Dropgate Server vs Spacedrive
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Dropgate Server
Self-hosted, privacy-first file sharing with hosted upload and P2P
VS
Spacedrive
Cross-platform file explorer powered by a virtual filesystem
| Feature | Dropgate Server | Spacedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | free | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15 | ★ 38,732 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | — | Google Drive, Dropbox |
Why pick each one
Choose Dropgate Server if…
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
- Written in JavaScript
Choose Spacedrive if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Mature project with 38.7k GitHub stars
- Written in Rust
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dropgate Server or Spacedrive better?
Neither is universally better. Spacedrive has the larger community, while Dropgate Server is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Dropgate Server and Spacedrive free and open-source?
Yes. Dropgate Server is licensed under free and Spacedrive under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dropgate Server and Spacedrive with Docker?
Dropgate Server: yes. Spacedrive: check the project docs for container support.