CryFS vs Cryptomator Hub
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | CryFS | Cryptomator Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 71 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,306 | ★ 80 |
| First released | 2015 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Boxcryptor | Boxcryptor |
What are CryFS and Cryptomator Hub?
CryFS
CryFS is an encrypted filesystem that hides file contents, metadata, and directory structure, making it ideal for placing inside a synced cloud folder. It splits data into equally sized blocks so the structure of your files stays private.
- Hides directory structure
- Block-based encryption
- Works inside cloud folders
- Cross-platform mounting
Cryptomator Hub
Cryptomator Hub provides centralized key management for teams using Cryptomator client-side encryption on cloud storage. It allows organizations to encrypt files in any cloud while managing access.
- Centralized encryption key management
- Works with any cloud storage
- Team access control
CryFS vs Cryptomator Hub: key differences
CryFS is written in C++, while Cryptomator Hub is built with Java. Licensing differs — LGPL-3.0 for CryFS versus AGPL-3.0 for Cryptomator Hub. CryFS is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Cryptomator Hub. CryFS is the more established project (first released 2015), while Cryptomator Hub arrived in 2022. CryFS has the considerably larger community, at 2,306 GitHub stars versus 80. Cryptomator Hub lists first-class Docker deployment; CryFS does not.
Why pick each one
Choose CryFS if…
- Strong metadata protection
- Pairs with any sync tool
Watch out for
- FUSE setup required
- Slower than plain storage
Choose Cryptomator Hub if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is CryFS or Cryptomator Hub better?
Neither is universally better. CryFS has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CryFS and Cryptomator Hub free and open-source?
Yes. CryFS is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and Cryptomator Hub under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryFS and Cryptomator Hub with Docker?
CryFS: check the project docs for container support. Cryptomator Hub: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, CryFS or Cryptomator Hub?
CryFS has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Cryptomator Hub. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.