Last checked October 2026 · 17 alternatives to Dropbox in our catalog
Dropbox paid plans start at $9.99/mo, which is why people look for an open-source alternative. Below are 5 open-source options you can inspect, modify and often self-host - 4 are completely free, 2 run on Linux and 2 work in the browser.
Picked from listing data (price model, license, platforms, community votes), not hands-on testing.
| Alternative | Price | Open source | Platforms | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud | Free | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | Web | Safe home for all your data |
| Syncthing | Free | Yes | Windows, Mac, Linux | Open-source continuous file sync between your own devices with no central server or cloud middleman. |
| dashbeam | Free | Yes (AGPL-3.0) | Web | Send files and folders anywhere without cloud storage |
| Files | Free | Yes (MIT) | Windows | A modern, open‑source file manager for Windows with tabs, dual‑pane and cloud support |
| spacedrive | Paid (One-time) | Yes (Other) | Windows, Mac, Linux | One searchable library for all your drives, disks, and cloud files. |
Safe home for all your data
Open-source continuous file sync between your own devices with no central server or cloud middleman.
Send files and folders anywhere without cloud storage
A modern, open‑source file manager for Windows with tabs, dual‑pane and cloud support
One searchable library for all your drives, disks, and cloud files.
Nextcloud is the first free alternative we list for Dropbox and has no paid tier. Others worth a look: Syncthing, dashbeam and Files. Which one fits depends on what you use Dropbox for, so check the platform and free-plan details for each.
Yes: Nextcloud, Syncthing, dashbeam, Files and spacedrive. Open-source options can usually be inspected, modified and self-hosted.
Yes. The free plan includes File sync across devices, Basic sharing links and 30-day file recovery. Paid plans start at $9.99/mo.
How this list is built: alternatives come from our catalog's curated alternative relationships; price model, license and platforms come from each product's listing; order is fully-free first, then community votes.
