Dufs 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.
| Feature | Dufs | FileBrowser Quantum |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 8,406 |
| First released | 2022 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are Dufs and FileBrowser Quantum?
Dufs
Dufs is a lightweight single-binary file server that supports static serving, uploading, searching, and WebDAV. It offers access control, resumable uploads, and a clean web UI.
- Single-binary file server
- WebDAV support
- Access control and resumable uploads
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
Dufs vs FileBrowser Quantum: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while FileBrowser Quantum is built with Go. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for FileBrowser Quantum. Dufs is the more established project (first released 2022), while FileBrowser Quantum arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Dufs if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
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 Dufs or FileBrowser Quantum better?
Neither is universally better. Dufs has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Dufs and FileBrowser Quantum free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and FileBrowser Quantum under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and FileBrowser Quantum with Docker?
Dufs: yes. FileBrowser Quantum: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or FileBrowser Quantum?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for FileBrowser Quantum. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.
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