Pydio Cells is a self-hosted, open-core file sharing and document collaboration platform now part of Wire. Compare pricing, features, and FAQs.
Category
Cloud Storage
Pricing
Open-core: free self-hosted Cells Home edition (AGPLv3) plus paid Connect and Enterprise subscriptions licensed per user per year, from Free (Cells Home); paid Connect plans start around EUR 3,280/year for 50 users
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2007
Headquarters
Paris, France; now operating as part of Wire, which is headquartered in Berlin, Germany
Free PlanAPIOpen SourceFreemiumSelf-Hosted
Overview
Pydio Cells traces its lineage back to 2007, when the AjaXplorer project was created by Charles du Jeu; the commercial entity Pydio SAS was founded in Paris in 2012, and the product was renamed Pydio in 2013. Cells is the current, rewritten generation of the platform, built for enterprise-scale file sharing and document collaboration on infrastructure the customer controls.
In January 2025, Berlin-based secure messaging company Wire announced it had acquired Pydio, with plans to integrate Cells into Wire's encrypted communication platform as a combined 'Wire Cells' workspace offering, while the standalone Pydio product and website continued to operate.
Key Features
Cells supports both traditional filesystem storage and S3-compatible object storage, an embedded user directory, granular file and folder sharing, online document previews, a documented REST API with SDKs, and WebDAV plus desktop and mobile sync clients.
Higher-tier Connect and Enterprise editions add enterprise directory integration (AD/LDAP), SSO via OpenID Connect, OAuth2, and SAML/Azure ADFS, role- and rule-based access control, multi-factor authentication, exportable audit logs, and additional cloud storage backends like Google Cloud Storage and Azure Blob Storage.
Pricing
Cells Home is free and AGPLv3-licensed, aimed at individuals and small-scale evaluation deployments.
Cells Connect starts around EUR 3,280 per year for 50 users and Cells Enterprise starts around EUR 4,380 per year for 50 users, both with volume discounts as user counts grow past 100 seats; exact current pricing should be confirmed with Pydio's sales team.
Key Features
Filesystem and S3-compatible storage — Store files on traditional filesystems or S3-compatible object storage, giving flexibility for on-premises or cloud-adjacent deployments.
Granular sharing controls — Share files and folders with fine-grained permissions, expiration dates, and password protection.
Embedded user directory with enterprise SSO — Ships with a built-in user directory and, on higher tiers, integrates with AD/LDAP and SSO via OpenID Connect, OAuth2, and SAML/Azure ADFS.
Desktop and mobile sync clients — Native sync clients and WebDAV support keep files in sync across desktop and mobile devices.
REST API and SDKs — A documented REST API and SDKs let developers integrate Cells into custom applications and workflows.
Role- and rule-based access control — Enterprise tier adds fine-grained, rule-based permissions and multi-factor authentication for compliance-sensitive deployments.
Audit logging and compliance features — Exportable audit logs and real-time share auditing support regulatory and internal compliance requirements.
Online document preview and editing — Preview documents directly in the browser, with optional OnlyOffice integration for collaborative editing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Full self-hosted control over where files and data reside
Free, AGPLv3-licensed Cells Home edition for evaluation and small deployments
Enterprise features (SSO, MFA, audit logs) available for regulated industries
Long project history (since 2007) with a mature, tested codebase
Now backed by Wire's resources following the 2025 acquisition
Supports both filesystem and S3-compatible object storage
Cons
Enterprise pricing (Connect and Enterprise tiers) is not as transparent as pure SaaS competitors
Future product direction is less certain following integration into Wire's platform
Self-hosting requires ops and infrastructure expertise to deploy and maintain
Smaller ecosystem and community compared to alternatives like Nextcloud
Advanced compliance features are locked behind the highest-priced tier
Company size is relatively small, which may affect support responsiveness at scale
Pricing
Cells Home Free N/A
Cells Connect From EUR 3,280/year (50 users) Annual
Cells Enterprise From EUR 4,380/year (50 users) Annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pydio Cells free?
Cells Home, the entry-level edition, is free and licensed under AGPLv3; enterprise features require the paid Connect or Enterprise subscription tiers.
Who owns Pydio now?
Berlin-based secure messaging company Wire acquired Pydio in January 2025 and is integrating Cells' document-sharing technology into its encrypted workspace platform.
What is the difference between Cells Home, Connect, and Enterprise?
Cells Home is free and covers core file sharing; Connect adds enterprise directory integration and SSO; Enterprise adds role-based access control, MFA, audit logging, and additional cloud storage backends.
Can Pydio Cells be self-hosted?
Yes, Pydio Cells is designed to be self-hosted on a customer's own servers or private cloud, giving full control over data residency.
How much does Pydio Cells cost?
Cells Connect starts around EUR 3,280 per year for 50 users and Cells Enterprise starts around EUR 4,380 per year for 50 users, with volume discounts at higher user counts.
What are alternatives to Pydio Cells?
Common self-hosted alternatives include Nextcloud and ownCloud, both of which offer similar file sharing and collaboration capabilities.
When was Pydio founded?
The underlying project began in 2007 as AjaXplorer; the commercial company Pydio SAS was established in Paris in 2012 and renamed the product Pydio in 2013.
Does Pydio Cells support single sign-on?
Yes, the Connect and Enterprise tiers support SSO via OpenID Connect, OAuth2, and SAML/Azure ADFS, in addition to AD/LDAP directory integration.