How To Build Your Own Cloud Service

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Table of Contents

What Is Personal Cloud Storage?

The All-time Personal Deject Storage
How Does Personal Cloud Storage Work?
- How to Fix Personal Cloud Storage
- Is Personal Cloud Storage Safe?
1. Nextcloud
- Other Things Nosotros Like About Nextcloud
2. ownCloud
- Other Things Nosotros Similar About ownCloud
three. Seafile
- Other Things We Similar Virtually Seafile
4. Pydio
- Other Things We Like About Pydio
5. Resilio
- Other Things We Similar Well-nigh Resilio
Terminal Thoughts
Comments

If you want to store your files in the deject, you can choose from dozens of services. Nearly of them will get the job done for the average person or family unit. Getting these services set upwardly is straightforward and doesn't require using any additional hosting platform, as the deject storage company has already allocated server space for its customers.

Creating a DIY cloud storage solution is more complicated, simply it gives y'all control over where your files are stored, how they're accessed and your level of security. DIY storage is also great for large companies considering many of these services have options for HIPAA compliance and LDAP/Active Directory.

If you've always idea about creating your own DIY personal deject storage, we've put together a guide to walk you lot through the options with the best features and security. If you don't know what personal cloud storage is, read on to find out if it's for you.

If you'd rather skip the actress work and store your files with a traditional cloud storage service or physical media, check out our guide to the all-time external difficult drives and our Western Digital My Deject review, where we've tested and ranked the best alternatives to DIY cloud storage.

What Is Personal Cloud Storage?

Personal cloud storage software lets you store your files in the deject with more control than traditional deject storage. You mostly admission your personal deject using a sync binder on your device, like yous do with Google Drive or pCloud.

Unlike Google Bulldoze, though, a DIY system ofttimes requires cloud hosting. Follow our all-time spider web hosting guide to observe out how to option the best option for you.

The All-time Personal Cloud Storage

Nextcloud — Plans for anybody, free cloud storage, Nextcloud Hub
ownCloud — Piece of cake to apply, gratuitous storage space, "delta sync" feature
Seafile — Open source, like shooting fish in a barrel to utilise, straightforward pricing
Pydio — Streamlined chat, Pydio Cells
Resilio — P2P, lots of plan options

How Does Personal Cloud Storage Piece of work?

Personal cloud storage works by connecting a DIY cloud storage service, similar Nextcloud, to a hosting platform. The DIY service provides a user interface for managing your files in the cloud. This gives you control over things like how much you'll pay and features you can use. For fifty-fifty more than control, you tin install virtually of our DIY options on your own hardware, rather than an online hosting platform.

While nigh cloud storage plans but involve choosing how much storage you want, DIY cloud storage gives you control over your bandwidth, the resources that are allocated to your server space, your level of security and more.

Although this may sound confusing, we've picked the best deject storage options with the softest learning curve so that you can feel confident in the service you choose from our guide.

How to Set Personal Deject Storage

Setting up DIY cloud storage varies depending on the hosting service you're using. For case, if you want to install your deject service on a NAS device, you won't be setting up a virtual server because you already ain the hardware.

If you're setting upward a VPS, or virtual private server, you lot'll select your plan and hardware, and from at that place the setup isn't too different from other cloud storage solutions.

Is Personal Cloud Storage Condom?

As a rule in our reviews, we recommend just the services that provide strong security for every user. The DIY solutions that we've listed offering security that is on par with traditional deject storage providers, and in some cases, meliorate security because they're prepared to serve millions of clients.

ane. Nextcloud

Nextcloud tops our list as the best DIY cloud storage solution because of how elementary it is to use and because of Nextcloud Hub, a content collaboration platform that includes messaging and shared calendars among other things.

It has options for everyone, a uncomplicated interface, great security and multiple ways to install and use the service. If you're using another cloud storage service and want more control over your storage, we recommend Nextcloud.

Nextcloud goes above and beyond to brand sure that the service is attainable to everyone, from less tech-savvy users to businesses. The easiest mode to employ Nextcloud is by signing upwardly with ane of its providers using your email address. These accounts are preconfigured with Nextcloud so all you have to practice is select the provider and brand a password.

Each Nextcloud hosting provider displays how much free storage it offers. We institute gratis options ranging from 2GB to 8GB of storage, the latter of which is comparable to many traditional cloud storage services. Plus, the setup is easy, making it a great option if y'all're coming from a service like pCloud. Learn more about pCloud in our total pCloud review.

If your needs are tailored more toward concern, there'due south likewise Nextcloud Enterprise, which supports anywhere from 50 to ten million users, has business concern-class customer service and supports function software in the form of Collabora Online and OnlyOffice.

Nextcloud Enterprise comes in three different plans. The Basic plan starts at just over $2,000 per yr for fifty users and $3,600 per twelvemonth for 100 users. It offers low-tier e-mail back up and the Outlook improver. You also go mobile and desktop clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS, migration support and a one-year maintenance life cycle.

The Standard plan starts at just over $3,600 per twelvemonth for 50 users and $6,600 per year for 100 users. It offers a three-year maintenance life wheel, better support and admission to Collabora and OnlyOffice. You can also add together custom branding to your Nextcloud.

The Premium plan runs only over $5,300 per twelvemonth for fifty users or $nine,600 per year for 100 users. It includes everything from the previous plan plus 24/seven phone and e-mail support, a meliorate maintenance life cycle and scalability. All plans support up to 10 one thousand thousand users if your business organization requires information technology, and you lot can outset the process past requesting an offer.

Plan	Cost:	Features:	Optional Features:
Bones:	About $2,000 per year for 50 users Nigh $3,600 per year for 100 users	Maintenance life bicycle: 1 year Early security & stability patches Reaction time: 3 business organisation days Portal support Migration support Email support	Outlook add-on
Standard:	About $3,600 per twelvemonth for 50 users Most $vi,600 per year for 100 users	Maintenance life cycle: 3 years Early on security & stability patches Reaction time: 2 business days Portal support Migration support E-mail back up: business organization hours Phone back up: business concern hours Custom consulting Installation communication	Outlook addition Collabora Online OnlyOffice Branding
Premium:	Nearly $v,300 per year for l users About $9,600 per year for 100 users	Maintenance life bike: 5+5 years Early security & stability patches Reaction fourth dimension: 1h, 4h, 12h or 24h Portal support Migration support Email support: upward to 24/vii Phone back up: up to 24/vii Custom consulting Installation communication Upgrade stand-past support Clustering back up Optional SLA on fixes	Outlook add-on Collabora online OnlyOffice Branding Global scale

Finally, you can run Nextcloud on hardware that yous tin observe through Nextcloud's website or your ain hardware, putting control of storage and security entirely in your hands. Nextcloud fifty-fifty has a "security scan" tool that will aid you find places where your arrangement's security could be improved, if y'all chose to go this road.

Nextcloud's security is as comprehensive every bit the rest of the service. Information technology's compliant with HIPAA and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Nextcloud secures your files in transfer with the SSL/TLS protocol and at rest with AES 256-bit encryption. If an aggressor has access to your password, there is besides back up for two-factor authentication.

Lastly, Nextcloud supports cipher-knowledge encryption and then that your files can't be accessed past someone at Nextcloud. However, naught-knowledge encryption has to be applied to private folders with Nextcloud. If this sounds like a hassle, you can too cheque out our guide to the best nada-cognition cloud storage of 2020 for alternatives.

Other Things We Like Nearly Nextcloud

Nextcloud Hub, its content collaboration platform, offers conversation, part collaboration, file access, shared calendar and more, all in the same place. It'due south streamlined and the interface is generally piece of cake to navigate. We really appreciate that there's a Nextcloud setup for pretty much any user or visitor, with any level of skill or upkeep.

One thing that we didn't like near Nextcloud is that many of its services accept additional costs, and it can be a bit disruptive trying to find out what the ultimate toll of your setup will be on your own. Thankfully, Nextcloud recognizes that fact, and their paid plans crave a consultation.

Pros:

Piece of cake setup for individuals
Several plan options
Gratis programme
Nextcloud Hub
Open up source

Cons:

Website fabric can be confusing
No "delta sync" feature

ii. ownCloud

ownCloud is our number 2 entry because of its simple interface and functionality similar to Nextcloud. In fact, Nextcloud split from ownCloud in 2016 because Frank Karlitschek, ownCloud's original creator, felt there was a "need to strengthen the community," amidst other reasons, and started Nextcloud. In spite of this, ownCloud is notwithstanding a great pick to consider.

Getting ready with ownCloud is similar to Nextcloud in that you tin get going with an ownCloud hosting partner, with ownCloud direct, or install on your own hardware. ownCloud is open source like Nextcloud, so the base of operations software is free to download and install notwithstanding you choose.

Finding an ownCloud partner is pretty much the aforementioned process as with Nextcloud. ownCloud has a page that lists its bachelor hosting partners and the type of user that is best for each service. Unfortunately, you don't take an easy way to see what kind of storage you tin can get with each partner, as yous exercise with Nextcloud, then you'll take to do some digging hither to discover what you want.

Aside from ownCloud's hosting partners, you tin can too sign up for ownCloud Online or ownCloud Enterprise. ownCloud Online has 2 different plans. The individual program runs around $20 per month, or but over $16 per calendar month when paid yearly. This program offers password-protected file sharing and sharing permissions, plus a costless mobile app and desktop customer for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux.

The Team plan costs about $19 per month per user, or just over $xiv per month per user on a yearly programme, and it requires a minimum of v users.

Everything in the Private plan is included in the Team plan, plus you lot become zero-cognition encryption and can use the "managed groups" feature and create guest accounts.

ownCloud's enterprise plans are designed for small business, teams or groups of fifty or more than members, and it offers three plans. The Standard plan starts at $3,600 per year for fifty users, and it includes password-protected sharing links, custom groups and access to ownCloud'southward marketplace of apps. You besides go 24-hour reaction time to support requests.

The Enterprise plan starts at $ix,000 per year for 50 users and includes everything from the Standard plan, plus mobile apps that can be custom branded. Y'all also get the Outlook plugin, collaboration features, SharePoint integration and two-hour reaction time to back up requests.

The Custom plan is for companies that have more than than 10,000 employees, and it requires a directly quote to get any pricing data. It includes everything in the previous two plans, plus federated cloud sharing and enhanced security and syncing. Y'all tin get started with any programme by requesting a quote.

Plan	Price:	Features:
For Unmarried Users:	About $20 per user per month i-4 users	500GB of secure cloud storage Sharing & collaboration tools Password protected file sharing Sharing permissions Mobile & desktop client
For Teams:	Nearly $19 per user per calendar month 5+ users	500GB of secure deject storage Sharing & collaboration tools Password protected file sharing Sharing permissions Mobile & desktop client Zero-knowledge encryption Managed groups Guest accounts
Standard Subscription:	Starting at $three,750 per year for 50 users Discounts bachelor for accounts with over 100 users Requires quote	File driblet for external users Mobile & desktop client Integrates Dropbox, Google Bulldoze, Amazon S3 GDPR compliant
Enterprise Subscription:	Starting at $9,000 per yr for l users (discounts bachelor for accounts with over 100 users) Requires a quote	User & file level permissions Inspect log SSO LDAP/AD
Custom Subscription:	Custom pricing available for accounts with over 10,000 users	All features from Enterprise Federated cloud sharing

Security with ownCloud is non defective. Users can savour multi-factor authentication and zero-knowledge encryption to protect your information from ownCloud itself. ownCloud also offers ransomware protection, and it says that it does regular security audits on its code.

Other Things We Like Most ownCloud

ownCloud is very similar to Nextcloud in many ways. The interface and cadre features are both very piece of cake to navigate, and signing up with either service is a cakewalk. However, Nextcloud makes information technology super easy to become started, including making it like shooting fish in a barrel to find free options, while ownCloud's signup process is a flake more than involved.

However, we also like that ownCloud implements "delta sync," a feature that syncs merely the changes made to a file instead of the entire file. This is a huge timesaver when working with large files, like videos.

Pros:

Very easy to use
Lots of plan options
Delta sync feature
Open-source

Cons:

Plush enterprise plans

iii. Seafile

Seafile — similar oneCloud and Nextcloud — is an open-source cloud storage solution with a super straightforward interface. Seafile too partners with hosting platforms, like both our top two picks, though it has far fewer partners. Nonetheless, it'southward a practiced pick, considering its ability to sync small files very quickly.

Showtime, you lot can install Seafile on a individual server if y'all want to take consummate control over your organization. Unfortunately, Seafile reserves the majority of its features for its pro users. However, Seafile'south pricing is straightforward, and it's easy to understand exactly what you lot're getting.

If yous cull to download the Community edition, you'll become multi-platform sync, admission to the mobile app, version control, LDAP, SSO authentication and two-cistron authentication. You tin can also utilize the "selective sync" feature to choose which subfolders do and don't sync betwixt devices.

Seafile's Pro plans are a little different than the rest of the services on this list. Each plan is priced based on the number of users you'll demand, while the features are the same across the lath.

Seafile'southward Pro plans include everything from the Community edition, plus file locking, remote wipe, full text file search, every bit well equally online preview for Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel files.

Seafile's pricing is free for three users or fewer, $100 per year for 9 users and $48 per year per user for 10 to 249 users. The program gets increasingly less expensive the more users you have. If your visitor includes 1,000 or more employees, y'all must contact Seafile for a customized quote. Seafile also provides hefty discounts to educational institutions.

Number of Users:	Price:	Features:
3 users nine users 10-249 users 250-499 users 500-749 users 750-999 users k+ users	Free $100 per year $48 per user per twelvemonth $44 per user per year $40 per user per yr $35 per user per yea Contact Seafile for a quote	Multi-platform file sync Mobile client Virtual drive client LDAP/AD 2-factor hallmark Full text file search Audit log Scalability SSO Version control Multi-platform file sync

Other Things We Like Well-nigh Seafile

Seafile takes a unique approach to syncing pocket-size files. Instead of moving the entire file, Seafile will break up the file into chunks to move it more quickly. Theoretically, this allows you to motility many minor files at a quicker pace than other services.

Fifty-fifty though Seafile's app database isn't as robust equally Nextcloud or ownCloud, we also like that Seafile supports integration with Microsoft Office Online and Collabora for editing files online.

Ane thing that we didn't like was that the Pro subscriptions don't come with total support packages, which must be purchased separately.

Pros:

Open source
Straightforward pricing
Easy-to-use interface

Cons:

Additional support costs
Small app selection
The Community edition is basic
Support costs extra

4. Pydio

Pydio, formerly AjaXplorer, has a steeper learning bend than its competitors, but several of its useful features make it a solid choice for collaboration and communication. Pydio Cells, the electric current version of the software, uses "cells" as shared folders that let you do more than than merely upload and access content.

Pydio puts a focus on collaboration with cells. These are not only spaces where you tin share files, but each cell is its ain team infinite with extra functionality. Each cell has its own permissions and its ain space to upload documents. Pydio is also uniform with add-ons like OnlyOffice and Collabora so you can manage documents natively.

Pydio comes in 2 varieties: Home Edition and Enterprise. Home Edition is open source and available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Information technology is entirely self-managed, for those who want to run it on their own hardware.

Pydio Enterprise is also available for Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as OVF and VMware ESXi. Enterprise gives yous enhanced management features and unlimited level-three support. You accept to contact Pydio for a custom Enterprise quote, though they do provide some instance pricing.

Pydio supports SSL/TLS also every bit AES 256-bit encryption. LDAP is bachelor for hallmark, and Pydio is also configurable to meet HIPAA and GDPR compliance standards, if you lot're in a field like healthcare.

Other Things Nosotros Like About Pydio

Pydio's interface offers an integrated chat system that is easy to access and use, which adds to your collaborative feel instead of being confusing or drawing you away from your workspace. Each cell has its own chat, accessible just past members of that cell so that conversations stay relevant to each project.

Although Pydio does accept some useful features, information technology offers fewer add-ons than its competition, and information technology isn't as versatile, meaning that it won't adapt every user. Nevertheless, if your group or company requires streamlined advice and function collaboration, Pydio is worth a await.

Pros:

Streamlined chat interface
Collaboration
Decent security

Cons:

Limited features
Limited add-ons

5. Resilio

Resilio is unique, compared to the residuum of our recommendations. Instead of using one server to store and access content, Resilio syncs your content across your devices in a peer-to-peer organization. If y'all're familiar with torrenting, you've probable used services that work similarly.

Resilio allows yous to cull what does and doesn't get synced with "selective sync," and you lot can even run across the files that you oasis't called to sync, like to Dropbox's "smart sync" feature. Folders also have permissions, and in that location are clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS.

Despite being a dissimilar type of DIY cloud storage service, Resilio has good security, and it offers end-to-end encryption and AES 128-bit encryption. Resilio too points out that, because it is a peer-to-peer arrangement, at that place are no passwords to be stolen, cloud to be hacked and no spider web-based access or file previews.

Resilio is not open source, though information technology does offering several well-priced packages. There is Sync Home for standard users, also as Sync Business and Resilio Connect.

Sync Home has 3 plans and starts with Sync Domicile for personal utilise. This program costs $59.90 — a quondam payment — and syncs all of your devices. Sync Family is $99.90 and adds support for upwards to 5 family unit members. Lastly, there's Sync Business, which starts at $xxx per month. It has premium back up and multi-user plans, and is approved for business utilise.

In that location's besides Sync Business for teams, which starts at $6 per user per calendar month for 5 to 15 users, $ten per user per month for twenty to 50 users and $12 per user per month for 60 to 140 users. These plans include enhanced file management and licensing for multiple servers.

Number of Users:	Price:	Features:
5-xv users	$6 per user per month	Unlimited data End-to-end encryption File-level deduplication
20-50 users	$10 per user per calendar month	License for 1 server Unlimited data End-to-end encryption File-level deduplication
60-140 users	$12 per user per month	License for ii servers Unlimited data Stop-to-end encryption File level deduplication

Resilio also offers Resilio Connect for enterprise users, which requires you lot to contact Resilio for a quote.

Other Things Nosotros Like About Resilio

Resilio isn't a complete DIY cloud setup, and and then we weren't able to rank it higher. However, Resilio offers a unique approach to cloud storage, and the erstwhile programme costs for individuals and families make it a compelling service for someone with a NAS device or someone primarily concerned with sharing content.

If you want to larn more about NAS and aren't certain where to get started, we've prepared a NAS guide to answer some common questions in depth. You can as well check out our guide on how to secure network-attached storage.

Pros:

P2P file sharing approach
No size limits
Selective sync
Several plan options

Cons:

No add-ons
No server back up

Final Thoughts

Traditional cloud storage is a quick, convenient solution to storage woes, such equally a busted difficult drive. Most take complimentary plans, and fifty-fifty the monthly or yearly plans are oftentimes affordable. Unfortunately, your data is non entirely in your hands, and some of the companies that manage your storage have been known to spy or to participate in government conspiracies.

DIY storage is a solution that is as flexible every bit y'all are and can be installed, in almost cases, on your own hardware that y'all can control. Because of this, DIY cloud storage is more complex, though non for the faint of heart, and the reward for your own setup is the peace of mind that y'all know everything that happens to your storage.

If you want to skip DIY and employ traditional cloud storage, nosotros recommend Sync.com, which is our favorite storage service. It has bang-up security and a proficient pick of plans, plus it's like shooting fish in a barrel to utilise. You can read more about the service in our total Sync.com review, and we also have a guide on how to use cloud storage like a pro.

As always we dear to hear from you. Have you been waiting to pull the trigger on your DIY cloud storage organisation, or are you using a personal cloud storage device, like the WD My Cloud, or traditional cloud storage, like Google Drive or iCloud? Let u.s.a. know in the comments. Thanks for reading.