Upspin vs Dufs
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Upspin | Dufs |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 37 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,404 | ★ 10,915 |
| First released | 2016 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Dropbox | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are Upspin and Dufs?
Upspin
Upspin is an experimental framework from Google for naming and sharing files securely across the internet. It gives every file a globally unique name and end-to-end encrypted access control.
- Global file naming system
- End-to-end encrypted sharing
- Fine-grained access groups
Dufs
Dufs is a lightweight single-binary file server that supports static serving, uploading, searching, and WebDAV. It offers access control, resumable uploads, and a clean web UI.
- Single-binary file server
- WebDAV support
- Access control and resumable uploads
Upspin vs Dufs: key differences
Upspin is written in Go, while Dufs is built with Rust. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Upspin versus Apache-2.0 for Dufs. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Upspin. Upspin is the more established project (first released 2016), while Dufs arrived in 2022. Dufs lists first-class Docker deployment; Upspin does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Upspin if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Mature project with 6.4k GitHub stars
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Dufs if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.9k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Upspin or Dufs better?
Dufs is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Upspin if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Upspin and Dufs free and open-source?
Yes. Upspin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Dufs under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Upspin and Dufs with Docker?
Upspin: check the project docs for container support. Dufs: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Upspin or Dufs?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Upspin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.