FileRun vs ownCloud (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FileRun grades higher than ownCloud: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
FileRun grades higher on value for money and features. ownCloud grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
FileRun
Self-hosted file sync and sharing app that runs on your own server
Which one is for you
Pick FileRun if
- Fits if you have a server and want to keep control of your files
- Works for a team of 10 or more at a low per-user licence
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not want to run PHP and MySQL yourself
- Skip it if you want a free plan, as there is only a trial on request
- Watch out: each licence is tied to one domain name
- Watch out: the EUR 99 Home licence is for non-business use, five users and community support only
- Tight if you have under 10 users, as the small plan starts at 10 or 20
Pick ownCloud if
- Fits if you have someone who can run a server and want files on your own hardware
- Works for an organisation that needs unlimited users on Community
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server: you host and update it yourself
- Skip it if you need support, as Community has the forum only
- Watch out: Enterprise and Standard start at 25 users with a yearly commitment
- Watch out: no price is published for Enterprise, Standard or ownCloud Online
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAFileRunGood | 2.4GPAownCloudFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AEUR 9.9 a user a year, or EUR 99 once for the Home licence, far under the cheapest quarter. The storage and server are your own cost. | CCommunity is free but self-managed, which needs a server and counts as a C. Paid editions are quoted. |
| Free plan and trial | DTrial on request with no length stated, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. No free plan. | BCommunity is free with unlimited users, and there are 30-day and 14-day trials of paid editions. |
| Features | BWeb, sync apps and WebDAV, with every feature in every plan. Editing needs an office suite you connect yourself. | CFile sync and sharing with apps, but Community lacks the support and features of Enterprise. |
| Ease of use | DYou install and maintain it on your own server with PHP and MySQL. No store rating on record. | DYou install and update the server yourself unless you buy ownCloud Online. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, with WebDAV, ONLYOFFICE, Collabora, SSO and LDAP. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, and 5 integrations listed. No Linux client is listed. |
| Best for | a self-hosted file server for small teams | self-hosted file sync for IT teams |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: FileRun and ownCloud. How we grade
Where they differ
- FileRun can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- ownCloud is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| FileRun | ownCloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | €9.9 per user / year (annual subscription) | Not published |
| Free plan | None | Community edition: free, open source and self-managed, with unlimited users and community forum support only. |
| Free trial | Free trial available on request | 30-day free trial of the Enterprise features; 14-day trial of ownCloud Online |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | FileRun Lda | ownCloud GmbH |
| Price read from | filerun.com | owncloud.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
FileRun
- You install and maintain it on your own server; it needs PHP and MySQL.
- Home license is for non-business domain names only and has no direct e-mail support.
- Licenses are tied to one domain name, and every plan includes all features.
- Prices are in euros; storage is your own disk and is not billed.
ownCloud
- Prices for Enterprise, Standard and ownCloud Online are not published; the page gives only a figure from EUR 1.85 per user per year for large or education deployments.
- The Community edition has no customer support beyond the forum.
- Enterprise and Standard start at 25 users with a yearly commitment.
- You run and update the server yourself unless you buy ownCloud Online.
Key features
FileRun
- Uses your existing folders
- Manages files already on the server's filesystem without importing them, so they stay normal files that other tools can read.
- Sharing with roles and links
- Share with users, groups or outside e-mail addresses using seven roles, and send links protected by a password, expiry date or download limit.
- Sync, WebDAV and mobile apps
- Two-way sync for Windows, macOS and Linux, iOS and Android apps, and standard WebDAV access.
- Document editing
- Edit documents in the browser through ONLYOFFICE, Collabora Online, LibreOffice Online, Euro-Office, Google Docs, Zoho Docs or Microsoft 365.
- Sign-in and audit trail
- Connects to LDAP, Active Directory, OpenID Connect and SAML, and records each action with the IP address and program used.
- Branding
- Your logo, colors and wording throughout the interface, plus desktop and mobile apps carrying your own name.
ownCloud
- Self-hosted file sync and share
- The server runs on your own infrastructure, with desktop apps for Finder or Explorer and mobile apps for Android and iOS.
- Open source core
- The Community edition is 100% open source and has no user cap; Enterprise adds a commercial license for core and enterprise modules.
- Hosted option in Germany
- ownCloud Online hosts storage in Germany, with 180 days of file recovery, multi-factor authentication and guest accounts.
- Office editing integrations
- The site lists Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE and Microsoft 365 integrations for editing documents in the browser.
- Enterprise support
- Paid editions include a customer portal and email support with a stated 2-hour reaction time.
Plans
FileRun
Small business€9.9
per user / year, for 10 or 20 users
Installation help and community-based support, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Medium business€9.9
per user / year, for 30 to 90 users
Adds Docker installation service and e-mail support, with a 24 working hour response on critical issues.
Large business€9.9
per user / year, for 100 or more users
FileRun installs and configures it for you; includes 9 free guest accounts per paid user and weekend support.
Home€99
one-time
5 user accounts for non-business use, with free updates for life and community forum support only.
ownCloud
Community$0
Self-managed on your own server, unlimited users, community apps and forum. No customer support.
EnterpriseCustom
From 25 users, yearly commitment, 12x5 phone and email support with 2-hour reaction, pro app features. No price published.
StandardCustom
From 25 users, on-premises, yearly commitment, 9x5 email support with 2-hour reaction. Contact sales; no price published.
ownCloud OnlineCustom
Hosted in Germany. 1,000 GB for teams from 5 users, 500 GB for 1 to 4 users. The page shows no prices.
Ways to pay less
FileRun
- Nonprofit
Free or reduced plans for public benefit work
FileRun says it will give nonprofit and public benefit organizations a free or heavily reduced plan, decided case by case.
- Lifetime license
Home license paid once
The Home plan is a single €99 payment with free software updates for life, for non-business use.
ownCloud
- Education
Special pricing for large and education deployments
ownCloud quotes individual pricing for large deployments and educational institutions, starting at EUR 1.85 per user per year.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, FileRun or ownCloud?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FileRun starts at €9.9 per user / year (annual subscription), and ownCloud publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, FileRun or ownCloud?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only ownCloud has a free plan. FileRun does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do FileRun and ownCloud run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only FileRun lists a Linux app. Both list a web app and macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.