Hetzner Storage Box vs Nextcloud: Complete Comparison (2026)

By Sarah Mitchell, Cloud & Developer Tools Editorยท10 years of experienceยทUpdated 2026-04-24ยท8 min read

In comparing Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud in 2026, Nextcloud is the stronger choice for privacy-focused orgs and it teams wanting self-hosted cloud storage due to full data sovereignty. Hetzner Storage Box excels for european businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with sftp with extremely affordable pricing. Hetzner Storage Box offers SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots starting at $3.81/mo (1TB). Nextcloud provides Self-hosted storage, Collaborative editing, Calendar and contacts from Free (self-hosted) with a free tier. For teams prioritizing value, Nextcloud delivers a hiltonsoftware Score of 81/100. Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud compete in the cloud storage segment of the SaaS market, where cloud-native solutions, API integrations, and workflow automation drive enterprise and SMB adoption. Other leading cloud storage tools include Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive. Hetzner Storage Box serves 500K+ users globally (founded 1997) while Nextcloud reports 20M+ active users (founded 2016).

Hetzner Storage Box vs Nextcloud at a Glance

Hetzner Storage Box
Nextcloud
Starting Price
$3.81/mo (1TB)
Free (self-hosted)
Free Plan
No
Yes
User Rating
4.5/5
4.5/5
Best For
European businesses and developers wanting cheap, ...
Privacy-focused orgs and IT teams wanting self-hos...
Users
500K+
20M+
Founded
1997
2016
hiltonsoftware Score
73/100
81/100
Pricing verified: March 2026 ยท Based on official vendor data
๐Ÿ“ฆ
Hetzner Storage Box
Cloud Storage
73
hiltonsoftware.co Score
VS
๐Ÿ 
Nextcloud
Cloud Storage
81
hiltonsoftware.co Score
RECOMMENDED

What are the main differences between Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud?

Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud differ across ease of use, features, value, support, integrations, scalability, and learning curve. Nextcloud leads in 5 of 7 categories.

Hetzner Storage BoxNextcloud
81Ease of Use83
79Features80
62Value for Money74
73Customer Support70
69Integrations69
70Scalability67
65Learning Curve76

What are the pros and cons of Hetzner Storage Box vs Nextcloud?

Hetzner Storage Box
+Extremely affordable pricing
+European data hosting (GDPR)
-No desktop sync client
-Technical setup required
Nextcloud
+Full data sovereignty
+Extensible with apps
-Requires server to self-host
-Technical setup required

Which is better, Hetzner Storage Box or Nextcloud?

After evaluating Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud across features, pricing, integrations, and user satisfaction, Nextcloud earns a higher hiltonsoftware Score of 81/100 versus Hetzner Storage Box at 73/100. Nextcloud stands out for "full data sovereignty" and "extensible with apps". Hetzner Storage Box delivers competitive advantages in "extremely affordable pricing", making Hetzner Storage Box a viable alternative.

On pricing, Nextcloud offers a free plan for SMBs and startups. Hetzner Storage Box starts at $3.81/mo (1TB) with no free tier, but justifies the cost with sftp and rsync access and samba/cifs support and enterprise-grade scalability.

Bottom line: Choose Hetzner Storage Box for european businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with sftp. Choose Nextcloud for privacy-focused orgs and it teams wanting self-hosted cloud storage. Both Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud are established cloud storage platforms.

CHOOSE HETZNER STORAGE BOX IF:

European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP.

CHOOSE NEXTCLOUD IF:

Privacy-focused orgs and IT teams wanting self-hosted cloud storage.

Hetzner Storage Box vs Nextcloud: Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hetzner Storage Box better than Nextcloud in 2026?
Nextcloud outperforms Hetzner Storage Box in the 2026 hiltonsoftware.co analysis with a score of 81/100 compared to 73/100. Hetzner Storage Box excels in SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots, making Hetzner Storage Box the better choice for European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP. Nextcloud is the stronger option for Privacy-focused orgs and IT teams wanting self-hosted cloud storage due to full data sovereignty. For teams needing self-hosted storage, hiltonsoftware.co recommends Nextcloud.
How does Hetzner Storage Box pricing compare to Nextcloud in 2026?
Hetzner Storage Box starts at $3.81/mo (1TB) with no free tier. Nextcloud starts at Free (self-hosted) and offers a free plan. Hetzner Storage Box includes features like SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots. Nextcloud provides Self-hosted storage, Collaborative editing, Calendar and contacts. Hetzner Storage Box serves 500K+ users while Nextcloud serves 20M+ users. Evaluate total cost of ownership based on team size and required integrations.
What are the main differences between Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud?
Hetzner Storage Box specializes in SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots, earning a 73/100 hiltonsoftware Score. Nextcloud focuses on Self-hosted storage, Collaborative editing, Calendar and contacts, scoring 81/100. Hetzner Storage Box is best for European businesses and developers wanting cheap, reliable storage with SFTP. Nextcloud is best for Privacy-focused orgs and IT teams wanting self-hosted cloud storage. Both Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud serve the Cloud Storage market but target different user profiles.
Can I migrate from Hetzner Storage Box to Nextcloud?
Migrating from Hetzner Storage Box to Nextcloud is possible since both operate in the Cloud Storage space. Export data from Hetzner Storage Box and verify Nextcloud import capabilities. Key features to evaluate: SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots (Hetzner Storage Box) versus Self-hosted storage, Collaborative editing, Calendar and contacts (Nextcloud). Running both Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud in parallel during a trial period ensures a smooth transition.
Is Hetzner Storage Box or Nextcloud better for small business?
For small businesses, Nextcloud offers a free plan making Nextcloud more budget-friendly at 81/100 on hiltonsoftware.co. Hetzner Storage Box (starting at $3.81/mo (1TB)) is worth considering for SFTP and rsync access, Samba/CIFS support, Automated snapshots. Both Hetzner Storage Box and Nextcloud scale from SMB to enterprise.

Reviewed by Sarah Mitchell, Cloud & Developer Tools Editor. Last updated: 2026-04-24. Pricing verified: March 2026.

Read our scoring methodology to understand how the hiltonsoftware Score is calculated.

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