Open-Source Customisation · Files
Nextcloud, set up, extended and built in
Your own Dropbox and Google Drive, on a UK server, customised for how your team shares files, or built into your own software as its document store.
Files and sharing you control
Nextcloud keeps your files in sync across computers and phones, lets you share folders and links with clients, and keeps versions so a bad save is not a disaster. Add Nextcloud Office and your team can edit documents and spreadsheets together in the browser.
It is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 licence, written in PHP, and very actively developed. It also does calendars, contacts and video calls, and has a large library of add-on apps. Nextcloud GmbH sells an enterprise subscription for businesses that want vendor support. Details checked against the project's own repository on 9 October 2026.
Weighing it up against Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive? Rob covers that honestly in his Dropbox and Google Drive alternatives review, including when to stay put.
Three ways we work with Nextcloud
Set up for your team
On a UK server, with backups, sensible sharing rules, Nextcloud Office, single sign-on with Microsoft or Google if you want it, and your files moved across.
Extended with custom apps
Nextcloud apps are written in PHP, so we can add what your business needs: client portals, automatic folder structures for new jobs, approval steps, or a link to your CRM.
Built into your own software
Your system stores documents in Nextcloud and creates share links through its API, so permissions, versions and the apps come for free. See borrow, don't build.
Everything we add is a separate app or uses Nextcloud's API. We never edit Nextcloud itself, so updates keep flowing, and we test your apps against new releases. You own the code we write. More on how we work in open-source customisation.
Is Nextcloud right for you?
A good fit when
- You want client and staff files on a UK server you control
- Per-user storage fees are adding up
- You share a lot with clients and want proper control over it
- Your own software needs a dependable place to keep documents
Stay put when
- Your team lives in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace and it works
- You only have a few users and the subscription is cheap
- Nobody will look after updates and backups
- You need Word and Excel desktop features in shared editing
What people ask us
For everyday use, very nearly. Files sync to a folder on your computer and to the phone app in the same way. The difference is behind the scenes: someone has to look after the server, the updates and the backups. That is the part we take on.
Yes. You can share folders and files by link, with passwords and expiry dates, or give clients their own logins. We can also build a simple client portal on top, so each client sees only their own folder.
Yes, and it is often the cheapest way to give a custom system proper document handling. Your system talks to Nextcloud through its API to store files and create share links, and your team gets the desktop and phone apps for free.
For a business running Nextcloud for its own staff and clients, very little. The obligations mostly apply if you change Nextcloud's own code and let people use the changed version over a network. We build separate apps and use its API rather than changing it, and we check the licence against how you plan to use it before we start.
What our clients say
19 clients. A few of their words.
A well-rounded team, ensuring a full suite of expertise & resource is always available. CDS Global have seen the successful completion of major projects over the years where Dev Partners' ability to grasp the underlying business needs to provide a future-proof solution has been invaluable.
We have worked with Jason & his team to develop our Shopify store, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. The design is clean, modern, and perfectly aligned with our brand identity, while the build is fast, responsive, and easy to manage on the backend. They clearly understood our vision and delivered a store we're genuinely proud of. Highly recommend to any brand looking for a top-quality Shopify partner.
After ongoing issues and delays with our previous developers, we brought in Rob & Jason at Dev Partners to take over all our websites and bespoke software. What a breath of fresh air, fully focused, excellent pre-launch designs and clear communication throughout. Highly recommended.
BPC Energy Ltd turned to Dev Partners for a complete turnkey solution, and they exceeded our expectations. The team handled everything from project management to development and support with real care and attention. They understood what we were aiming for, stayed on top of every detail, and always delivered on schedule with excellent quality.
Working with Dev Partners to redesign and modernise our WMS system: the whole process has been thoroughly professional from the outset and a delight to work with. Cannot recommend enough.
Great agency. Have used Dev Partners for several years and they have built 20+ sites for us, in addition to taking on our legacy websites, upgrading and maintaining. Easy to work with and some great practical ideas to improve our digital offerings.
Jones Hire have been working with Dev Partners on several projects, which have been very successful. They linked our catering database to a new improved website so clients can easily place and update orders, created a custom warehouse picking app to fulfil all our challenging requirements, and are currently developing a custom transport app to streamline our loading and delivery process.
We have been trying to reinvent our website for over 5 years, trying to make it convert and failing each time. Spoke to Rob at Dev Partners, the team helped create our new site and the improvement was instant.
We have been working with Rob and the team for about 10 years now. Dev Partners helped us build a completely bespoke CRM from scratch which manages our daily business and is always well maintained. We have been able to use the system and roll it out in our new franchise branches.
We collaborated with Dev Partners on the front end of a fairly complex telemarketing platform. Rob and Jason took the time to properly understand the moving parts, asked the right questions, and delivered a clean, intuitive interface that's made the system far easier for our team to use.
I have been working with the team at Dev Partners for the last 3 years and we have always been impressed with the speed in which they act on things for us, along with the honest open communication. The team are a valuable and vital part of our supply chain.
We've had a program for our business in the electronic security sector that Dev Partners developed and keep up to date. They've never let us down, always there when needed. Thanks Rob and the team.
Dev Partners have been working with us for just over 2 years. They have significantly upgraded and redesigned our existing web platforms, and always deliver a first class service.
Dev Partners helped us build an event website. The team were very knowledgeable, easy to work with and quick to deliver a high quality product.
Working with Dev Partners has been an exceptional experience. Their team is highly skilled, professional, and committed to delivering results. What truly sets them apart is their communication and transparency; we always felt informed, supported, and confident.
We've worked with Dev Partners a few times to support us on bespoke web build tasks. They're very easy to work with, approachable, and explain the detail in a way that's understandable. A great partner for technical issues at sensible prices.
Excellent customer service backed up with solid experience. As a media business we have had five websites built by Dev Partners. I would certainly recommend them.
Found Dev Partners and they were great, nothing too much trouble. They managed to help us with integrating our old existing system with Shopify.
I've worked with Rob and his team off and on for many years and have always found them to be professional, knowledgeable, and best of all, they listen to their clients and deliver what is required.
We have worked with Dev Partners for 7 years and can highly recommend them for their expertise and excellent customer service.
Want your files back under your control?
Tell us how your team shares files today.
What you use now, how many people, roughly how much data, and how much you share with clients. If staying where you are makes more sense, we will say so.
We reply within one working day.
