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File Storage & Backup · head to head

Nextcloud vs Zerto

Nextcloud logo

Nextcloud

File Storage & Backup

Self-hosted file sync, sharing and collaboration platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zerto logo

Zerto

File Storage & Backup

Continuous data protection with near-zero RPO

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Zerto zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nextcloud and Zerto actually diverge.

Attributes where Nextcloud and Zerto differ
AttributeNextcloudZerto
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, APIWindows, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown2009

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 Zerto does not also cover.

Only in Zerto

  • Continuous data protection
  • Journal-based recovery
  • Automated failover
  • Non-disruptive testing
  • Multi-cloud mobility
  • Long-term retention
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

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 Zerto
  • Enterprises replacing Dropbox or Box for cost reduction and data controlnot Zerto
  • Education institutions providing secure file collaborationnot Zerto
  • Healthcare and finance sectors requiring on-premises deployment for compliancenot Zerto
  • Hybrid work environments where teams synchronise documents and communicatenot Zerto
  • Digital asset management and media collaboration workflowsnot Zerto

Zerto

  • 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

Zerto

  • Zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector

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

Zerto

$5/month
  • Zerto Enterprise Cloud$5/month
    • Continuous protection
    • Journal-based recovery
    • Multi-cloud mobility

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.
Nextcloud review

Choose Zerto if

  • You need continuous data protection.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want journal-based recovery.
Zerto review

Questions people ask

Is Nextcloud or Zerto better?
Neither clearly leads. Nextcloud starts at Free and Zerto at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Nextcloud or Zerto?
Nextcloud has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Nextcloud and $5/month for Zerto.
Does Nextcloud or Zerto run on more platforms?
Nextcloud runs on Self-hosted, Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, API. Zerto runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Nextcloud for free?
Yes. Nextcloud has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zerto starts at $5/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 Zerto is typically brought in for.
What can Nextcloud do that Zerto cannot?
Zerto covers Continuous data protection, Journal-based recovery, Automated failover, Non-disruptive testing.

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.

Source
Nextcloud: 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.

Source
Nextcloud: 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
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Related pages

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