Self-Hosted Alternatives to Dropbox

Why Replace Dropbox?

Cost. Dropbox gives you a pitiful 2 GB free — barely enough for a few documents. The Plus plan is $11.99/month for 2 TB. Over three years, that’s $431. A self-hosted setup with a 4 TB drive costs ~$140 total.

Privacy. Dropbox stores your files on their servers, unencrypted by default. Dropbox employees have accessed user files in the past. Their privacy policy allows them to share data with third parties. With a self-hosted solution, your files never leave your hardware.

Storage anxiety. Dropbox’s free tier is almost unusable at 2 GB. Paid plans lock you into their storage tiers. Self-hosted storage scales with your hardware — add another drive when you need more.

Feature bloat. Dropbox has evolved from a simple sync tool into a bloated platform with Paper, Spaces, Capture, Sign, and other features that slow down the desktop app and clutter the interface. If you just want file sync, self-hosted tools do it better and lighter.

Smart Sync issues. Dropbox’s Smart Sync (online-only files) has a long history of bugs — files disappearing, sync conflicts, phantom files taking up disk space. Self-hosted sync tools offer reliable, predictable behavior.

Best Alternatives

Syncthing — Best Direct Replacement

Syncthing is the closest thing to what Dropbox should be — fast, reliable file sync without the bloat. It syncs folders between your devices using peer-to-peer connections. No central server, no account, no monthly fee. Block-level delta sync means only changed parts of files are transferred.

What you get: Automatic file sync between all your devices. File versioning. Conflict detection. Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android). Uses ~30-50 MB of RAM.

Best for: Anyone who uses Dropbox purely for syncing files between their own devices. If you don’t share files via links, Syncthing is a straight upgrade.

[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Syncthing]

Seafile — Best for Speed + Sharing

Seafile combines fast file sync with a web interface and sharing capabilities. Its block-level sync engine is the fastest in the self-hosted space — 2-3x faster than Nextcloud. It includes sharing links, file versioning, and client-side encryption.

What you get: Desktop sync clients, web file browser, password-protected sharing links, file versioning, client-side encryption per library. Lighter than Nextcloud.

Best for: Users who need both file sync and sharing, and want the best sync performance available.

[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Seafile]

Nextcloud — Best Full Platform

Nextcloud replaces Dropbox and then some. File sync, web file manager, sharing, collaborative editing, calendar, contacts, and 400+ apps. It’s heavier than Syncthing or Seafile but offers the most complete feature set.

What you get: Everything Dropbox offers (sync, sharing, web access) plus calendars, contacts, office suite, and video calls. Desktop and mobile sync clients.

Best for: Users who want to replace Dropbox and potentially other Google/Microsoft cloud services in one platform.

[Read our full guide: How to Self-Host Nextcloud]

Migration Guide

Step 1: Export Your Dropbox Data

1. Install the Dropbox desktop app if not already installed
2. Enable “Make all files available offline” in Preferences → Sync
3. Wait for all files to download to your local Dropbox folder
4. Alternatively, download individual folders from dropbox.com

File history: Dropbox keeps 30-180 days of file versions (depending on plan). Export these before canceling if they matter — they’ll be lost.

Step 2: Deploy Your Replacement

For Syncthing (most Dropbox users):

1. Follow our Syncthing Docker guide
2. Install Syncthing on each device
3. Pair devices using Device IDs
4. Add your files folder as a shared folder

For Seafile or Nextcloud:

1. Follow our Seafile or Nextcloud Docker guide
2. Install the desktop sync client
3. Upload or sync your files

Step 3: Move Your Files

1. Copy files from your local Dropbox folder to your new sync folder
2. Wait for initial sync to complete
3. Verify files are accessible on all devices
4. Check that file modifications sync correctly

Step 4: Migrate Shared Folders

If you share folders with others:

1. Create new sharing links in Nextcloud/Seafile
2. Notify collaborators of the new links
3. For folder sharing: add users to your self-hosted platform
4. For Syncthing: share folders by exchanging Device IDs

Step 5: Cancel Dropbox

1. Verify everything works for at least 2 weeks
2. Remove Dropbox app from all devices
3. Delete files from Dropbox cloud storage
4. Downgrade to free tier or delete account

Cost Comparison

What You Give Up

• Dropbox Paper. If you use Dropbox Paper for notes and wikis, you’ll need a separate replacement. BookStack or Nextcloud’s built-in notes work well.
• Effortless sharing with non-tech users. Dropbox sharing “just works” for everyone. Nextcloud/Seafile sharing links also work well, but your server needs to be publicly accessible and maintained.
• Smart Sync (on-demand files). Nextcloud has a similar “Virtual files” feature on Windows. Syncthing doesn’t support on-demand files — everything syncs.
• Dropbox Sign / DocSend. Business features with no direct self-hosted equivalent.
• Polished mobile experience. Dropbox’s mobile app is very polished. Nextcloud and Seafile apps are functional but less refined.
• Zero maintenance. With Dropbox, nothing breaks. Self-hosted solutions need updates, backups, and occasional troubleshooting.

FAQ

Is Syncthing really free?

Yes, completely. Open source (MPL-2.0), no paid tiers, no premium features, no telemetry. The relay servers used for NAT traversal are run by the community.

Can I use Syncthing on iOS?

There’s no official Syncthing app for iOS. Third-party apps like Möbius Sync exist but are paid and less reliable. If iOS support is critical, use Nextcloud or Seafile instead.

How do I handle large file libraries (1 TB+)?

Syncthing handles large libraries well — initial sync takes time but subsequent syncs are fast (delta only). Seafile is the fastest option for large libraries. Nextcloud works but is slower for initial sync of very large collections.

What if my self-hosted server goes down?

With Syncthing, your files exist on all synced devices — no single point of failure. With Nextcloud/Seafile, the desktop client has local copies, but new changes won’t sync until the server is back. Always maintain backups regardless.

Related

• How to Self-Host Syncthing
• How to Self-Host Nextcloud
• How to Self-Host Seafile
• How to Self-Host Filebrowser
• Nextcloud vs Syncthing
• Nextcloud vs Seafile
• Self-Hosted Alternatives to Google Drive
• Best Self-Hosted File Sync Solutions
• Docker Compose Basics