Seafile vs ownCloud

The most important differences between Seafile and ownCloud

Compare Seafile vs ownCloud

Seafile is an open-source file synchronization solution based in China. Find a full Seafile comparison and learn how ownCloud enables you to do more than just securely share files and folders.

ownCloud secure cloud solution for enterprise file sharing

Seafile 

License

AGPLv3, commercial license

GPLv2

Deployment 

On-premises, Hybrid, Cloud

On-premises, Cloud

Support reaction time 

2h

4h

Deployment packages

Custom theming

Desktop App 

Windows, Mac OS, Linux

Windows, Mac OS, Linux

Web App

Mobile Apps

iOS, Android 

iOS, Android 

Virtual File System 

Document editing 

Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE, Microsoft Office Online Server

Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE, Microsoft Office Online Server

Email integration 

Outlook-, Thunderbird- & Mailbox.org-plugin

Q

Guest accounts

Sharing policies for groups

Activities & version history

Comments

2-factor authentication

Storage encryption

External storage integration

Q

LDAP integration

To the best of our knowledge, we compiled this list in September 2020. Should we have overlooked or forgotten anything, do not hesitate to contact us.

The best choice for enterprise file sync and share: ownCloud

ownCloud has a large, global community ecosystem

Both Seafile and ownCloud are open source. On Github, Seafile has 64 contributors, in comparison ownCloud has 492. Generally, the larger an open-source ecosystem is, the more likely it is that your use case or problem has already been adressed. It also usually means that there more integrations readily available.

Integrating with the tools you already use

While ownCloud enables admins to log and audit any file operation for security and compliance, Seafile stops at supplying the sync and share basics. Which is fine, as long as you don’t need those enterprise-level features. It also lacks a secure data room which ownCloud delivers through Secure View, a feature co-developed with Collabora.

+10 years experience in enterprise file sync & share

Both ownCloud and Seafile have been around for more than ten years now. While Seafile has a few feature advantages, like an integrated wiki and a markdown editor, it does not offer customized solutions and external storage integrations – topics where ownCloud excels.

Content collaboration at scale, made easy

To accomodate customers who have advanced security requirements, ownCloud delivers a comprehensive architecture made up of advanced security features. While Seafile supports only in-transit https/TLS encryption and user-based end-to-end-encryption, it does not match the comprehensive security architecture found in ownCloud – where data is also encrypted at rest and support for hardware security modules and external identity providers is available.

Users love ownCloud

ownCloud has an average rating of 4.2 on Capterra

4.2

ownCloud has an average rating of 4.1 on G2

4.1

ownCloud has an average rating of 4.5 on Gartner Peer Insights

4.7

Trusted by 100 million users worldwide

ownCloud customer CERN
ownCloud customer ETH Zürich
ownCloud customer Daimler
ownCloud customer European Commission
ownCloud customer DB Mobility Networks Logistics
ownCloud customer Fujitsu

Want to learn more?

Experience ownCloud in action and ask our knowledgable presales team any question for your proof of concept.

OwnCloud is very easy to use, very simple file system with simple interface and its design of file manager is also very good. It has good filtering options and comes with good admin controls. It follows strict security mechanisms/practices, as the web attacks are increasing gradually.

Software Developer, Manufacturing Industry

Gartner Peer Insights, February 2020