Dufs vs FileGator
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
FileGator
Multi-user file manager with role-based access
| Feature | Dufs | FileGator |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 3,078 |
| First released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are Dufs and FileGator?
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
FileGator
FileGator is a self-hosted multi-user file manager supporting various storage adapters such as local disk, FTP, and Amazon S3. It offers role-based permissions and a modern interface.
- Multiple storage adapters
- Role-based permissions
- Zip and unzip support
Dufs vs FileGator: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while FileGator is built with PHP. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus MIT for FileGator. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for FileGator. FileGator is the more established project (first released 2019), while Dufs arrived in 2022. Dufs has the considerably larger community, at 10,778 GitHub stars versus 3,078.
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 FileGator if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.1k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or FileGator 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 FileGator free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and FileGator under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and FileGator with Docker?
Dufs: yes. FileGator: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or FileGator?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for FileGator. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.