0bin vs sprunge
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted pastebins & snippets options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | 0bin | sprunge |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 29 · At risk | 15 · At risk |
| Category | Pastebins & Snippets | Pastebins & Snippets |
| License | WTFPL | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,402 | ★ 721 |
| First released | 2012 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Pastebin.com | Pastebin.com, termbin |
What are 0bin and sprunge?
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
sprunge
sprunge is a minimalist, command-line oriented pastebin server designed for piping text directly from the terminal. It returns a short URL for any uploaded content with almost no configuration.
- Terminal pipe uploads
- No database required
- Short URL output
- Tiny footprint
0bin vs sprunge: key differences
0bin is written in JavaScript, while sprunge is built with Python. Licensing differs — WTFPL for 0bin versus MIT for sprunge. Sprunge is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for 0bin. Sprunge is the more established project (first released 2010), while 0bin arrived in 2012. 0bin lists first-class Docker deployment; sprunge 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 sprunge if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is 0bin or sprunge better?
Neither is universally better. 0bin has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are 0bin and sprunge free and open-source?
Yes. 0bin is licensed under WTFPL and sprunge under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run 0bin and sprunge with Docker?
0bin: yes. sprunge: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, 0bin or sprunge?
sprunge 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.