croc vs Linx
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 | Linx |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 18 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,431 | ★ 1,582 |
| First released | 2018 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are croc and Linx?
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
Linx
Linx is a self-hosted file and code-paste sharing server with a clean interface. It supports expiring uploads, file deletion keys, an API, and torrent download generation.
- Expiring uploads
- Code syntax highlighting
- Torrent download support
croc vs Linx: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — MIT for croc versus GPL-3.0 for Linx. Croc is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Linx. Linx is the more established project (first released 2015), while croc arrived in 2018. Croc has the considerably larger community, at 40,431 GitHub stars versus 1,582. Linx 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 Linx if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is croc or Linx 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 Linx free and open-source?
Yes. croc is licensed under MIT and Linx under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run croc and Linx with Docker?
croc: check the project docs for container support. Linx: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, croc or Linx?
croc has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Linx. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.