0bin vs fiche
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted pastebins & snippets options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | 0bin | fiche |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 29 · At risk | 16 · At risk |
| Category | Pastebins & Snippets | Pastebins & Snippets |
| License | WTFPL | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,402 | ★ 1,550 |
| First released | 2012 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Pastebin.com | Pastebin.com, termbin |
What are 0bin and fiche?
0bin
0bin is a client-side encrypted pastebin that the server operator cannot read. It encrypts pastes in the browser and offers expiration and burn-after-reading without requiring registration.
- Client-side encryption
- No accounts required
- Burn after reading
- Expiration options
fiche
fiche is a minimalist terminal pastebin server written in C that accepts pastes piped over netcat. Users upload text from the command line and receive a short URL with no client software needed.
- Netcat-based uploads
- No client needed
- Short URL output
- Tiny C server
0bin vs fiche: key differences
0bin is written in JavaScript, while fiche is built with C. Licensing differs — WTFPL for 0bin versus MIT for fiche. Fiche is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for 0bin. 0bin is the more established project (first released 2012), while fiche arrived in 2015. 0bin lists first-class Docker deployment; fiche does not.
Why pick each one
Choose 0bin if…
- Released under the WTFPL license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.4k GitHub stars)
Choose fiche if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in C
Frequently asked questions
Is 0bin or fiche better?
Neither is universally better. fiche has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are 0bin and fiche free and open-source?
Yes. 0bin is licensed under WTFPL and fiche under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run 0bin and fiche with Docker?
0bin: yes. fiche: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, 0bin or fiche?
fiche has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for 0bin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.