CryptPad vs elFinder
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
elFinder
Web file manager with a desktop-style interface
| Feature | CryptPad | elFinder |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,953 | ★ 4,804 |
| First released | 2015 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Microsoft 365 | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are CryptPad and elFinder?
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
elFinder
elFinder is an open-source web file manager with a user interface inspired by the macOS Finder. It supports multiple storage backends, drag and drop, and image editing.
- macOS Finder-style UI
- Multiple storage backends
- Built-in image editor
CryptPad vs elFinder: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for CryptPad versus BSD-3-Clause for elFinder. ElFinder is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for CryptPad. ElFinder is the more established project (first released 2010), while CryptPad arrived in 2015. CryptPad lists first-class Docker deployment; elFinder 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 elFinder if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Active community (4.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is CryptPad or elFinder better?
Neither is universally better. CryptPad has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CryptPad and elFinder free and open-source?
Yes. CryptPad is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and elFinder under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CryptPad and elFinder with Docker?
CryptPad: yes. elFinder: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, CryptPad or elFinder?
elFinder 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.