# Semaphor vs Nextcloud

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nextcloud at 62% against Semaphor's 15%. Nextcloud also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Semaphor's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Semaphor sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per month. Nextcloud asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nextcloud holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nextcloud has 10K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Semaphor's written reviews are positive against 62% of Nextcloud's.

Semaphor ships an update every 3 weeks, Nextcloud weekly. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Semaphor | Nextcloud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semaphor/id1093566063/reviews) | **[4.7 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextcloud/id1125420102/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **10K** |
| Positive reviews | 15.4% of reviews | **61.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 19 MB | 319 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SpiderOak, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/360584374) | [Nextcloud GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1296825573) |

## What reviewers say

### Semaphor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/semaphor/id1093566063)

This app offers secure team communication and collaboration with end-to-end encryption and private blockchain technology. It provides features like direct messaging, file sharing, and project-specific channels for real-time teamwork.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Secure file sharing, Private direct messaging, Unlimited project channels, Real-time collaboration, Native offline mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal Plan Monthly | $8.99 | per month |


### Nextcloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nextcloud/id1125420102)

Access, manage, and share your files and photos from your private cloud storage. Upload media to free up phone space, work on documents offline, and utilize AI assistance. Secure your data with password or FaceID protection and end-to-end encryption.

**Highlights:** Connect multiple cloud accounts, Access and share documents, Upload photos and videos, Offline file access, AI Assistant, End-to-end encryption

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and stable
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Great alternative to big cloud providers
- 👍 Useful for home/business use
- 👍 Integrates well with iOS

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Unreliable file syncing and uploads
- 👎 Inconsistent performance and responsiveness
- 👎 Limited functionality compared to web version

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to open/edit text files
- Issues with password-protected folders
- Problems with HEIC file support
- Inconsistent video playback
- Crashes on launch after updates

**Requested features**

- Improved background photo/file sync
- Better integration with iOS Files app
- Support for more file types and document editing
- Customizable sorting and organization options
- Streamlined setup and configuration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Semaphor free?

Semaphor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Nextcloud free?

Nextcloud is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Semaphor or Nextcloud?

Nextcloud is rated higher. Semaphor averages 3.5 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Nextcloud averages 4.7 from 10K ratings.

### Do Semaphor or Nextcloud have ads?

Neither Semaphor nor Nextcloud shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Semaphor or Nextcloud?

Semaphor ships an update every 3 weeks, and Nextcloud weekly. Most recently, Semaphor was updated on June 1, 2026 and Nextcloud on October 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*