Nextcloud is a self-hosted file sync and share platform with integrated collaboration tools. It was founded by Frank Karlitschek, the former ownCloud founder, with the goal of creating a truly open and community-driven collaboration platform.
2010 – ownCloud Founded
Frank Karlitschek founded ownCloud as an open-source file sync and share platform.
2016 – Nextcloud Founded
Frank Karlitschek left ownCloud and founded Nextcloud GmbH in Germany, along with several ownCloud developers.
2016 – Nextcloud 9 Released
The first version of Nextcloud was released as a fork of ownCloud 8, with additional features and a stronger focus on community governance.
2017 – Nextcloud 12 with Talk
Nextcloud Talk was introduced, providing video chat and messaging capabilities integrated into the platform.
2018 – Nextcloud 15 with Office Integration
Collaborative document editing was added through integrations with OnlyOffice and Collabora Online.
2020 – Nextcloud Hub
Nextcloud Hub was introduced, bundling Files, Talk, and Groupware (Calendar, Contacts, Mail) into a unified platform.
2022 – Nextcloud 25 with Hub 2
Enhanced collaboration features, improved performance, and better mobile apps were introduced.
2024 – Nextcloud 30 with Hub 26
AI-powered features, enhanced security, and improved user experience were added.
2026 – Nextcloud 33.0.0
The current version (February 2026) includes enhanced collaboration tools, improved performance, and better enterprise features.
| Era | Key Features |
|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | File sync, basic sharing |
| 2018-2020 | Talk, Office integration, mobile apps |
| 2021-2023 | Hub platform, Groupware |
| 2024-2026 | AI features, enterprise capabilities |