European alternatives to Google Drive
Google Drive is practical, but stores data in the US. For more data sovereignty, European cloud storage and self-hostable platforms are good options.
Why look for an alternative?
It is usually about data sovereignty, European servers and independence from a US corporation. Organizations with compliance requirements prefer self-hosting or EU-hosted services.
What to look for in an alternative
- EU data residency or self-hosting
- Collaboration: shares, office, comments
- Client availability (desktop, mobile)
- DPA for companies
- Storage costs and scalability
The best European alternatives at a glance
Sorted by suitability as a replacement for the tool you searched. The Sovereignty Score independently rates how European and data-sovereign a provider is – so the two values can differ.
Open-source, self-hostable collaboration platform from Germany – files, calendar, office and more.
Swiss privacy suite with end-to-end encrypted email, calendar, drive, password manager and VPN.
Swiss cloud storage with end-to-end (zero-knowledge) encryption – part of Swiss Post since 2021.
Independent Swiss cloud and hosting provider with own data centers – from web hosting and email to public cloud, 100% green electricity.
Comparison table
| Providers | Fit | Sovereignty | Headquarters | Open Source | Self-hosting | EU hosting | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud | 88 | 90 | Germany | Open source (AGPLv3) / enterprise support | |||
| Proton | 78 | 82 | Switzerland | from 3,99 € / Monat | |||
| Tresorit | 76 | 82 | Switzerland | from 12 € / Monat | |||
| Infomaniak | 74 | 86 | Switzerland | Web hosting / cloud (pay-as-you-go) |
The top providers in detail
Nextcloud is the leading open-source alternative to cloud suites such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Self-hosted or operated through a European provider, Nextcloud combines file sharing, calendar, contacts, video calls and office editing. Full data sovereignty is therefore central. The Community Edition (AGPLv3) is free for unlimited users – only the costs of your own server apply; Nextcloud Enterprise with support starts at around €69 per user per year (from 100 users).
Strengths
- Full data sovereignty through self-hosting
- Open source with a large app ecosystem
- Covers files, groupware and office
Weaknesses
- Self-hosting requires operation and maintenance
- Performance depends heavily on your own infrastructure
Proton offers an entire ecosystem around encrypted communication: Mail, Calendar, Drive, Pass (passwords) and VPN. Its headquarters in Switzerland, end-to-end encryption and own server hardware in Switzerland and Germany make Proton one of the best-known privacy alternatives to Google and Microsoft. All apps are open source; Proton is ISO/IEC 27001 certified and has a SOC 2 Type II report. Proton Mail Plus starts at €4.99 per month (€3.99 with annual billing), the Proton Unlimited bundle at €12.99 per month.
Strengths
- End-to-end encryption across the whole suite
- Own server hardware (Switzerland/Germany), no hyperscaler
- Open source, ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II
Weaknesses
- Headquartered in Switzerland (EFTA), not in the EU/EEA
- No self-hosting
- Encryption limits some convenience features
Tresorit is an encrypted cloud storage service from Zurich that end-to-end encrypts files on the device itself (zero-knowledge). The keys stay with the user, so neither Tresorit nor third parties can read the content – a clear difference from conventional cloud storage. Since 2021 the company has been part of Swiss Post, which anchors it in Europe. Data is stored in European data centers (Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands), with the infrastructure running on Microsoft Azure. Tresorit is ISO/IEC 27001 certified. The personal plan starts at around €12 per month (billed annually); business plans are available per user for teams.
Strengths
- Consistent end-to-end encryption (zero-knowledge)
- Swiss-based, part of Swiss Post since 2021
- Data in European data centers, ISO/IEC 27001
- Business customers can choose the storage location
Weaknesses
- Not open source, no self-hosting
- Infrastructure runs on Microsoft Azure (US hyperscaler)
- More expensive than basic cloud storage
Migration effort
| Providers | Migration effort | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud | medium | 88/100 |
| Proton | low | 78/100 |
| Tresorit | low | 76/100 |
| Infomaniak | low | 74/100 |
When switching pays off
Those who want full control choose Nextcloud (self-hosted or with an EU hoster). For encrypted storage without own operation, Proton Drive is an option.
When to stick with your current tool
If your team relies heavily on Google Docs real-time collaboration, examine the alternative's office features carefully before switching.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nextcloud free?
The Sovereignty Score is an editorial orientation aid, not legal advice. How we rate.