Upspin vs WebDAV Server Go
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 | WebDAV Server Go |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 37 · At risk | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | MIT |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,404 | ★ 5,916 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Dropbox | Dropbox |
What are Upspin and WebDAV Server Go?
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
WebDAV Server Go
A lightweight standalone WebDAV server that exposes a directory tree for syncing with WebDAV-capable clients. It is useful as a minimal sync backend for many file managers and apps.
- Standalone WebDAV
- Per-user permissions
- Minimal backend
- Cross-platform clients
Upspin vs WebDAV Server Go: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Upspin versus MIT for WebDAV Server Go. WebDAV Server Go is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Upspin. WebDAV Server Go 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 WebDAV Server Go if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.9k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Upspin or WebDAV Server Go better?
Neither is universally better. Upspin has the larger community, while WebDAV Server Go is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Upspin and WebDAV Server Go free and open-source?
Yes. Upspin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and WebDAV Server Go under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Upspin and WebDAV Server Go with Docker?
Upspin: check the project docs for container support. WebDAV Server Go: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Upspin or WebDAV Server Go?
WebDAV Server Go has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Upspin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.