Upspin vs FileBrowser Quantum
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
FileBrowser Quantum
Enhanced web file manager fork with extra features
| Feature | Upspin | FileBrowser Quantum |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 37 · At risk | 94 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,404 | ★ 8,700 |
| First released | 2016 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Dropbox | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are Upspin and FileBrowser Quantum?
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
FileBrowser Quantum
FileBrowser Quantum is a community fork of File Browser that adds advanced search, multiple sources, and improved performance. It provides a web interface for managing files on a server.
- Advanced indexed search
- Multiple file sources
- Improved performance over original
Upspin vs FileBrowser Quantum: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Upspin versus Apache-2.0 for FileBrowser Quantum. Upspin is the more established project (first released 2016), while FileBrowser Quantum arrived in 2024. FileBrowser Quantum 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 FileBrowser Quantum if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.7k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Upspin or FileBrowser Quantum better?
FileBrowser Quantum 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 FileBrowser Quantum free and open-source?
Yes. Upspin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and FileBrowser Quantum under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Upspin and FileBrowser Quantum with Docker?
Upspin: check the project docs for container support. FileBrowser Quantum: yes.