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Pydio Cells
AGPL-3.0Pydio Cells replaces Box and Dropbox with a self-hosted file platform, giving teams full data privacy, shared workspaces, and direct storage control.
Open-source alternative to — compare it against:
Overview
Pydio Cells is written in Go as a microservices engine that replaced the original PHP-based Pydio in 2018. It organizes shared documents into defined workspaces called cells, connecting directly to storage disks or S3 buckets without reformatting files into proprietary database blobs. That architecture gives organizations complete control over where files reside while providing web-based access for everyday users.
Why Pydio Cells instead of Box
Box stores files on proprietary cloud infrastructure where encryption keys, access logs, and user directories remain under vendor governance. For teams handling confidential records or regulated personal data, that third-party model introduces privacy exposure and vendor lock-in. Pydio Cells runs on your own hardware or private cloud, keeping file contents and user metadata within your internal security perimeter so outside providers cannot inspect your assets.
For day-to-day work, Pydio Cells matches Box with a web dashboard for uploading documents, sharing workspaces, and creating password-protected download links for outside contacts. Where Box pulls ahead is in pre-packaged compliance certifications and zero-maintenance cloud hosting. Choosing Pydio Cells eliminates per-user subscription fees and guarantees data custody, but it requires a dedicated host running MySQL or MariaDB alongside an administrator to handle backups and updates.
What it does well
- Web dashboard: Drag-and-drop file uploads and folder navigation give non-technical staff an accessible interface without command-line tools.
- Collaborative cells: Projects group into isolated workspaces with custom read and write permissions, preventing accidental file exposure across teams.
- In-browser file previews: Users can view text documents, PDFs, audio tracks, and images directly in the browser before deciding to download them.
- Protected public links: Shareable links include optional password protection, download limits, and expiration dates for secure client delivery.
- Direct disk storage: Files connect directly to local disks or S3 buckets without proprietary chunking, keeping raw files readable and easy to back up.
- Mobile access: Native iOS and Android apps allow remote staff to browse shared folders and upload files from phones.
