: This format offers superior compression, resulting in a smaller download size. It is natively supported by the tar command on almost all Linux distributions.

: For specific older versions or a list of all historical releases, the Nextcloud Server Release Index provides a directory of every .tar.bz2 and .zip file ever issued.

Clarification on files to download (tar.bz2 or .zip archive)

When you go to download, you will typically see two file formats. Both contain the same Nextcloud code, but they serve different environments:

For server owners looking for maximum control over their self-hosted cloud, the is the gold standard. Unlike automated installers or snaps, downloading the raw archive allows you to fine-tune your environment, manage dependencies manually, and ensure a clean, lean installation. 1. Where to Find the Official Nextcloud Server Archive

Installing from an archive file is a "manual" process that gives you full visibility into your server's architecture.