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FreedomStack Component

Documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
Zero licensing fees.

OnlyOffice Docs and Nextcloud Hub replace Microsoft 365 Office, SharePoint, and OneDrive with full .docx compatibility, real-time co-editing, and complete data ownership.

Full OOXML Compatibility Real-Time Co-Editing File Sync & Share $0 Per-User Licensing
The Stack

OnlyOffice Docs + Nextcloud Hub

OnlyOffice Docs 8.2 provides document, spreadsheet, and presentation editing with native OOXML support. Nextcloud Hub 9 delivers file sync, sharing, team spaces, and integrated collaboration. Together, they replace Microsoft 365 Office, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

OnlyOffice uses OOXML (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) as its native format -- the same format Microsoft Office uses. This is not conversion or approximation. Documents open exactly as authored, with formatting, formulas, charts, pivot tables, and conditional formatting preserved. The ribbon-style interface is immediately familiar to Microsoft Office users.

Nextcloud Hub adds the platform layer: file storage with desktop sync clients (Windows, Mac, Linux), mobile apps, granular sharing permissions, team folders, version history, and a web-based file manager. With OnlyOffice integration, users click a document in Nextcloud and edit it in-browser with real-time co-authoring.

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Capabilities

Everything your team needs to work together

Native OOXML Editing

OnlyOffice Docs 8.2 reads and writes .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx natively. Complex formatting, macros, pivot tables, sparklines, and conditional formatting are preserved without conversion artifacts.

Real-Time Co-Authoring

Multiple users edit simultaneously. See live cursors, track changes, leave inline comments, resolve threads, and compare document versions. Works identically to Microsoft 365 co-authoring.

Version History

Every change is tracked. Restore any previous version, compare diffs between revisions, and see who changed what. Nextcloud maintains full file version history with configurable retention.

Desktop Sync Clients

Nextcloud desktop clients for Windows, Mac, and Linux sync files bidirectionally. Virtual file support means large libraries appear locally without consuming disk space until opened.

Mobile Access

Nextcloud mobile apps for iOS and Android provide full file access, auto-upload for photos, and offline availability. OnlyOffice mobile editing enables on-the-go document work.

Granular Permissions

Team folders with role-based access, share links with passwords and expiration dates, audit logs for file access, and GDPR-compliant data residency. Your data, your rules.

Side by Side

OnlyOffice + Nextcloud vs Microsoft 365

Document Editing

OnlyOfficeNative OOXML, ribbon UI, full macro support
Microsoft 365Native OOXML, ribbon UI, full macro support

Real-Time Collaboration

OnlyOfficeMulti-user co-editing, comments, track changes
Microsoft 365Multi-user co-editing, comments, track changes

File Storage & Sync

NextcloudUnlimited storage (your hardware), desktop & mobile sync
OneDrive1 TB/user included, desktop & mobile sync

Team Sites & Folders

NextcloudGroup folders, granular ACLs, share links
SharePointTeam sites, document libraries, complex permissions

Data Ownership

Nextcloud100% self-hosted, full data sovereignty
Microsoft 365Microsoft-hosted, subject to US CLOUD Act

Per-User Cost (100 users/yr)

OnlyOffice + Nextcloud$0 licensing + ~$1,200 hosting
Microsoft 365$26,400/yr (Business Premium)
FAQ

Common questions about OnlyOffice & Nextcloud

Is OnlyOffice fully compatible with Microsoft Office files?

Yes. OnlyOffice Docs uses OOXML as its native format, meaning .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files open and save natively without conversion. Formatting, formulas, macros, and layout are preserved with near-perfect fidelity. It is the most compatible open-source office suite with Microsoft file formats available today.

How does real-time collaboration work?

OnlyOffice Docs integrates directly into Nextcloud, allowing multiple users to edit the same document simultaneously. You see other users' cursors and changes in real time, leave comments, track changes, and use version history. It works identically to Google Docs or Microsoft 365 co-authoring, but the data stays on your infrastructure.

Can Nextcloud replace SharePoint and OneDrive?

Yes. Nextcloud provides file sync and share (replacing OneDrive), team folders with granular permissions (replacing SharePoint document libraries), and a full web interface for browsing, sharing, and managing files. Desktop sync clients for Windows, Mac, and Linux keep files synchronized. Mobile apps provide access from any device.

What about email and calendar?

OnlyOffice and Nextcloud handle documents and files. For email and calendar, we deploy Zimbra as part of the FreedomStack. Nextcloud also includes its own calendar, contacts, and task apps that sync via CalDAV/CardDAV. The full FreedomStack covers every component of the Microsoft ecosystem.

How much does this cost compared to Microsoft 365?

Both OnlyOffice and Nextcloud are open-source with zero per-user licensing fees. For 100 users, Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs approximately $26,400/year in licensing alone. OnlyOffice and Nextcloud cost $0 in licensing. You only pay for hosting infrastructure (typically $50-80/month) and optional managed services. Over three years, a 100-user organization saves over $75,000 on office and collaboration licensing alone.

Ready to Drop the Licensing Fees?

Get your free cost assessment today

We'll analyze your current Microsoft 365 spend, show you what OnlyOffice + Nextcloud looks like for your team, and map out a migration plan. No obligation.

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