Nextcloud vs. Proton Drive
Side by side, with sources. Checked Oct 3, 2026.
Nextcloud
Open source
Proton Drive
Free plan + paidPrice
The software is free and open source. Free 2–5 GB accounts come from partner providers; the paid Enterprise subscription starts at 100 users.Source: nextcloud.com
Free plan with 5 GB. Drive Plus (200 GB) is US$4.99 a month, or US$3.99 a month billed yearly.from $3.99/monthSource: proton.me
Pricing model
Open source · Free plan available
Free plan + paid · Free plan available
License
Open source · AGPL-3.0The server is AGPL-3.0 and the desktop client GPL-2.0.
Open core · GPL-3.0The Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and web apps are GPL-3.0; the Proton Drive service is run only by Proton, and its server code is not published.
Works on
- ✓ Windows
- ✓ Mac
- ✓ Linux
- ✓ iPhone & iPad
- ✓ Android
- ✓ Web browser
- ✓ Your own server
- ✓ Windows
- ✓ Mac
- – Linux
- ✓ iPhone & iPad
- ✓ Android
- ✓ Web browser
- – Your own server
Where your data lives
On whichever Nextcloud server you use: the provider you signed up with, or your own.
On Proton’s servers, end-to-end encrypted; Proton says it owns its server hardware in Switzerland and Germany.
Getting started
Difficulty: Medium No server is needed if you sign up with a provider, but you pick one and connect the apps to its address. Running your own server means Docker.
Difficulty: Easy Official installers, app-store apps and a free account; nothing to run yourself.
Hosted version
Nextcloud Simple Signup (partner providers)Partner providers run free single-user accounts of 2–5 GB; bigger plans cost extra and are run by the provider, not Nextcloud GmbH.
Proton Drive (free 5 GB)The free plan has 5 GB; the service runs on Proton’s servers.