For years, we’ve been trained to accept a very specific trade-off: we get convenience, and in return, we yield our data to big tech giants. But for many, tools like Google Drive or Nextcloud have become bloated. Nextcloud, while excellent, has grown into a massive suite that aims to replace Microsoft Office, chat apps, and more. Sometimes, that is too much.
If you are looking for a dedicated solution — something that functions like Dropbox originally did but hosted on your own terms — you don’t need a convenient lifestyle platform. You need a high-performance syncing engine. That is why I shifted to Seafile. It’s an open-source file-syncing platform developed specifically for reliability rather than trying to do everything at once.
OS
Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, Linux
Developer
Seafile Ltd.
Seafile is an enterprise-ready, open-source file syncing solution offering self-hosted control and high performance. It features end-to-end encryption and a virtual drive client, serving as a private, reliable alternative to Dropbox.
Why I left Google Drive
To escape the trap of convenience
Google Drive is built for the average user who uploads a few photos and spreadsheets once in a while. It is not built for high-velocity data management. The moment you introduce a complex directory structure like a local development environment or a raw photo library, the Google Drive’s desktop client begins to suffocate. It scans, it pauses, it consumes CPU cycles just checking for changes.
And then there’s Google Drive’s forever “scanning” issue. We know that Google scans files for hash matches against known copyright violations or illicit content. While necessary for a public platform, it creates an ownership dynamic. Once you upload the files, Google feels it has the right to go through them as it pleases.
That’s why most see Nextcloud as the next best option. I even tried it. Even though capable, Nextcloud and some of its best alternatives, like Copyparty, pack an overwhelming number of features. It tries to be everything to everyone. On a modest VPS (Virtual Private Server), the PHP-based backend can feel heavy. The web interface is indeed handy and beautiful. But the sync performance on large file sets can lag. I didn’t want a replacement for Google Calendar; I wanted a replacement for the file system. That is where Seafile enters the conversation.
But why Seafiles instead?
Because it made sense
While Google Drive was convenient, I was fed up with constant fiddling and slow performance, and Nexcloud was flooding me with features I never needed. Don’t get me wrong, for those who need these features, Nextcloud is the best.
But I wanted a tool that just worked to sync the files to my cloud server and allow me access to them locally. That’s why I chose Seafile. It’s made for one specific purpose: file syncing and sharing. And it does its best with additional features that enhance the experience.
Git approach
Seafiles treats your data as a version-controlled repository rather than a static bucket. Most cloud backup and syncing tools just overwrite files; Seafiles uses a robust history system. It includes built-in versioning and activity logs that track every file change, allowing you to recover earlier versions if you make a mistake.
Seafile adopts a library-based system. Users can create multiple libraries and choose which individual device each library syncs with. For instance, you might sync your document library to your laptop and your photo library only to your phone, making sure you aren’t using up bandwidth or storage on devices that don’t need the data.
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Privacy that refuses to trust the cloud
Seafile’s client-side encryption also offers end-to-end file encryption. When you create a library, you can choose to password-protect it. This encryption happens on your device before the data is uploaded to the server or cloud. Seafiles can’t even access your data.
But why should you use encryption before uploading to your self-hosted server? Even if you are self-hosting, there’s a chance that server hardware is stolen. Or if you are using a cloud-hosted server farm and your credentials are leaked, your data stays intact and opaque without your private password.
DIY reality check
When you decide to make a shift from a tech giant’s cloud farm, there’s one fear: losing the convenience of tap and go and smart sync. But that is not the case with the Seafile client.
Seafile mounts your cloud storage to your PC as a virtual drive. This lists all the data saved on your server within your system’s file explorer. But this doesn’t download all the files to your device; they remain on the server until you decide to open them.
And you don’t even need to download the files separately; you just open them as you would any local file, and they open without delay (or minimal delay if your server is online or cloud-based). This feature currently only works with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The assembly tax is irritating
But an acceptable one
Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOfCredit: Yadullah Abidi / MakeUseOf
If you use something like Google Drive, the process is simple. The moment you create an account, you have your drive storage. All you need to do is install Drive for Desktop, and you are set. On the other hand, Seafile requires you to provision a server, likely using Docker and Docker Compose. You need to understand basic Linux terminal commands, manage your own SSL certificates (likely via Let’s Encrypt), and handle your own backups.
Furthermore, you lose the ecosystem. Seafile does not have a native Google Docs editor. You can integrate open-source suites like OnluOffice. But it is a complex setup. If your workflow relies heavily on a real-time, browser-based shared working environment, Seafiles might feel like a step backward.
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For the target audience, this trade-off is acceptable. The complex setup is a one-time process, but in return, you get lifetime ownership. Once the Docker container is spinning, Seafile is remarkably stable. And the lack of a native office suite is a feature, not a bug. Those who want to use desktop applications, such as Word, Photoshop, or VS Code, have less time to spend deciding.
Seafile is a sync tool and not a lifestyle
Seafile is great, but you need to use it differently and have good backup habits. You need to know that syncing is not the same as backup. If you delete a file on your computer, Seafile deletes it from the server and all your other devices, too. Even though Seafile keeps old versions, it is not a true backup. You still need a separate backup.
If you are fatigued by Nextcloud’s feature bloat and worried about Google Drive’s performance and privacy, Seafile offers a razor-sharp alternative. It is fast, encrypted, and gives you firm control of your data back in your hands.
