Nextcloud Alternative: Remote Access Without Migration
Keep your files where they are. MyWorkDrive delivers instant, secure, and compliant remote file access using your existing Windows file servers, Azure Files/Blob, or S3-compatible object storage. No data migration, no sync, and no new workflows. Full service support always included.
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Quick Comparison
Feature / Requirement |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Data Migration Required | No. Works in place with SMB/NTFS, Azure Files/Blob, or object storage you control. | Not required when using External Storage to mount SMB/CIFS or S3; otherwise files live on Nextcloud-managed storage. |
| Active Directory / Entra ID Integration | Native. Live NTFS permissions enforced; no duplicate identity store. | LDAP/AD or SSO (SAML/OIDC). NTFS ACLs are not enforced natively unless SMB shares are mounted per-user via External Storage. |
| File Locking | Native SMB locks for local and remote users; consistent with existing Windows workflows. | Application-level transactional locks (Redis). Not SMB-native; mixed SMB scenarios require careful configuration. |
| Server Stack / Hosting Model | Windows Server + IIS/.NET you manage (or your cloud subscription). No external DB. | Self-hosted PHP app on Apache/Nginx with MariaDB/MySQL/PostgreSQL and Redis; cron background jobs recommended. |
| Maintenance Overhead | Minimal—no external database or reindexing; uses your existing storage stack. | Higher—web server, database, caching, background jobs, and app upgrades to administer. |
| Pricing | Capped at $5/user/month for full features; no migration costs. | Community: free (unsupported). Enterprise: €67.89-175/user/year. Support + other adds on cost extra. |
| Compliance & Security | Data never leaves your servers; DLP (view-only/no download), watermarking, SIEM integration. | Self-hosted. Security/compliance depend on your deployment; features include File Access Control and optional E2E encryption. |
| Support | Included at no extra charge. | Community support; Enterprise support available for exta fee. |
Faster Setup, Lower Costs
No Migration Required
Deploy in minutes overlaying your existing SMB/NTFS shares or Azure Files/Blob. No re-permissioning, no user disruption.
Native AD and Entra ID
Live NTFS enforcement—no fragile sync jobs or permission drift. Keep Access-Based Enumeration behavior.
Lower Cost of Ownership
$5/user/month or less, zero migration spend, reduced infra/support overhead. Full service support is included.
Why Choose MyWorkDrive
- MyWorkDrive: Files remain in place (on-prem or your cloud storage). No external databases or vendor storage required.
- Nextcloud: Self-hosted PHP app requiring a database and web server. Can mount external SMB/S3 so files can remain on your storage; otherwise data resides on the Nextcloud-managed backend.
- MyWorkDrive: Uses your existing Active Directory/Entra ID directly; NTFS ACLs are authoritative and enforced live.
- Nextcloud: Integrates with LDAP/AD and SSO. NTFS ACLs do not apply natively to its storage; with SMB External Storage mounted per user, permissions defer to the SMB share.
- MyWorkDrive: Native SMB locking interoperates with on-prem workflows and Office co-authoring via Microsoft 365 or OnlyOffice without moving data.
- Nextcloud: Transactional app-level locking (Redis) to prevent conflicts; not SMB-native. Supports web co-editing with Collabora or OnlyOffice. Nextcloud integrates with on-premise Microsoft Office Online Server, not cloud based Office 365.
- MyWorkDrive: HTTPS streaming with minimal endpoint data sprawl; no large sync folders.
- Nextcloud: Web, WebDAV, and desktop/mobile sync clients. Sync can place data on endpoints; Virtual File features may reduce local copies depending on client OS and configuration.
- MyWorkDrive: Windows Server + IIS. No external DB to patch/backup; keep your existing backup/DR regime.
- Nextcloud: Manage web server, database, Redis caching, cron, and upgrades; backup the app and DB. External storage introduces additional dependencies to monitor.
Security You Can Prove
With MyWorkDrive, authentication and authorization stay anchored in your directory and your NTFS. No vendor keys to rotate for at-rest copies you don’t control, and no third-party repository to certify—making attestations simpler for regulated workloads.
End-to-End Encryption
(HTTPS/TLS with SHA-256)
Data Loss Prevention
(Block downloads, disable copy/paste, watermarking, device approvals)
Compliance Ready
(CMMC, FINRA, HIPAA, GDPR; FIPS-aligned crypto)
Auditing & SIEM
(Centralized logging, alerts, and integrations)
What our users are saying
Lower Total Cost of Ownership
Than Nextcloud
See the MyWorkDrive
Advantage for Yourself
Book a personalized demo or start your free trial today.