MinIO if you want the common S3 client docs. Garage if you want a smaller multi-node store. Pick one.

Nextcloud is the Drive UI. This page is the S3 API apps already speak.

Stacks / Backend

Easy

MinIO / Garage

Object storage you host. MinIO is AGPL-3.0; Garage is AGPL-3.0 — Amazon S3 without the bucket in someone else's region.

The problem

Amazon S3 is object storage you rent. You wanted an S3-shaped API on a volume you own. MinIO is AGPL-3.0 and speaks the S3 API. Garage is AGPL-3.0 (Deuxfleurs) if you want a smaller geo-distributed store. This is not every AWS IAM policy, Glacier tier, or CloudFront edge. Nextcloud is files for humans — /replace/google-drive.

Replaces

Amazon S3

Replace Amazon S3

Estimated SaaS saved

$1,200

per year, small team, before lock-in

Start on Railway

Nextcloud if people need a Drive UI, not an S3 API

Sponsor this stack Tip jar

Placeholder: MinIO (or Garage) plus a volume for blobs. Bind the S3 API and the console. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway. Human file suites stay on /stacks/nextcloud-files.

The stack

MinIO
AGPL-3.0 S3-compatible object storage
Garage
AGPL-3.0 S3-compatible store if you want that lineage

Cost table

You stop paying	Typical / year	Self-host instead
Amazon S3 (small team)	$1,200	MinIO or Garage + a volume

Agent setup prompt

Replace Amazon S3 with MinIO (preferred) or Garage.

- Persist blobs on a volume. Bind the S3 API. Create one bucket, one access key, put and get one object.
- Point one existing S3 client at the new endpoint. Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.
- Do not claim Glacier, CloudFront, or every IAM condition.

Also as markdown: /stacks/minio-object.md

FAQ

MinIO or Garage?: MinIO if you want the common S3 client docs. Garage if you want a smaller multi-node store. Pick one.
Why not Nextcloud?: Nextcloud is the Drive UI. This page is the S3 API apps already speak.