Instead of installing a massive all in one solution, why not install individual services specifically to cover your requirements? Navidrome for music consumption, synching to actually sync files, WebDAV and OnlyOffice for office docs, VLC, Kodi or jellyfin for video consumption, immich for photos, etc.
It will end up being much lighter and more specialised
Once I got comfortable with immich, I realized photos was my main use of nextcloud and immich was so much better. I replaced the rest of nextcloud's functionality with syncthing+filebrowser quantum. Haven't looked back since. Now I don't have to worry about a nextcloud update randomly causing havoc (user error likely).
Ah, have you just solved one of the main limits i have for syncthing. I didnt know about this filebrowser quantum thing. My use case is that i have a keepass file i manage with my wife between devices and on the same laptop (two different debian logins). But really, but is the purpose of this tool? To replace your local kde dolphine for example? Trying to understand the usecase.
Mainly to browse remote files from my phone, allows me to access my documents from any device.
In my case it was Syncthing and Radicale that replaced basically all my Nextcloud use.
Nextcloud isn't bad actually but you really need to use a lot of the million optional features to justify that behemoth.
Truely agree. I also did the nextcloud to syncthing+radical leap but still trying to effectively resolve proper file shating.
This is the way. You also end up with easier debugging due to it being more constrained to specialized services.
Do you use plain webdav for all your files? Mounted on your computer or via libreoffice somehow?
No, I have the file system mounted to my pc with sshfs. My pc comes on and my server gets mounted in fstab using sshfs, and then I can use anything on my pc to interact with the files and data just like it was directly on my pc. I use WebDAV for my android phone to be able to access office files with only office. I also have file browser quantum on the server providing access through a web interface to the files.
ultra minimal but might do everything you need
copyparty + syncthing
Their requirements line up so well with what copyparty can do
This comment led me to investigating copyparty for myself. It looks good.
Do you know if you can specify existing folders?
what do you mean?
i use it in the most basic way... when I need to quickly access a folder on one my servers I cd into it, copy party, access it on my PCs browser and go, then I quit copy party
I was just wondering if I could point it to folders that already exist on my server. In particular, my Syncthing folder.
Ah yes sure you can do that.
If you install it as a simple package you just cd into the folder you want and run the command 'copyparty' otherwise you can simply use docker compose and set it up that way: https://jaredheinrichs.substack.com/p/how-to-setup-copyparty-using-docker
there you can just point the path of your syncthing folder into the /media directory inside the docker container
Excellent, thanks!
Opencloud is pretty decent no extras just file sync with a web UI and android app.
Owncloud, Opencloud, Sync-in, and Seafile are some lighter-weight options I know of with docker builds.
Owncloud is very handy for sending things to people in a pinch. I have it running in Yunohost on my VPS.
I use OwnCloud, which was forked into NextCloud ages ago. I originally intended it as a temporary measure, but it has turned out to be a very reliable, no-frills but adequately featured fileserver. For example, it has file versioning, and companion apps on major OSs that help with managing local and cloud stored files.
If you want a dead simple option, CopyParty is amazing. It's a 1MB Python file that is basically a Swiss Army knife of file hosting. FTP, web interface, WebDAV, SMB, etc., etc. It wont have system integrations or file versioning, but it's impressive what it can do.
Edit: worth mentioning CopyParty has an in-browser media player, which is perfectly adequate for previews.
For example, it has file versioning, and companion apps on major OSs that help with managing local and cloud stored files.
Nextcloud also got both.
Yes? OP is specifically looking for something other than NextCloud. OwnCloud has basically zero bloat and in my experience is easier to set up than NextCloud.
And the previous commenter mentioned ownCloud, I just wanted to point out that feature isn't unique to that. I wasn't talking to OP.
Copyparty. It’s not pretty but it’s lightweight and does a lot. Including the “single docker compose” setup you’re after.
i find the phi95 dark theme actually very pleasing :D
Haha, I actually use the regular phi95 theme, mostly because it is a little nostalgic. :)
File Browser Quantum is AWESOME, I'm shocked I don't hear about it more often.
Been using Seafile for years, it's fantastic.
As always, I want to note that seafile is not compatible with existing files, you can't just point it at a directory, you have to upload them to seafile, and then you can only access them via seafile (at least that's how I understand it, correct me if I'm way off base).
Completely correct.
Migrated from NC to FileBrowser Quantum and its super light weight. https://github.com/gtsteffaniak/filebrowser
Strong recommend for Seafile. It’s way faster than nextcloud, it has a good web ui, and nice clients on all platforms.
I can not express how much faster than nextcloud it is.
Obviously open source too.
Does it do proper file sharing like nextcloud i.e. multiuser accounts that sharefile folders?
Yes. Faster too.
OpenCloud is a simpler and lighter version of OwnCloud written mostly in Go. There is a docker compose version of it. Also there is a mobile application for it, as well, if wanted.
OxiCloud is a newer project written in Rust. It's functional but it is still in development. Deployment is pretty simple and mostly docker. No clients yet outside of the web interface.
I thought opencloud was some other nextcloud fork but having just checked the website it looks like it provides multiple services not just file sharing
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| DNS | Domain Name Service/System |
| SMB | Server Message Block protocol for file and printer sharing; Windows-native |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network |
| VPS | Virtual Private Server (opposed to shared hosting) |
5 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 9 acronyms.
[Thread #93 for this comm, first seen 2nd Sep 2026, 15:20] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
Try setting Nextcloud up with https://coopcloud.tech/. Matter of minutes.
Proxmox has a backup server if that's what you looking for.
Not web based but you could always use Samba
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