CryptPad vs Syncthing-Fork
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
Syncthing-Fork
Android client wrapper for continuous Syncthing file synchronization
| Feature | CryptPad | Syncthing-Fork |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,953 | ★ 2,894 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Microsoft 365 | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are CryptPad and Syncthing-Fork?
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
Syncthing-Fork
Syncthing-Fork is a maintained Android wrapper around the Syncthing core that provides a polished mobile experience for continuous, peer-to-peer file synchronization. It adds battery-aware scheduling and per-folder controls on top of the Syncthing engine.
- Battery-aware sync scheduling
- Per-folder run conditions
- Wi-Fi and charging triggers
- Open peer-to-peer protocol
CryptPad vs Syncthing-Fork: key differences
CryptPad is written in JavaScript, while Syncthing-Fork is built with Java. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for CryptPad versus MPL-2.0 for Syncthing-Fork. Syncthing-Fork 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 Syncthing-Fork arrived in 2017. CryptPad has the considerably larger community, at 7,953 GitHub stars versus 2,894. CryptPad lists first-class Docker deployment; Syncthing-Fork 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 Syncthing-Fork if…
- Actively maintained
- No central server needed
Watch out for
- Android only
- Initial setup can be fiddly
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptPad or Syncthing-Fork better?
Neither is universally better. CryptPad has the larger community, while Syncthing-Fork is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are CryptPad and Syncthing-Fork free and open-source?
Yes. CryptPad is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Syncthing-Fork under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryptPad and Syncthing-Fork with Docker?
CryptPad: yes. Syncthing-Fork: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, CryptPad or Syncthing-Fork?
Syncthing-Fork 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.