File Storage & Backup · head to head
Nextcloud vs Backblaze
Nextcloud
File Storage & Backup
Self-hosted file sync, sharing and collaboration platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Backblaze
File Storage & Backup
Unlimited cloud backup at an affordable price
- From
- $9/month
- 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; Backblaze personal Backup is $99 a year billed annually, with no monthly option
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Nextcloud and Backblaze actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage & Backup).
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 Backblaze does not also cover.
Only in Backblaze
- Unlimited backup
- Continuous backup
- Version history
- Private encryption key
- Restore by mail
- Mobile apps
- macOS
- Windows
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 Backblaze
- Enterprises replacing Dropbox or Box for cost reduction and data controlnot Backblaze
- Education institutions providing secure file collaborationnot Backblaze
- Healthcare and finance sectors requiring on-premises deployment for compliancenot Backblaze
- Hybrid work environments where teams synchronise documents and communicatenot Backblaze
- Digital asset management and media collaboration workflowsnot Backblaze
Backblaze
- Unlimited backup of a personal computer and external drivesnot Nextcloud
- Restoring files from anywhere through the webnot Nextcloud
- Mailed hard drive restore for large recoveriesnot Nextcloud
- Private encryption key control for sensitive datanot 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
Backblaze
- Personal Backup is $99 a year billed annually, with no monthly option
- Web restores are capped at 500GB per request
- Forever version history is a Business tier add-on rather than included
- Administrative controls and SSO are Business features
- Backs up user data from a computer and attached drives, so NAS and server backup are not covered by the personal plan
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
Backblaze
$9/month- Personal Backup$9/month
- Unlimited storage for single computer
- Unlimited version history
- 30-day trial
- B2 Cloud Storage$6/TB/month
- S3-compatible storage
- Pay-as-you-go model
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 Backblaze if
- You need unlimited backup.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
- You also want continuous backup.
Questions people ask
- Is Nextcloud or Backblaze better?
- Neither clearly leads. Nextcloud starts at Free and Backblaze at $9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Nextcloud or Backblaze?
- Nextcloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Nextcloud and $9/month for Backblaze.
- Does Nextcloud or Backblaze run on more platforms?
- Nextcloud runs on Self-hosted, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API. Backblaze runs on Windows, macOS, Web.
- Can I use Nextcloud for free?
- Yes. Nextcloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Backblaze starts at $9/month.
- 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 Backblaze is typically brought in for.
- What can Nextcloud do that Backblaze cannot?
- Backblaze covers Unlimited backup, Continuous backup, Version history, Private encryption key.
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.
SourceBackblaze: What is the pricing for Backblaze Personal Backup?
Backblaze Personal Backup costs $9/month on monthly billing or $8.25/month when billed annually, providing unlimited storage for a single computer.
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.
SourceBackblaze: What storage options does Backblaze B2 offer?
Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is priced at $6/TB per month with a pay-as-you-go model, and is S3 compatible for flexible cloud storage.
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.
SourceBackblaze: Does Backblaze support Linux systems?
No. Backblaze does not support Linux operating systems, limiting it to Windows, macOS, and web access only.
Source