Set Your Calendars and Contacts Free
Nextcloud – Your Very Own Cloud
Illustration von Florian Biege
If you would like to have calendars, data, chats and more in one place, there are multiple options: You can rent complete workplace tools from providers such as mailbox.org, Ionos or Proton.
Or you can set up your own cloud – maybe for the whole family or your small business. This is possible with a Nextcloud, the new provider OpenCloud develops something similar. By the way: The company Nextcloud lets you try out your own cloud for your company.
The open source alternative to iCloud, Google Drive, and Teams complies with European law (GDPR). And the installation is easier than you think! Here, you’ll learn how to do it and how you get control of your digital independence with Nextcloud, a platform developed in Germany.
Different ways to cook
Our digital switch recipes provide an easy, simple way to give Big Tech the push, but there are other options available. We have tried to make it easy by focusing on a single approach and a small number of options, but there are other alternatives that are just as good. After all, what we mean by ‘good’, ‘not so good’ and ‘bad’ is open to debate: DI.DAY is about easy ways to give Big Tech the push (without getting into purism or being preachy). Our decisions are based on advice from our advisory panel.
An overview of the alternatives is available on the next page:
Ingredients
1 provider
as a home for your cloud
1 serving of curiosity
because self-hosting is always a little adventure
1 computer
for installation and usage
Preparation
1 Rent the cloud
You can rent your cloud pre-configured and ready to use. Most providers take care of updates and regular backups of your data – you are not primarily an administrator, but above all a user.
Some providers of this service:
- MagentaCloud by Telekom is a German cloud with Nexcloud integration and 15 GB free storage space for Telekom customers, 3 GB for non-customers (can be upgraded up to 1 TB). Prices start at €1.95/month for 100 GB. So MagentaCloud is especially interesting for Telekom customers.
- Ossrox is a German provider with a focus on data privacy and GDPR. Prices start at €4,99/month for 5 GB storage and are scalable up to 1 TB. There is a 14-day free trial period.
- Ionos is another German provider that offers Nextcloud as part of its cloud portfolio. Prices start at €4.90 per month for 10 GB of storage. ionos provides German servers and easy set-up.
- Mail.de is a German email and cloud provider that offers Nextcloud as part of its package. Prices start at €5.00 per month for 10 GB storage, including email, calendars, and contacts. Mail.de combines cloud storage with secure email services.
Choose a provider and book a Nextcloud package. Follow the setup assistant, register, and set up an admin account. Start uploading your data right away. And you’re done! You now have a fully functional, GDPR-compliant cloud – without the need for server administration.
2 Setting up Nextcloud – Getting started
Now let’s get down to business:
- Installing apps (as needed): Nextcloud is modular – You can install only those apps that you really need. Popular apps are OnlyOffice or Collabora for office documents, Nextcloud Talk for video calls and chats, Contacts & Calendars for address book and calendars, Notes for notes, Deck for project management, Photos for photos, and News for RSS feeds. Go to “Apps” in the Nextcloud web surface (on the left side of the sidebar). Search for the app you want and click “Install”.
- Migrating data: Transferring old data from the cloud backup to Nextcloud (our Cloud Recipe) offers help).
- Migrating contacts & calendars: (see Calendar Recipe): in Nextcloud, go to ”Contacts” or “Calendar”. Click “Import” and select the exported .vcf/.ics file.
- Downloading apps: download Nextcloud-desktop program (for Windows, macOS or Linux) or the Nextcloud app (for your Android phone or iPhone).
There are several other apps for phones and desktop that “talk to” the Nextcloud modules: including Nextcloud Talk (for chat and video conference), Passwords (for passwords) or Deck (for project management).
Setting up synchronisation: Connect the mobile apps or desktop programs that you installed to your cloud. To do this, enter the web address of your cloud – you’ll be asked for your username and password. Select which folders you want to sync. Go to Calendar Recipe for our tips on how to sync calendar data and contacts to your phone.
Dessert
1 Security & backups for long-term enjoyment
- Set up two-factor authentication for added security (“Settings” > “Security” and set up 2FA).
- Make sure to back up your data regularly (automatically or manually).
- Update Nextcloud and your server software on a regular basis (with a hosted Nextcloud, the provider often handles this automatically).
Enjoy your meal! You have just taken a big step towards a more independent digital existence.
Once you #DIDit – share our post about the digital switch and inspire others to take control of their own digital lives!
Topping
If you want to dive even deeper, you can host your own Nextcloud. The Open-Source-Software can be installed on every server in the web or at home. Some providers (such as Hetzner Cloud, Webgo or All-inkl) allow one-click installation (“1-click-install”); others require more in-depth knowledge. Mike Kuketz published a Nextcloud Tutorial on his blog.
In addition to Nextcloud, you can also store your data at home on your own “NAS” (Network Attached Storage), a drive that can be accessed by multiple computers on the network. Some providers of this service include Synology, Ugreen, or FRITZ with the Fritz!NAS.
