i have a question im trying to find a way to self host a nextcloud local instance for free without paying any money every month to different companys or sites is there anyway to do this?
@YugiohMaster88 not really free, but maybe you can get a cheap PC from a thrift store or something like that (not first hand) and install Linux on it, then set it up as a Nextcloud server. If you live in a small flat like me then this is likely not possible though.
Host on your own hardware to avoid server fees. Use a free dynamic dns service, I used duckdns for a few years before getting my own domain. Are there other fees I’m forgetting?
I mean, you’re forgetting the additional power costs that you’ll have to pay for running your own hardware, plus maybe ISP fees if you want to upgrade for better upload speeds.
Power cost depends. I use a thin client (J4105 CPU), and it idles at 4W. Idling is what it does 95% of the day. That power usage is lower than my modem, and a drop on the bucket compared to my (relatively low power) desktop PC. And I say that as a German who pays a disgusting 0.4€ per kWh.
No company is just going to host a server for you for free, a (virtual) server for running nextcloud will cost you at least a few bucks a month. As others have already said, you can run a server at home on your own hardware, but this is also not free (hardware cost, electricity, etc.) and you will additionally have to deal with any hardware issues & replacements yourself.
thats true i could just host my own at home using a computer im not normally going to use for daily use
Get a raspberrypi (or similar sbc), second hand computer, or a NAS and host it yourself. You’ll have to pay for hardware and power, but assuming you already have an Internet connection, that’s it.
a raspberry pi has been something ive been looking into for awhile now im considering getting one in the near future
In my experience nextcloud was unbearably slow on a Raspi 3b. I’d recommend a an intel j4125 based micro computer, I got mine second hand for about £80 and it’s many times faster than the Raspi.
What do you mean by different companies?
You get one server or instance and pay only one company. No need for multiple different.
