Ceph vs Snapdrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Ceph
Distributed object, block, and file storage platform
VS
Snapdrop
Local file sharing in your browser, inspired by AirDrop
| Feature | Ceph | Snapdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 16,905 | ★ 19,707 |
| First released | 2006 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Amazon S3, Google Drive | AirDrop |
Why pick each one
Choose Ceph if…
- Released under the LGPL-2.1 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 16.9k GitHub stars
Choose Snapdrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 19.7k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Ceph or Snapdrop better?
Snapdrop is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Ceph if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Ceph and Snapdrop free and open-source?
Yes. Ceph is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Snapdrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ceph and Snapdrop with Docker?
Ceph: yes. Snapdrop: yes.