commons
Built in the open
THE REPLACEMENT INDEX

Open alternatives to Dropbox.

Compare projects for files & collaboration. Pick the workflow you need, then check the gaps and adoption documentation.

Want to help build an alternative?

Platforms describe available clients; self-hosted services still need a server. “Mixed licenses” means editions or components have different terms.

A PLACE TO START

Open alternatives exist. Start a Commons project.

The curated references below are independent upstream projects. A member-owned Commons project is a separate place to share work and coordinate a team.

No Commons project is linked to Dropbox yet. Add yours or use the guide to start one.

How to start one
1 project for this comparison

Reviewed upstream alternatives

Comparisons cover specific workflows, not complete feature parity. An active alpha can be worth building while still being unsuitable for daily work.

Productivity

Nextcloud

Established project

Self-hosted files and an extensible workspace for team collaboration.

Web / Windows / macOS / Linux / Android / iOSSelf-hosted / HostedAGPL-3.0 · serverOpen source
File sync, sharing and collaborationSelected workflows

Plan storage, administration and client migration. Extensions may require additional services.

Sources, activity & license scope

Talk, Office and extensions are separate components to review.

License source Release: 35.0.1 · Sep 24, 2026
Workflow source

Reviewed Oct 14, 2026 · Commons editorial research

Explore project Adoption & documentation

Independent curated reference · discuss it here; contribute upstream.