ownCloud
ownCloud is a German open-source file sync, share, and content collaboration platform serving regulated enterprises and government organizations with self-hosted and SaaS deployment, operating as a subsidiary of Kiteworks under Apache 2.0 licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLexington, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ownCloud does
ownCloud GmbH is an open-source file sync, share, and content collaboration platform headquartered in Regensburg, Germany, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kiteworks following a 2023 acquisition. The company maintains two server platforms: ownCloud Infinite Scale (oCIS), a modern Go-based microservices platform with a three-tier architecture separating storage, backend, and frontend, and ownCloud 10, the legacy PHP-based server. The product portfolio extends to ownCloud.online, a SaaS offering fully hosted in Germany, plus native iOS/Android and Windows/macOS/Linux desktop clients, and a Marketplace for extensions. Technical differentiators include the Spaces concept for project-based collaboration, multi-instance federation via Open Cloud Mesh (OCM), comprehensive compliance certifications (GDPR, HIPAA, LGPD, CCPA, CCRF), and the oCIS MCP Server enabling AI assistant integration while keeping data on-premises.
The company serves regulated industries — public sector, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, education, defense, and financial services — through a community-led growth motion combined with direct enterprise field sales. Monetization occurs via annual or multi-year enterprise subscriptions (Standard and Enterprise editions with tiered support), the ownCloud.online SaaS for smaller organizations, professional services for implementation and training, and a tiered partner program (Solution/Silver/Gold). The open-source codebase under Apache 2.0 licensing, managed by the Kiteworks Open Source Program Office established in 2025, supports 200 million users worldwide and deployments at institutions including CERN, ETH Zürich, the European Commission, European Investment Bank, Daimler, Fujitsu, SwissLife, and ZF Friedrichshafen. Customers cite a 4.7/5 average rating on Gartner Peer Insights, and one of Europe's largest EFSS deployments runs on oCIS with 1.8 million users.
ownCloud is governed as a German GmbH (private limited company) led by Dr. Björn Momsen and Dario Perfettibile, with 101-250 employees. The company underwent a notable 2025 governance transition: Kiteworks retired the Contributor License Agreement, relicensed the platform to Apache 2.0, and the community re-forked the project under the new OSPO structure to re-establish open-source independence while retaining Kiteworks corporate backing. Disclosed venture funding prior to acquisition totaled approximately $9.6 million across 2011-2014 rounds led by General Catalyst, F-Prime, and Eight Roads Ventures.
ownCloud firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ownCloud
- Legal name
- ownCloud GmbH
- Website
- https://owncloud.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ownCloud is a German open-source file sync, share, and content collaboration platform serving regulated enterprises and government organizations with self-hosted and SaaS deployment, operating as a subsidiary of Kiteworks under Apache 2.0 licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ownCloud industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise File Sharing and Content Collaboration
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Cloud Platforms (On‑Prem Cloud Stacks) (HDABABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Orchestration (Private-Cloud-Centric) (HDABABAE), Kubernetes & Container Platform Management (Private Cloud) (HDABABAC)
Keywords
Where ownCloud is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lexington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ownCloud business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Enterprise Subscriptions: Annual or multi-year subscription licenses for enterprise customers with varying support levels (Standard, Enterprise), featuring defined response times and support coverage hours.
- SaaS (ownCloud.online): Fully hosted cloud solution in Germany for smaller organizations and private users, providing data sovereignty without infrastructure management.
- Support & Maintenance: Tiered support services including Level 1 (first contact, basic troubleshooting), Level 2 (problem isolation), Level 3 (software defect resolution), with 9x5 and 24x7 coverage options.
- Professional Services: Implementation, training, and consulting services for enterprise deployments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise Edition with phone/remote support and 12x5 coverage |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Edition with email support and 9x5 coverage |
| Subscription | Monthly | SaaS (ownCloud.online) - fully hosted cloud solution |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels10 records
ownCloud product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ownCloud develops and sells open-source secure file sync, share, and content collaboration platforms, with ownCloud Infinite Scale (oCIS) as its modern microservices-based offering and ownCloud 10 as the classic PHP-based server. The company serves enterprises and regulated organizations through self-hosted deployments, a fully-hosted German SaaS (ownCloud.online), and accompanying desktop and mobile clients, emphasizing data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and on-premises control.
Product overview
ownCloud is an open-source secure file sync, share, and content collaboration platform trusted by 200 million users worldwide. The product portfolio consists of two core server platforms: Infinite Scale (oCIS) - the modern microservices-based Go platform with real-time collaboration, Spaces organization, and multi-instance federation capabilities - and ownCloud 10 (Classic) - the PHP-based legacy platform. SaaS customers can use ownCloud.online hosted in Germany. Client access is provided through Desktop Clients (v7.x for Infinite Scale, v6.x for Classic) and native Mobile Apps for iOS and Android. The Web Office suite integrates OnlyOffice, Microsoft 365, and Collabora Online for in-browser document editing. Recent additions include the oCIS MCP Server enabling AI assistant integration via Model Context Protocol. The platform is operated under the Kiteworks Open Source Program Office with Apache 2.0 licensing and emphasizes data sovereignty through on-premises, hybrid, and private cloud deployment options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Infinite Scale: The next-generation platform for real-time content collaboration, the most secure version of ownCloud.
- ownCloud 10
- ownCloud.online
Products and services
- ownCloud Infinite Scale (oCIS) Modern, real-time content collaboration platform and successor to ownCloud Classic, built on Go as a microservices three-tier architecture separating storage, backend, and frontend components. Designed for organizations with high data governance requirements and supports multi-instance federation and real-time Web Office editing.
- ownCloud 10 (Classic) Classic PHP-based file sync and share server (oc10) supporting PHP 8.3, designed for organizations preferring the traditional ownCloud deployment model and Desktop Client v6.x compatibility.
- ownCloud.online Fully hosted SaaS offering deployed in Germany for smaller organizations and private users who prefer not to manage infrastructure but still want data sovereignty and one-click setup.
- ownCloud Desktop Client Desktop sync client for Windows, macOS, and Linux enabling file synchronization and access from desktop computers; v7.x targets Infinite Scale while v6.x maintains Classic compatibility.
- ownCloud Mobile Apps Native iOS and Android applications for mobile file access, sync, and collaboration, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- oCIS MCP Server Open-source Model Context Protocol server that bridges ownCloud Infinite Scale with MCP-compatible AI assistants, providing 80 tools for users, spaces, files, shares, federated OCM, and multi-step workflows. Apache 2.0 licensed and self-hosted so AI operates against the customer's own infrastructure.
- ownCloud Marketplace App marketplace for ownCloud extensions, including Dicom Viewer for medical imaging, 3D Model Viewer for engineering files, and Presentation Viewer, among others.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200 million users worldwide trust ownCloud for secure file sharing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ownCloud
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
ownCloud technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability1 record
Feature9 records
ownCloud partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- KiteworksflagshipKiteworks acquired ownCloud in 2023 and launched the ownCloud Open Source Program Office (OSPO) in May 2026. Kiteworks OSPO is responsible for open-source strategy, governance, licensing, community health, and ecosystem engagement. ownCloud operates as 'a Kiteworks Company' with Dr. Björn Momsen and Dario Perfettibile representing ownCloud GmbH.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft integration partnerships including Microsoft Office Online Server, Microsoft 365 integration, Microsoft Teams integration, Microsoft Outlook plugin, and Windows Network Drive (WND) integration. Enables seamless collaboration with Microsoft productivity tools through Web Office functionality.
- Collabora OnlinecoreCollabora Online is an open-source office suite built on LibreOffice technology, integrated with ownCloud for browser-based word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations with real-time collaboration capabilities.
- ONLYOFFICEcoreONLYOFFICE integration provides additional web office capabilities within ownCloud, offering document editing, spreadsheet, and presentation features through the browser.
- CERNflagshipCERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) serves as both a technology partner and customer, using ownCloud for secure file sharing and content collaboration at one of the world's largest scientific research organizations.
- ETH ZürichflagshipETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) serves as both technology partner and customer, using ownCloud for secure data management at a leading technical university.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ownCloud competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nextcloud: Forked from ownCloud in 2016, Nextcloud is the most directly comparable open-source file sync, share, and collaboration platform with a similar self-hosted value proposition, app marketplace, and target audience of regulated and sovereignty-conscious organizations.
- Egnyte: Egnyte provides secure enterprise file sharing and content collaboration with strong regulated-industry positioning (AEC, life sciences, financial services), directly competing with ownCloud in mid-market and enterprise EFSS.
- Seafile: Seafile is an open-source self-hosted file sync, share, and collaboration platform with overlapping feature set and target buyers (research and education institutions, sovereignty-focused organizations).
- Pydio: Pydio is an open-source file sharing and collaboration platform emphasizing self-hosted deployment, enterprise security, and integrations; it competes head-to-head with ownCloud in the sovereign, on-premises EFSS niche.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft (SharePoint / OneDrive): SharePoint and OneDrive are the incumbent enterprise EFSS and content collaboration offerings bundled into Microsoft 365; they compete for the same workloads ownCloud targets and serve as the benchmark for real-time collaboration features.
- Google (Workspace / Drive): Google Drive and Workspace are hyperscaler-scale incumbents for file sync, share, and real-time co-editing; ownCloud explicitly positions Infinite Scale as a sovereign alternative to Google Workspace.
- Box: Box is an enterprise content management and EFSS incumbent selling secure file sharing, collaboration, and workflow capabilities to regulated industries, overlapping with ownCloud's regulated-buyer GTM.
- Dropbox: Dropbox is a broad EFSS and collaboration incumbent with Dropbox Business targeting enterprise sync, share, and collaboration, frequently compared against ownCloud in self-hosted vs. SaaS procurement decisions.
Emerging players
- Files.com: Files.com is a cloud-native managed file transfer and EFSS platform targeting enterprise IT with secure file sharing, automation, and compliance features that overlap with ownCloud's enterprise use cases.
Others
- Kiteworks (parent company platform): Kiteworks is ownCloud's parent company and sells a Private Content Network for secure file transfer, email, and collaboration; it is the strategic acquirer of ownCloud and an adjacent platform with overlapping customer base in regulated industries.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ownCloud social profiles
Digital presenceownCloud compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
ownCloud financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ownCloud leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
ownCloud funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ownCloud M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ownCloud
What does ownCloud do?
ownCloud develops and sells open-source secure file sync, share, and content collaboration platforms, with ownCloud Infinite Scale (oCIS) as its modern microservices-based offering and ownCloud 10 as the classic PHP-based server. The company serves enterprises and regulated organizations through self-hosted deployments, a fully-hosted German SaaS (ownCloud.online), and accompanying desktop and mobile clients, emphasizing data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and on-premises control.
Is ownCloud a public or private company?
ownCloud is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ownCloud founded?
ownCloud was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ownCloud based?
ownCloud is headquartered in Lexington, United States, in the North America region.
How does ownCloud make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are saaS (ownCloud.online), support & Maintenance and professional Services.
Who are ownCloud's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nextcloud, Egnyte, Seafile and Pydio. Broad incumbents are Microsoft (SharePoint / OneDrive), Google (Workspace / Drive), Box and Dropbox. Files.com is listed as an emerging player. Kiteworks (parent company platform) is listed as an others.
Does ownCloud have an API?
Yes. ownCloud Infinite Scale exposes a comprehensive set of APIs including Open Cloud Mesh (OCM) for federated sharing, WebDAV for file access, OCS API for sharing and provisioning, Graph API for user/group management, and WOPI protocol for office integration. The platform supports OpenID Connect authentication and signed URL authentication for presigned URLs. Version 8.0+ introduced multi-instance capabilities for connecting multiple oCIS deployments to the same Identity Provider. The collaboration service connects oCIS to web office document servers (Collabora, OnlyOffice, Microsoft) using the WOPI protocol.
What industry is ownCloud in?
ownCloud's product category is Enterprise File Sharing and Content Collaboration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABABAA, Private Cloud Platforms (On‑Prem Cloud Stacks), with a secondary code of HDABABAE, Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Orchestration (Private-Cloud-Centric). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.