Cloudreve 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.
Cloudreve
File management and sharing system, supports multiple storage
VS
Dufs
Distinctive utility file server with WebDAV support
| Feature | Cloudreve | Dufs |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 97 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,741 | ★ 10,772 |
| First released | None | 2022 |
| Replaces | Google Drive | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are Cloudreve and Dufs?
Cloudreve
Cloudreve is a file management and sharing system with a polished web UI that supports local, S3, OneDrive and other storage backends. It targets users who want a personal cloud drive with sharing links. It is deployed via a single Go binary or Docker.
- Multiple storage backends
- Shareable links with passwords
- WebDAV access
- Multi-user with quotas
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
Cloudreve vs Dufs: key differences
Cloudreve is written in Go, while Dufs is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Cloudreve versus Apache-2.0 for Dufs. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Cloudreve. Cloudreve has the considerably larger community, at 28,741 GitHub stars versus 10,772.
Why pick each one
Choose Cloudreve if…
- Multiple storage backends
- Single Go binary
- Polished web interface
Watch out for
- Docs partly in Chinese
- Some features Pro-only
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 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Cloudreve or Dufs better?
Neither is universally better. Cloudreve has the larger community, while Dufs is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Cloudreve and Dufs free and open-source?
Yes. Cloudreve is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Dufs under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cloudreve and Dufs with Docker?
Cloudreve: yes. Dufs: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Cloudreve or Dufs?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Cloudreve. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.