ownCloud vs Pydio Cells

ownCloud9.0Visit Pydio Cells8.8Visit

Higher score ownCloud #3 in Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Software 9.0/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 2 features Visit ownCloud

vs

Pydio Cells #4 in Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Pydio Cells

• ownCloud fits best

  Organizations seeking flexible file access and control

• Pydio Cells fits best

  Organizations needing governed file collaboration

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Side by side

Feature	ownCloud 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Pydio Cells 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.8
Ranking	#3 in Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Software	#4 in Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Software
Best for	Organizations seeking flexible file access and control	Organizations needing governed file collaboration
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Phone, Community, Docs	Tickets, Community, Docs
Compliance	GDPR, SSO/SAML, 2FA	GDPR, HIPAA, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations	12 integrations	12 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ownCloud 1/2 · Pydio Cells 1/2
File versioning	✓	✓
Collaborative editing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment options	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
File sync clients	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Maximum file size	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Syncs files across desktop and mobile, with browser-based access Supports internal, external, and federated sharing with version rollback Connects to external storage, office tools, and LDAP/Active Directory	Supports local and S3-compatible storage, plus Azure Blob and Google Cloud Storage Combines sharing, revision restore, access controls, audit logs, and workflow automation Works across web, desktop, and mobile, with REST API, SDKs, and WebDAV
Cons	Paid Standard and Enterprise editions are quote-based Standard support is limited to 9×5 email Hosted plans specify storage allowances and user thresholds	Self-hosting means organizations manage deployment and configured storage Connect starts at €3,280 per 50 users annually; Enterprise starts at €4,380 Home is positioned for home use and evaluation, not organizational governance
Our verdict	ownCloud is open-source software for syncing, sharing, and collaborating on organizational files. It suits teams that want file access across browsers, desktop clients, and mobile apps, while choosing between self-managed deployment and… Read the review →	Pydio Cells is an open-source, self-hosted file management and collaboration platform for organizations that want control over document sharing and access. Browser access, desktop synchronization, and mobile apps support work across… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• ownCloud — where it wins

  • Syncs files across desktop and mobile, with browser-based access
  • Supports internal, external, and federated sharing with version rollback
  • Connects to external storage, office tools, and LDAP/Active Directory

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid Standard and Enterprise editions are quote-based
  • Standard support is limited to 9×5 email
  • Hosted plans specify storage allowances and user thresholds

• Pydio Cells — where it wins

  • Supports local and S3-compatible storage, plus Azure Blob and Google Cloud Storage
  • Combines sharing, revision restore, access controls, audit logs, and workflow automation
  • Works across web, desktop, and mobile, with REST API, SDKs, and WebDAV

  Where it doesn't

  • Self-hosting means organizations manage deployment and configured storage
  • Connect starts at €3,280 per 50 users annually; Enterprise starts at €4,380
  • Home is positioned for home use and evaluation, not organizational governance

• ownCloud9.0/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A flexible file platform with self-hosted and hosted options for organizations.

  Visit ownCloudFull verdict →
• Pydio Cells8.8/10 · Free plan

  Open-source, self-hosted file collaboration with plans that add identity and governance controls.

  Visit Pydio CellsFull verdict →