croc vs Snapdrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Snapdrop
Local file sharing in your browser, inspired by AirDrop
| Feature | croc | Snapdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 99 · Excellent | 33 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 40,431 | ★ 19,734 |
| First released | 2018 | 2017 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | AirDrop |
What are croc and Snapdrop?
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
Snapdrop
Snapdrop is a progressive web app for sharing files between devices on the same local network. It uses WebRTC for direct device-to-device transfer with no installation required.
- AirDrop-style local sharing
- Progressive web app
- No setup on client devices
croc vs Snapdrop: key differences
Croc is written in Go, while Snapdrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for croc versus GPL-3.0 for Snapdrop. Croc is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Snapdrop. Croc has the considerably larger community, at 40,431 GitHub stars versus 19,734. Snapdrop 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 Snapdrop if…
- No installation needed
- Direct WebRTC transfers
- Dead simple to use
Watch out for
- Same network only
- Development largely inactive
Frequently asked questions
Is croc or Snapdrop 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 Snapdrop free and open-source?
Yes. croc is licensed under MIT and Snapdrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run croc and Snapdrop with Docker?
croc: check the project docs for container support. Snapdrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, croc or Snapdrop?
croc has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Snapdrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.