croc vs Pomf
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 | Pomf |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 13 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,431 | ★ 923 |
| First released | 2018 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are croc and Pomf?
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
Pomf
Pomf is a lightweight file uploading and sharing platform written in PHP. It powers many community file hosts and is easy to deploy on shared hosting.
- Runs on shared hosting
- Drag-and-drop uploads
- Simple API
croc vs Pomf: key differences
Croc is written in Go, while Pomf is built with PHP. Croc is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Pomf. Pomf 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 923.
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 Pomf if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is croc or Pomf 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 Pomf free and open-source?
Yes. croc is licensed under MIT and Pomf under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run croc and Pomf with Docker?
croc: check the project docs for container support. Pomf: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, croc or Pomf?
croc has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Pomf. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.