CryptPad vs FileBrowser Quantum
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
CryptPad
End-to-end encrypted collaboration suite
VS
FileBrowser Quantum
Enhanced web file manager fork with extra features
| Feature | CryptPad | FileBrowser Quantum |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,953 | ★ 8,406 |
| First released | 2015 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Microsoft 365 | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are CryptPad and FileBrowser Quantum?
CryptPad
CryptPad is an end-to-end encrypted collaboration suite with documents, spreadsheets, and a personal drive, where the server cannot read user data. It suits privacy-focused individuals and teams. It is deployed via Docker or a Node.js installation.
- Zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption
- Real-time collaborative editing
- Documents, sheets and forms
- Personal encrypted drive
FileBrowser Quantum
FileBrowser Quantum is a community fork of File Browser that adds advanced search, multiple sources, and improved performance. It provides a web interface for managing files on a server.
- Advanced indexed search
- Multiple file sources
- Improved performance over original
CryptPad vs FileBrowser Quantum: key differences
CryptPad is written in JavaScript, while FileBrowser Quantum is built with Go. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for CryptPad versus Apache-2.0 for FileBrowser Quantum. FileBrowser Quantum is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for CryptPad. CryptPad is the more established project (first released 2015), while FileBrowser Quantum arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose CryptPad if…
- Strong privacy guarantees
- Real-time collaboration
- No account needed to start
Watch out for
- Encryption limits server-side search
- Heavier client than plain editors
Choose FileBrowser Quantum if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.4k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptPad or FileBrowser Quantum better?
FileBrowser Quantum is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider CryptPad if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are CryptPad and FileBrowser Quantum free and open-source?
Yes. CryptPad is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and FileBrowser Quantum under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryptPad and FileBrowser Quantum with Docker?
CryptPad: yes. FileBrowser Quantum: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, CryptPad or FileBrowser Quantum?
FileBrowser Quantum has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for CryptPad. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.