Nextcloud vs Syncthing: Which File Sync to Use?
Quick Verdict
Nextcloud and Syncthing solve different problems. Nextcloud is a full cloud platform — file sync, sharing, calendars, contacts, office suite, and 400+ apps. It replaces Google Drive/Workspace. Syncthing is a pure file sync tool — no server, no web UI for browsing, no sharing links. It replaces Dropbox’s sync engine. Choose Nextcloud if you want a cloud platform. Choose Syncthing if you just want files in sync across devices.
Overview
Nextcloud is a self-hosted productivity platform with file sync at its core. It runs as a PHP web application backed by a database (PostgreSQL or MariaDB) and serves files through a web browser, desktop sync clients, and mobile apps. It supports link sharing, collaborative editing, video calls, and hundreds of third-party apps. Think of it as Google Workspace that you run yourself.
Syncthing is a decentralized, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool. There is no central server — devices sync directly with each other using a custom protocol (BEP) over TLS. It runs as a lightweight daemon with a local web UI for configuration. It does one thing — keep folders in sync across devices — and does it exceptionally well.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Nextcloud | Syncthing |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Client-server (central hub) | Peer-to-peer (decentralized) |
| Web file browser | Yes (full web UI) | No (config-only web UI) |
| File sharing links | Yes (password-protected, expiring) | No |
| Desktop sync client | Yes (Windows, macOS, Linux) | Yes (Windows, macOS, Linux) |
| Mobile app | Yes (iOS, Android) | Yes (Android; no official iOS) |
| Office suite | Yes (Nextcloud Office / Collabora) | No |
| Calendar & contacts | Yes (CalDAV/CardDAV) | No |
| Email integration | Yes (via Mail app) | No |
| Video calls | Yes (Nextcloud Talk) | No |
| Third-party apps | 400+ apps in app store | No (sync only) |
| File versioning | Yes | Yes |
| Conflict resolution | Server wins (renames conflicts) | Renames conflicts (both kept) |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes (per-folder, client-side) | Yes (TLS in transit, untrusted relays) |
| Selective sync | Yes | Yes (per-folder) |
| Sync protocol | WebDAV + proprietary chunking | BEP (Block Exchange Protocol) |
| Sync speed | Moderate (HTTP overhead) | Fast (direct P2P, block-level) |
| Server required | Yes (PHP + database + web server) | No (P2P, no central server) |
| RAM usage (server) | 512 MB - 2 GB+ | 50-100 MB |
| CPU usage | Moderate to high | Low |
| Docker setup complexity | Complex (app + db + cron + Redis) | Simple (single container) |
| User management | Yes (multi-user, LDAP, SSO) | No (device-level only) |
| External storage | Yes (S3, SMB, FTP, WebDAV, SFTP) | No |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
Installation Complexity
Nextcloud requires a PHP runtime, a database (PostgreSQL recommended), a web server or Apache, Redis for caching, and a cron container for background tasks. A typical Docker Compose setup has 3-4 services and 10+ environment variables. Initial setup includes configuring trusted domains, setting up SSL, and tuning PHP memory limits. See our Nextcloud Docker guide.
Syncthing is a single binary (or single Docker container). Start it, open the web UI on port 8384, add a device ID from another Syncthing instance, choose folders to share, and sync begins. No database, no web server, no cron. See our Syncthing Docker guide.
Winner: Syncthing, dramatically. But this comparison isn’t entirely fair — Syncthing does far less than Nextcloud.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Resource | Nextcloud | Syncthing |
|---|---|---|
| RAM (idle) | 256-512 MB | 30-50 MB |
| RAM (active) | 512 MB - 2 GB+ | 50-100 MB |
| CPU (sync) | Moderate (PHP processing) | Low (Go binary, efficient) |
| Sync speed (LAN) | ~50-100 MB/s | ~100-200+ MB/s |
| Sync speed (WAN) | Depends on server bandwidth | P2P (direct, often faster) |
| Disk overhead | Database + cache + app data | Minimal (~1% for index) |
Syncthing is significantly faster for raw file sync, especially on a LAN. Its block-level sync means only changed portions of files are transferred. Nextcloud syncs whole files through an HTTP stack with PHP processing overhead.
Community and Support
| Metric | Nextcloud | Syncthing |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 29,000+ | 68,000+ |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Commercial support | Nextcloud GmbH (enterprise plans) | None (community only) |
| Documentation | Extensive (official docs) | Good (official docs + community) |
| Active development | Very active (enterprise-driven) | Active (community-driven) |
| Community size | Large (forums, Reddit) | Large (forums, Reddit) |
Use Cases
Choose Nextcloud If…
- You want a complete cloud platform, not just file sync
- You need file sharing via links (with passwords, expiry)
- You need a web-based file browser accessible from any device
- You want collaborative document editing (Nextcloud Office)
- You need calendar and contact sync (CalDAV/CardDAV)
- You need multi-user support with permissions and quotas
- You want to replace Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
- You want a single platform for multiple productivity tools
Choose Syncthing If…
- You only need to keep folders in sync between your own devices
- You don’t want to run or maintain a central server
- You need fast, efficient sync (especially large files or many changes)
- Privacy is paramount — no data touches any server you don’t control
- You want something lightweight that runs on everything, including Raspberry Pi
- You don’t need file sharing links or a web file browser
- You want it to “just work” with minimal maintenance
Use Both If…
- You want Nextcloud as your cloud platform for sharing and collaboration, and Syncthing for fast, reliable sync of working directories between your laptop and desktop. They complement each other well.
Final Verdict
These are complementary tools, not competitors. Nextcloud is a cloud platform that happens to sync files. Syncthing is a file sync tool that does nothing else.
If you’re choosing one: Nextcloud if you need a cloud platform with sharing, collaboration, and multi-user support. Syncthing if you just want your files on all your devices, fast and privately.
Many self-hosters run both — Nextcloud for shared family files and external sharing, Syncthing for fast device-to-device sync of working files.
FAQ
Can Syncthing replace Nextcloud?
Only if you don’t need web-based file access, sharing links, calendars, contacts, or any of Nextcloud’s platform features. Syncthing replaces the sync engine only.
Can I sync Nextcloud’s data folder with Syncthing?
Don’t. Nextcloud tracks files in its database. If Syncthing modifies files outside Nextcloud’s API, the database goes out of sync and you’ll get conflicts, missing files, or corruption. Use Nextcloud’s sync client for Nextcloud data.
Which is better for large files?
Syncthing. Its block-level delta sync transfers only changed blocks, making it much faster for large files that change incrementally (databases, disk images, video projects).
Does Syncthing work without internet?
Yes. On a LAN, Syncthing discovers peers via local broadcast and syncs directly without any internet connection. Nextcloud also works on a LAN if the server is locally accessible.
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