Ceph vs Tiny File Manager
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
Tiny File Manager
Single-file PHP file manager and browser
| Feature | Ceph | Tiny File Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 16,905 | ★ 5,959 |
| First released | 2006 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Amazon S3, Google Drive | Google Drive |
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 Tiny File Manager if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Ceph or Tiny File Manager better?
Neither is universally better. Ceph has the larger community, while Tiny File Manager is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ceph and Tiny File Manager free and open-source?
Yes. Ceph is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Tiny File Manager under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ceph and Tiny File Manager with Docker?
Ceph: yes. Tiny File Manager: yes.