Nextcloud Saves the Day for Self-Hosting Cloud Storage Enthusiast
A civil engineer turned freelance writer decided to self-host his own cloud storage after growing tired of Google Drive's pricing model. Pankil, a long-time Windows and Android user, was paying around $20 per month for 5TB of storage on the Google One plan. However, he only used about 20% of this capacity.
The writer's wife also had similar issues with iCloud, where she was stuck paying more than triple what she needed due to Apple's tiered pricing system.
After researching alternatives, Pankil discovered Nextcloud, a free and open-source cloud platform that can be self-hosted. He found it easy to use and accessible on multiple devices, with features such as drag-and-drop uploads and password protection for files and folders.
The writer notes that while setting up Nextcloud can feel intimidating, especially for those without prior experience in self-hosting, the process is not overly complicated once you've done it. He also emphasizes the importance of having actual storage drives to store data and ensuring remote access to your files.