Cloudreve vs Spacedrive
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
Spacedrive
Cross-platform file explorer powered by a virtual distributed filesystem
| Feature | Cloudreve | Spacedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 97 · Excellent | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,741 | ★ 39,017 |
| First released | None | 2022 |
| Replaces | Google Drive | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are Cloudreve and Spacedrive?
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
Spacedrive
Spacedrive is an open-source, cross-platform file manager written in Rust, built around a virtual distributed filesystem (VDFS). It indexes and organizes files across multiple devices and storage locations from a single native app.
- Virtual distributed filesystem
- Indexes files across devices
- Cross-platform native app
Cloudreve vs Spacedrive: key differences
Cloudreve is written in Go, while Spacedrive is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Cloudreve versus AGPL-3.0 for Spacedrive. Cloudreve lists first-class Docker deployment; Spacedrive does not.
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 Spacedrive if…
- Unified multi-device view
- Modern Rust core
- Cross-platform clients
Watch out for
- Still beta quality
- Sync features incomplete
Frequently asked questions
Is Cloudreve or Spacedrive better?
Neither is universally better. Spacedrive has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Cloudreve and Spacedrive free and open-source?
Yes. Cloudreve is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Spacedrive under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cloudreve and Spacedrive with Docker?
Cloudreve: yes. Spacedrive: check the project docs for container support.