SHSelfHostIndex

CryFS vs gocryptfs

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
CR CryFS Encrypted filesystem for safely storing files in the cloud VS GO gocryptfs Fast encrypted overlay filesystem for cloud-synced folders
FeatureCryFSgocryptfs
Deploy effortRead-the-docs projectRead-the-docs project
Health score81 · Excellent80 · Excellent
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseLGPL-3.0MIT
LanguageC++Go
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM64 MB64 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binarybare-metal, binary
GitHub stars★ 2,306★ 4,615
First released20152016
ReplacesBoxcryptorBoxcryptor

What are CryFS and gocryptfs?

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

Read the full CryFS guide →

gocryptfs

gocryptfs is an encrypted overlay filesystem built on Go and FUSE that encrypts files individually so they can be synced efficiently. Each file maps to one encrypted file, making it friendly to incremental sync tools.

  • Per-file encryption
  • Fast random access
  • Reverse mode for backups
  • Audited cryptography

Read the full gocryptfs guide →

CryFS vs gocryptfs: key differences

CryFS is written in C++, while gocryptfs is built with Go. Licensing differs — LGPL-3.0 for CryFS versus MIT for gocryptfs. Gocryptfs has the considerably larger community, at 4,615 GitHub stars versus 2,306.

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
CryFS details

Choose gocryptfs if…

  • Efficient incremental sync
  • Well documented

Watch out for

  • Requires FUSE
  • Command-line oriented
gocryptfs details

Frequently asked questions

Is CryFS or gocryptfs better?

Neither is universally better. gocryptfs has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are CryFS and gocryptfs free and open-source?

Yes. CryFS is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and gocryptfs under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run CryFS and gocryptfs with Docker?

CryFS: check the project docs for container support. gocryptfs: check the project docs for container support.

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