If you’re looking to move off Google Drive, you have options. Real ones. Here are the 3 open-source, self-hostable alternatives I’ve tested, with honest notes on what each does well and where each falls short.
Why leave Google Drive?
- 15GB free tier is shared with Gmail and Photos — fills up fast.
- Google scans documents for advertising signals unless you’re on paid Workspace.
- Real-time collab is great but you don’t own the underlying files.
The 3 best self-hosted alternatives to Google Drive
Nextcloud + OnlyOffice
The closest Google Workspace equivalent. Real-time collab on docs/sheets/slides.
Visit Nextcloud + OnlyOffice website →CryptPad
End-to-end encrypted docs and sheets. Trade-off: fewer features than Google Docs.
Visit CryptPad website →Quick comparison
| Alternative | Difficulty | License |
|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud + OnlyOffice | Medium | AGPL-3.0 |
| Seafile | Medium | AGPL-3.0 |
| CryptPad | Medium | AGPL-3.0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Google Drive?
Yes. Every tool listed above is free and open source. Some, like Nextcloud + OnlyOffice, also have optional paid hosted tiers if you don’t want to run the server yourself. Everything else is genuinely free to self-host — you pay only for your own hardware and time.
Which one should I pick if I’ve never self-hosted anything before?
Start with Nextcloud + OnlyOffice. It’s the lowest-friction option here — realistic to have running in an afternoon on a small server or Raspberry Pi. If it doesn’t fit your workflow, Seafile is a good second try.
Can I run these on a Raspberry Pi?
Most of them, yes — the tools marked Easy here will comfortably run on a Pi 4 or Pi 5 with 4GB+ of RAM. The Medium tools may work but appreciate a mini PC or a spare desktop. Hard-tagged tools generally want real server hardware.
What about mobile apps?
It varies. Tools like Vaultwarden and Immich have native iOS/Android apps that connect to your server. Others rely on the web UI through your phone browser — fine for occasional use, not a full app experience.