Best Dropbox and Google Drive Alternatives in 2026: Private, Free and Self-Hosted

The best Dropbox alternatives depend on what you want to change. Nextcloud is the self-hosted all-rounder for files, calendars and sharing. Proton Drive and Sync.com add end-to-end encryption on hosted storage, and Syncthing syncs folders directly between your own devices with no central server. Most of these also work as Google Drive alternatives.

This guide covers hosted cloud storage and self-hosted file sync, then a short section for one-off large transfers if you mainly want a WeTransfer replacement. Picks run roughly from most to least similar to everyday Dropbox and Drive use.

Why people look for Dropbox and Google Drive alternatives

Both services are closed-source, hosted products. Enlisted's data shows the common reasons for leaving.

• Free tiers fill up. Dropbox has a free Basic plan and paid per-user plans above it. Google Drive has a free tier whose allowance, according to Google's own pages, is shared across a Google account's services.
• Privacy and encryption. If you want files encrypted so the provider cannot read them, several services build that in by design, as their vendors describe it, and self-hosted options keep data on servers you own.
• Data control. Neither Dropbox nor Google Drive can be self-hosted. If your files must stay on your own hardware or in a set region, you need a different tool.
• Bundled suites. Dropbox's product family now extends well beyond storage, with tools for video review, e-signatures and document sharing, and Google Drive is part of Google Workspace. Some people only want sync and sharing.
• One-off sending. Sometimes you do not need storage at all, only a way to send a large file once.

How we picked

Each pick covers the core of what Dropbox and Google Drive do: syncing files across devices and sharing them. For open-source tools, Enlisted checks for recent GitHub activity and quotes licences as listed. For hosted services, it looks for a published free plan or trial and for stated encryption design. Facts come from catalogue entries and vendor pages. Encryption statements are attributed to the vendors and have not been verified by Enlisted. The ranking method is explained in how Enlisted ranks tools.

1. Nextcloud: best self-hosted alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive

Nextcloud is an open-source, self-hosted file sync, sharing and collaboration platform that keeps files, contacts and calendars on a server you choose. Where Dropbox and Google Drive store your files on their servers, Nextcloud lets you sign up with a provider, install it yourself or use an appliance. Its site describes Files, Talk for chat and calls, an online office suite with collaborative editing, and Calendar, Contacts and Mail, with desktop, mobile and web interfaces. Hundreds of apps extend it.

The server is released under AGPL-3.0. Nextcloud also sells Enterprise subscriptions and managed hosting, so the cost of the software is separate from the cost of support. Nextcloud All-in-One is the official Docker-based installer, and the clients are on Enlisted as Nextcloud Desktop and Nextcloud Android. Its lineage runs back to ownCloud, which is still maintained as a separate project.

• Best for: individuals and teams who want one self-hosted replacement for Drive or Dropbox, including calendars, contacts and document editing.
• Watch out for: you run and maintain the server, including updates and backups, and it is a larger platform than a plain sync tool.

2. Proton Drive: best private hosted storage with a free plan

Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Proton, a Swiss company, for backing up, syncing and sharing files and photos. Proton says the provider cannot read your files. The service has a free plan, apps for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, a web app and a command-line client, plus online editors for documents and spreadsheets.

For Google Drive switchers, Proton publishes guides for moving from Drive, Docs, Sheets and Photos. Check the Proton Drive page for the current pricing model, and see all Google Drive alternatives.

• Best for: privacy-conscious people who want hosted storage rather than running a server.
• Watch out for: Enlisted lists it as closed source and hosted only, and the free plan has a storage cap.

3. Syncthing: best for syncing folders between your own devices with no server

Syncthing is open-source continuous file synchronisation that keeps folders in step between two or more computers, with devices exchanging files directly instead of through a central storage service. It is written in Go and released under MPL-2.0. The project ranks protecting users from data loss and staying secure against eavesdropping and tampering among its main goals.

There is no cloud to pay for, because your own machines hold the data. Graphical front ends exist for Windows, Mac and Linux, and there is an official macOS tray app. Read the Syncthing listing for current activity.

• Best for: syncing documents or photos across your own laptop, desktop and home server without a subscription.
• Watch out for: it focuses on syncing folders between your devices, so if you also need to share files with clients by link, pair it with a transfer tool or choose Nextcloud.

4. Seafile: best self-hosted file sync for teams

Seafile is a file synchronisation and sharing platform with desktop and mobile clients. Beyond syncing and sharing, it describes a newer way of organising files with extensible properties and flexible views, and its topics tie it to wikis and Markdown documents.

Enlisted lists a free Community Edition you can self-host, a paid Pro Edition and a hosted team plan. The licence is listed as Other, so check which parts of each edition are open source before you commit. More at the Seafile entry.

• Best for: small teams that want self-hosted sync and sharing, with the option to pay for the Pro Edition or hosted plan later.
• Watch out for: the licence is not a single standard open-source licence in Enlisted's data, and some features sit in paid editions.

5. Sync.com: best zero-knowledge encrypted storage for sharing files

Sync.com is a Canadian cloud storage and file sharing service that says it encrypts files end to end, so that, according to the company, not even its staff can see them. It offers secure sharing with permissions, a client file portal and shared team folders, with access from computers, mobile devices and the web. Its homepage offers a free start, and Enlisted lists team plans with a trial.

It is aimed at individuals, teams and regulated sectors such as healthcare and legal. See Sync.com alternatives for similar encrypted services.

• Best for: people who need to share confidential documents with clients from hosted storage.
• Watch out for: it is closed source, so the encryption claims rest on the company's documentation and audits rather than public code. Read its security page first.

6. pCloud: best for a Swiss-based service with lifetime plans

pCloud is a cloud storage service run by pCloud International AG, a Swiss company, that lets you store, sync and share files from any device. Its site says you choose where your files live, Europe or the USA, and Enlisted lists lifetime payment plans alongside monthly and annual ones. File sharing supports branded links, and backup and recovery are included.

An optional client-side encryption feature means only you hold the key. Lifetime plans suit people who would rather pay once than monthly. Compare options on the pCloud alternatives page and see the pCloud listing.

• Best for: individuals who prefer a one-time lifetime payment over a subscription.
• Watch out for: client-side encryption is an optional add-on, so check what is included before you store sensitive files. It is closed source and hosted only.

7. MEGA: best free encrypted storage with chat and meetings

MEGA is a cloud storage and privacy service built on encryption by default, according to the company. Besides storage and sharing, it offers private chat and video meetings, a file-transfer tool called Transfer.it, a VPN and a password manager. It has a free plan, and the site includes comparison pages for people switching from Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive.

If you want storage plus communication tools from one encrypted provider, that bundle is the reason to look. See MEGA alternatives or the MEGA page.

• Best for: personal users who want a free, encrypted drive with sharing.
• Watch out for: it is closed source and offers several products besides storage, so check the free plan's limits against what you need.

8. Microsoft OneDrive: best if you already live in Microsoft 365

Microsoft OneDrive is Microsoft's cloud storage service for syncing and sharing files, integrated with Microsoft 365. Documents created in Word, Excel and other apps can be stored and shared from the same place, and the service has a free tier.

It is the natural switch for a Google Drive user who works in Microsoft's apps, though it is still a closed, hosted service, so it does not solve privacy or self-hosting concerns. See OneDrive alternatives and the OneDrive entry.

• Best for: people and teams that already use Microsoft 365.
• Watch out for: it is closed source and built around a Microsoft account.

One-off file transfers: WeTransfer alternatives

If you only need to send a big file once, a transfer tool is simpler than a cloud drive. WeTransfer sends large files, photos and videos by link or email without an account; see WeTransfer alternatives for the full list. Two open-source options stand out.

9. LocalSend: best for sending files to nearby devices without internet

LocalSend is an open-source, cross-platform app for sending files and messages between devices on the same local network, often described as an AirDrop alternative. Devices talk directly over a REST API protected by HTTPS, so no external servers or accounts are needed. Apps cover Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux, and it is released under Apache-2.0. See the LocalSend page.

• Best for: moving files between your own phone, tablet and computer, even across different operating systems.
• Watch out for: both devices need to be on the same network, so it is not for sending to someone elsewhere.

10. croc: best open-source command-line tool for encrypted transfers

croc is a cross-platform command-line tool for sending files and folders between any two computers. The sender gets a short code phrase and the receiver types it in, and the data moves directly between them where possible, falling back to a relay when needed. Transfers are end-to-end encrypted using a password-authenticated key exchange, and interrupted transfers can be resumed. It is released under MIT, and a browser version at getcroc.com works with the command-line client. Open the croc listing.

• Best for: developers and technical users who send files between servers and laptops.
• Watch out for: it is a live transfer between two computers rather than a link that stays online, and it is command-line first.

Web-based senders cover the rest. Smash offers a free plan with no sign-up and no file size limit, according to the vendor, with password protection and expiry dates. Filemail sends files by link or email without an account up to a free limit, with paid tiers for tracking and branding. TransferNow lets you protect each transfer with a password, and Send Anywhere shares files using one-time keys, links or direct connections.

Is there a free alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive?

Yes, in two forms. Self-hosted tools such as Nextcloud, Syncthing and the Seafile Community Edition cost nothing in licence fees, but you provide the hardware and the upkeep. Hosted services with free plans include Proton Drive, MEGA and OneDrive, and Dropbox and Google Drive themselves have free tiers. Free plans cap storage, so the real question is whether the cap fits your files.

Self-hosting a file sync tool: what you need

Self-hosting trades subscription fees for responsibility. You need a computer or server that stays online, a way to reach it from outside your home if you want remote access, regular software updates and, above all, backups. A synced copy is not a backup: if you delete a file on one device, sync tools propagate the deletion. Nextcloud's All-in-One installer bundles the database, caching and backups behind one admin interface, which lowers the setup effort, and Syncthing avoids a central server altogether. If you would rather not run anything, pick a hosted service from the list above.

Leaving iCloud as well?

iCloud is Apple's service for storing and syncing photos, files and device backups, with paid iCloud+ tiers for more storage. The tools above can replace its file storage side: Nextcloud, Proton Drive and Syncthing are options in Enlisted's catalogue. For photos, Ente is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo cloud and Immich is a self-hosted photo and video library with mobile auto-backup. See the iCloud alternatives page, and if you also keep passwords in iCloud Keychain, read the best password managers guide.

Which Dropbox or Google Drive alternative should you choose?

If Google Docs collaboration is the real reason you use Drive, your answer may also include a notes or docs tool; the best productivity apps guide covers those. Otherwise, browse the file storage category for more, or read the Dropbox alternatives page for a ranked list.