croc vs ShareDrop
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 | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,431 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2018 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are croc and ShareDrop?
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
ShareDrop
ShareDrop is a browser-based peer-to-peer file sharing app using WebRTC. It lets devices on the same network exchange files directly without uploading to a server.
- WebRTC peer-to-peer transfer
- No server-side storage
- Works across local networks
croc vs ShareDrop: key differences
Croc is written in Go, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. Croc is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for ShareDrop. ShareDrop 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 10,753. ShareDrop 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 ShareDrop if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is croc or ShareDrop 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 ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. croc is licensed under MIT and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run croc and ShareDrop with Docker?
croc: check the project docs for container support. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, croc or ShareDrop?
croc has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for ShareDrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.