, an alternative to Google Drive.
Alternative to Google Drive
Universal web file explorer, a front-end alternative to Google Drive.
How do I replace Google Drive?
A practical guide with the real use case and limitation of each of the 3 alternatives, to pick the one that fits best.
See replacement guide →How much does Google Drive cost, and how much can you save?
Google Drive costs $7.20/mo per user. Self-hosting the alternative, you only pay for the server — usually a few dollars a month.
Calculate your exact savings in the SaaS Audit →Already know which one you want?
Add Nextcloud to the Stack Builder and generate a ready-to-deploy docker-compose.yml, alone or alongside the rest of your stack.
Build my stackFrequently asked questions
Do I need Docker to self-host a Google Drive alternative?
Yes, for all 3: each one has a ready-to-copy docker-compose.yml. You just need Docker installed on your server.
How much RAM do I need at minimum?
The lightest option on this list is Filestash, which runs on as little as 256MB of RAM — enough for a cheap VPS.
Are they all 100% free, or are there paid features like on Google Drive?
0 out of 3 are 100% FOSS. The rest are Open-Core: the core is free and self-hostable, but some advanced feature may stay paid — we call it out on each tool's page.