croc vs Filebin
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | croc | Filebin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 77 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,431 | ★ 282 |
| First released | 2018 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | WeTransfer, Firefox Send |
What are croc and Filebin?
croc
croc is a tool that allows two computers to transfer files and folders simply and securely. It uses a relay with end-to-end encryption and a code-phrase system for pairing.
- End-to-end encrypted transfers
- Code-phrase pairing
- Self-hostable relay server
Filebin
Filebin is a self-hosted file-sharing service where users drop files into shareable bins that expire automatically. It requires no registration and is convenient for quick transfers.
- Auto-expiring bins
- No registration
- Drag-and-drop upload
- Simple deployment
croc vs Filebin: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — MIT for croc versus BSD-3-Clause for Filebin. Croc is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Filebin is the more established project (first released 2014), while croc arrived in 2018. Croc has the considerably larger community, at 40,431 GitHub stars versus 282. Filebin lists first-class Docker deployment; croc does not.
Why pick each one
Choose croc if…
- Simple code-phrase pairing
- End-to-end encrypted
- Resumable transfers
Watch out for
- CLI only
- Public relay by default
Choose Filebin if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is croc or Filebin better?
Neither is universally better. croc has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are croc and Filebin free and open-source?
Yes. croc is licensed under MIT and Filebin under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run croc and Filebin with Docker?
croc: check the project docs for container support. Filebin: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, croc or Filebin?
croc has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Filebin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.