CryptPad vs h5ai
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
h5ai
Modern HTTP web server index for browsing files
| Feature | CryptPad | h5ai |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 23 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,953 | ★ 6,055 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Microsoft 365 | Google Drive |
What are CryptPad and h5ai?
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
h5ai
h5ai is a modern file indexer for HTTP web servers that provides a polished directory listing with previews, search, and multiple view modes. It enhances browsing of shared file directories.
- Polished directory listings
- File previews and search
- Multiple view modes
CryptPad vs h5ai: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for CryptPad versus MIT for h5ai. H5ai is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for CryptPad. H5ai is the more established project (first released 2012), while CryptPad arrived in 2015. CryptPad lists first-class Docker deployment; h5ai does not.
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 h5ai if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 6.1k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptPad or h5ai better?
Neither is universally better. CryptPad has the larger community, while h5ai is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are CryptPad and h5ai free and open-source?
Yes. CryptPad is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and h5ai under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryptPad and h5ai with Docker?
CryptPad: yes. h5ai: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, CryptPad or h5ai?
h5ai has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for CryptPad. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.