Nextcloud vs Penpot

Both Nextcloud and Penpot are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the team collaboration space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.

Quick Overview

Nextcloud logo

Nextcloud

EU
Headquarters
Stuttgart, DE
Pricing
Free
Open Source
Yes
Penpot logo

Penpot

EU
Headquarters
Madrid, ES
Pricing
Free
Open Source
Yes

Key Differences

  • Data residency differs: Nextcloud hosts data in Germany, France, Netherlands, while Penpot hosts in EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
  • Nextcloud was founded in 2016, giving it a 5-year head start over Penpot (founded 2021). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
  • Each product has unique strengths: Nextcloud offers File sync and share and Real-time document editing, while Penpot provides Real-time collaboration and Interactive prototyping. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.

Feature Comparison

Feature Nextcloud Penpot
Name Nextcloud Penpot
Pricing Free Free
Free Tier
GDPR
ISO 27001
Open Source
Headquarters Stuttgart, DE Madrid, ES
Data Centers DE, FR, NL EU
File sync and share
Real-time document editing
Calendar and contacts
Video conferencing (Talk)
Email integration
Kanban boards and project management
End-to-end encryption
App ecosystem with 300+ extensions
Real-time collaboration
Interactive prototyping
Component libraries
Design tokens
Flex and Grid layout
SVG native format
CSS inspect panel
Plugin system
Self-hosting option

Pricing Comparison

Nextcloud

Free

free / enterprise

Penpot

Free

free / enterprise

Compliance Comparison

Nextcloud

GDPRDPA

Penpot

GDPRDPA

Get Started

Try Nextcloud

Self-hosted productivity platform

Visit Nextcloud

Try Penpot

Open source design and prototyping platform

Visit Penpot

Categories

How to Choose

You need enterprise-grade support and stability

Choose Nextcloud

You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support

Choose Penpot

Nextcloud vs Penpot — FAQ

What is the main difference between Nextcloud and Penpot?
Both Nextcloud and Penpot are European team collaboration solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Nextcloud is headquartered in Germany while Penpot is based in Spain. Nextcloud is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, while Penpot is based in Madrid, Spain. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Nextcloud or Penpot?
Both Nextcloud and Penpot offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Both use free / enterprise pricing, so compare the tiers that match your team size and feature needs.
Are both Nextcloud and Penpot GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Nextcloud and Penpot are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.

Data Center Locations

Related Pages