Software · head to head
Nextcloud vs Arq Backup
Nextcloud
Software
Self-hosted file sync, sharing and collaboration platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Arq Backup
Software
Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud storage
- From
- $50/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Nextcloud has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Nextcloud requires self-hosted deployment on organisation-controlled infrastructure; no managed cloud option provided by Nextcloud; Arq Backup runs on Mac and Windows only
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Nextcloud and Arq Backup actually diverge.
| Attribute | Nextcloud | Arq Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $50/year |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Self-hosted, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API | Windows, Mac |
| Founded | Unknown | 2009 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Nextcloud
Nothing recorded that Arq Backup does not also cover.
Only in Arq Backup
- Client-side encryption
- Hourly backups
- Network backup
- Deduplication
- Immutable backups
- Budget controls
- AWS S3
- Google Cloud
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Nextcloud
- Government and public sector organisations with data sovereignty requirementsnot Arq Backup
- Enterprises replacing Dropbox or Box for cost reduction and data controlnot Arq Backup
- Education institutions providing secure file collaborationnot Arq Backup
- Healthcare and finance sectors requiring on-premises deployment for compliancenot Arq Backup
- Hybrid work environments where teams synchronise documents and communicatenot Arq Backup
- Digital asset management and media collaboration workflowsnot Arq Backup
Arq Backup
- Data protectionnot Nextcloud
- Disaster recoverynot Nextcloud
- Business continuitynot Nextcloud
- Ransomware protectionnot Nextcloud
- Compliancenot Nextcloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Nextcloud
- Requires self-hosted deployment on organisation-controlled infrastructure; no managed cloud option provided by Nextcloud
- Operational overhead: organisations must apply security patches, manage backups, configure SSL certificates, and handle system administration
- Scalability challenges at very large user counts (10,000+); requires careful database and storage tuning
- Mobile clients lack some features of web interface (scripting, advanced admin functions); feature parity varies across platforms
- Integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace is limited; Nextcloud does not replace Exchange or Gmail directly
Arq Backup
- Runs on Mac and Windows only
- Arq 7 is licensed per computer, and continuing to receive updates after the first year costs $25 per year per computer
- Arq Premium covers up to 5 computers, so larger households or teams need more than one subscription
- Arq Premium includes 1TB of storage and charges $0.0059 per GB per month beyond it
Pricing, plan by plan
Nextcloud
Free- Community EditionFree
- All core features: Files, Talk, Groupware, Office
- Unlimited users and storage
- Community forum support
- Standard Enterprise$71.29/year
- 2 business day response time
- 1-year maintenance included
- Email support during business hours
- Premium Enterprise$104.99/year
- 1 business day response time
- 5+ year maintenance
- Extended business hours support
- Ultimate Enterprise$204.75/year
- 1-24 hour response time options
- 5+ year maintenance
- 24/7 phone support with SLA guarantees
Arq Backup
$50/year- Arq Premium$50/year
- 5 computers
- Arq Cloud storage option
- Email support
Which should you pick?
Choose Nextcloud if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Self-hosted, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API.
Choose Arq Backup if
- You need client-side encryption.
- You work on Windows, Mac.
- You also want hourly backups.
Questions people ask
- Is Nextcloud or Arq Backup better?
- Neither clearly leads. Nextcloud starts at Free and Arq Backup at $50/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Nextcloud or Arq Backup?
- Nextcloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Nextcloud and $50/year for Arq Backup.
- Does Nextcloud or Arq Backup run on more platforms?
- Nextcloud runs on Self-hosted, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API. Arq Backup runs on Windows, Mac.
- Can I use Nextcloud for free?
- Yes. Nextcloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arq Backup starts at $50/year.
- What is Nextcloud best used for?
- Nextcloud is most often used for government and public sector organisations with data sovereignty requirements, enterprises replacing dropbox or box for cost reduction and data control, education institutions providing secure file collaboration, healthcare and finance sectors requiring on-premises deployment for compliance. Of those, government and public sector organisations with data sovereignty requirements and enterprises replacing dropbox or box for cost reduction and data control are not what Arq Backup is typically brought in for.
- What can Nextcloud do that Arq Backup cannot?
- Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Hourly backups, Network backup, Deduplication.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Nextcloud: Is Nextcloud Community Edition free to use?
Yes. Nextcloud Community Edition is completely free and open-source under the AGPL-3.0 licence. There are no licensing fees, but organisations must host and maintain their own servers.
SourceNextcloud: Can I migrate from Dropbox or Google Drive to Nextcloud?
Yes. Nextcloud provides migration tools and documentation for importing files from competing platforms. Professional services are available through Nextcloud Enterprise for large-scale migrations.
SourceNextcloud: What video conferencing capabilities does Nextcloud Talk provide?
Nextcloud Talk provides end-to-end encrypted audio and video calls, group conferencing, screen sharing, call recording with transcription, live translation, and integration with external services (Slack, Teams, Matrix). Recordings are stored locally on the Nextcloud server.
Source