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.

Not the right match-up?
FeatureDufsFileBrowser Quantum
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score86 · Excellent92 · Excellent
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseApache-2.0Apache-2.0
LanguageRustGo
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM32 MB128 MB
Deploymentdocker, binarydocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 10,778★ 8,406
First released20222024
ReplacesDropbox, Google DriveGoogle 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
Dufs details

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
FileBrowser Quantum details

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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