croc vs qrcp
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 | qrcp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 70 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,431 | ★ 10,512 |
| First released | 2018 | 2018 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | AirDrop, Snapdrop |
What are croc and qrcp?
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
qrcp
qrcp is a command-line tool that transfers files over WiFi by generating a QR code that points to a temporary local web server. Scanning the code with a phone downloads or uploads files without any app or cable.
- QR-code based transfers
- Send and receive files
- Single static binary
- No mobile app required
croc vs qrcp: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Croc is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for qrcp. Croc has the considerably larger community, at 40,431 GitHub stars versus 10,512.
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 qrcp if…
- Instant phone transfers
- Zero configuration
Watch out for
- Same-network requirement
- CLI only
Frequently asked questions
Is croc or qrcp 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 qrcp free and open-source?
Yes. croc is licensed under MIT and qrcp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run croc and qrcp with Docker?
croc: check the project docs for container support. qrcp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, croc or qrcp?
croc has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for qrcp. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.