Paperless vs. Nextcloud – what's the difference?

Paperless: specialized in document scanning & management, OCR engine, auto-tagging. Nextcloud: universal file sync, collaboration. For paper archive: Paperless better. For general files: Nextcloud better. Ideal: both together on 1 root server.

How do I install Paperless-NGX with Docker?

1. Ubuntu 20.04+, 2. install Docker, 3. docker-compose.yml for Paperless + Postgres + Redis, 4. open ports (UFW 8000), 5. create admin user. Full install: 30 minutes. Storage: minimum 50GB (depends on documents).

Can I scan PDF documents with Paperless?

Yes, with Scanbot app or mobile scan. Alternative: configure regular scanner with ADF (Auto Document Feeder) + SANE backend. Paperless automatically OCRs all documents. Search searches scanned text too!

Paperless storage full – how do I archive old documents?

1. Export old documents (JSON/Archive), 2. backup to external storage (S3, SFTP), 3. delete locally. Or: upgrade storage on root server. Paperless also supports external storage backends (MinIO, etc.).

How do I ensure Paperless stores my data encrypted?

Paperless stores unencrypted – encryption must happen at disk level (LUKS). For maximum security: SSH keys, Fail2ban, UFW only for specific IPs. Backups: encrypted on external storage (S3 with encryption).

Paperless email import – how do I set it up?

Configure IMAP account (Gmail, ProtonMail with app password). Paperless automatically fetches emails with attachments, converts to PDF, auto-tags. Cron runs hourly. Perfect for archiving invoices from online shops automatically.

Can I access Paperless mobile (Android/iOS app)?

Yes, for Android: Paperless-Mobile & PaperWare. iOS: limited support (PWA). Best practice: reverse proxy (Nginx/Caddy) with SSL + basic auth or NextCloud login for secure remote access.

Paperless backup & restore – what should I watch for?

Backup: PostgreSQL + documents + Paperless config. With docker-compose: `docker-compose exec -T db pg_dump -U paperless paperless` compress. Restore: import DB, write back files, restart docker container. At least 1x weekly auto!

Is Paperless-NGX free? Are there paid alternatives?

Paperless-NGX: free, open-source, self-hosted. Alternatives: Archivematica (enterprise), DocuSign (cloud, paid), Nextcloud + extension. Choose Paperless for maximum cost control – self-hosted on NexoraHost VPS ideal.

Quick answer: Paperless-NGX is a free, open-source document management system. Replaces digital filing: invoices, contracts, insurance scanned & archived. OCR makes everything searchable. Data privacy: self-hosted on your server – no cloud dependency.

If you landed here: Quick overview and FAQ on Paperless-NGX Setup – Go Paperless with Document Management – practical hosting guidance for Germany (Frankfurt).

Paperless-NGX Setup – Go Paperless with Document Management

Full 2026 guide: Install Paperless-ngx.

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