Best open-source storage tools, ranked by real installs (Oct 2026)
This week's ranking of self-hosted storage software: Nextcloud leads. See specs, hourly costs and alternatives.
Choosing storage software gets easier when someone else has already installed the lot — here is what the numbers say.
The catalog currently carries 7 storage options. Nextcloud leads on installs, and the rest of the pack is worth a look too.
How they stack up
| # | App | Category | Installs | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nextcloud Files, calendar & collaboration in one suite | Storage | 124 000 | €0.092/hr |
| 2 | Syncthing P2P file sync between your devices | Storage | 88 000 | €0.018/hr |
| 3 | Immich Self-hosted photo & video backup | Storage | 75 000 | €0.046/hr |
| 4 | MinIO S3-compatible object storage | Storage | 47 000 | €0.046/hr |
| 5 | Seafile Fast file sync & sharing | Storage | 34 000 | €0.046/hr |
| 6 | Duplicati Encrypted backups to any storage | Storage | 31 000 | €0.023/hr |
| 7 | Kopia Fast encrypted incremental backups | Storage | 26 000 | €0.023/hr |
Reading the field
Nextcloud
The core loop is what Nextcloud does best. It runs comfortably on 4 vCPU / 8 GB here. Start here if you want the safe pick.
Syncthing
The core loop is what Syncthing does best. It runs comfortably on 1 vCPU / 1 GB here. Close second, and some teams prefer its take on the problem.
Immich
The core loop is what Immich does best. Plan for 2 vCPU and 4 GB of RAM. Lesser known, often a better fit for smaller teams.
MinIO
The core loop is what MinIO does best. It runs comfortably on 2 vCPU / 4 GB here. Newer to the catalog, climbing steadily.
Sizing and cost
You can try any of them for the price of a coffee per day: Pay as you go works out near €0.092 an hour at full spec, and pausing stops the meter. The install wizard pre-selects the right plan for you.
Generated 2026-10-22 from live catalog data · all guides