Cryptomator CLI 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 | Cryptomator CLI | Cryptomator Hub |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 65 · Good | 71 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, docker | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 429 | ★ 80 |
| First released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Boxcryptor | Boxcryptor |
What are Cryptomator CLI and Cryptomator Hub?
Cryptomator CLI
Cryptomator CLI is the command-line edition of Cryptomator, providing transparent client-side encryption of files before they reach cloud storage. It is suited to headless servers protecting synced data.
- Client-side encryption
- Headless operation
- Transparent vaults
- Cloud-agnostic
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
Cryptomator CLI vs Cryptomator Hub: key differences
Both projects are written in Java. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Cryptomator CLI versus AGPL-3.0 for Cryptomator Hub. Cryptomator CLI is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Cryptomator Hub. Cryptomator CLI is the more established project (first released 2017), while Cryptomator Hub arrived in 2022. Cryptomator CLI has the considerably larger community, at 429 GitHub stars versus 80.
Why pick each one
Choose Cryptomator CLI if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Java
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
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 Cryptomator CLI or Cryptomator Hub better?
Neither is universally better. Cryptomator CLI has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Cryptomator CLI and Cryptomator Hub free and open-source?
Yes. Cryptomator CLI is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Cryptomator Hub under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cryptomator CLI and Cryptomator Hub with Docker?
Cryptomator CLI: yes. Cryptomator Hub: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Cryptomator CLI or Cryptomator Hub?
Cryptomator CLI has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Cryptomator Hub. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.