AppXen NextCloud
Production NextCloud: automatic HTTPS, PostgreSQL + Redis (not SQLite), hardened Ubuntu base. Own your files, calendars, and office docs — replace Dropbox/Google Workspace.
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Pricing
$0.049/hr (≈ $36/mo software), billed through AWS — you pay EC2 separately and keep full control of the instance
Recommended instance
t3.medium or larger; attach EBS for file storage
Production stack
TLS via Caddy + Let's Encrypt; PostgreSQL + Redis backing; UFW firewall and unattended security updates on a hardened Ubuntu 24.04 base
Dropbox & Google Workspace vs self-hosted: the real cost
Pricing verified June 2026 against workspace.google.com, dropbox.com, and AWS us-east-1 rates.
Hosted file-and-collaboration suites bill per user, every month, forever. NextCloud is flat: one server hosts your whole team, and the cost barely moves as you hire. The bigger the team, the wider the gap.
| Option | Price | Billing model | Data lives in | Ops burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace Business Standard | $14/user/mo | Per user · 2 TB/user pooled | None | |
| Dropbox Business Standard | $15/user/mo | Per user (3+) · 5 TB team | Dropbox | None |
| DIY self-host | ~$32+ | Flat + storage | Your AWS account | High — you do everything |
| AppXen NextCloud appliance | ~$66/mo + storage | Flat · unlimited users | Your AWS account | Low — hardened, you keep root |
Google/Dropbox prices at their annual-commitment per-user rate. Appliance all-in = $0.049/hr software (≈ $36/mo) + a t3.medium (≈ $30/mo) + EBS for your files at standard rates (gp3 ≈ $0.08/GB-month). Unlimited users.
The per-seat tax
At $14–15 per user per month, a 25-person team pays $350–375/mo — about $4,200–4,500/yr — and it climbs with every hire. The same files, calendars, and contacts on a NextCloud appliance run roughly $70–80/mo flat, whatever your headcount. Storage is whatever EBS you attach, in your account, at AWS rates — not a per-seat add-on.
Cost scenarios
Small team · 5 users
Google Workspace ~$70/mo or Dropbox ~$75/mo vs the appliance at ~$70/mo + storage — roughly a wash on price. At this size the real win is owning your data and choosing your region, not the dollars.
Growing team · 25 users
Google Workspace $350/mo or Dropbox $375/mo vs the appliance at ~$80/mo + storage. Savings ≈ $3,200/yr, growing with every new hire.
Department · 100 users
Google Workspace $1,400/mo vs the appliance at ~$90–130/mo on a larger instance. Savings ≈ $15,000+/yr.
Data-residency or VPC isolation
Your files, calendars, and contacts live in your AWS account, your region, your VPC — no third party in the trust chain. The only clean answer when residency or network isolation is a requirement.
When the SaaS suite is the better choice
NextCloud is not a 1:1 Google Workspace replacement — it doesn't host email, and live document co-editing needs the Office integration (Collabora or OnlyOffice). If you need Gmail-grade email, real-time Docs collaboration, or zero ops, stay on the managed suite. NextCloud wins when you want to own file sync, sharing, calendars, and contacts at a flat cost in your own account.
FAQ
Does NextCloud replace email?
No — it covers files, sync & share, calendars, and contacts. Keep your existing email provider and point NextCloud at your domain for everything else.
Can I edit documents in the browser?
Yes, via NextCloud's Office integration (Collabora or OnlyOffice) for in-browser editing of documents, spreadsheets, and slides.
How much storage do I get?
Whatever EBS you attach, at standard AWS rates (gp3 ≈ $0.08/GB-month). Grow it as you go — no re-buying seats or storage add-ons.
Where does my data live?
In your AWS account, your VPC, your chosen region. AppXen has no access to your instance.
Getting started
Launch, wait ~2–3 min, browse https://<public-ip>/, log in as admin with the password from sudo cat /opt/appliance/credentials.txt.
Need help? Email support@appxen.ai.