Dufs vs h5ai
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 | h5ai |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 23 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 6,055 |
| First released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive |
What are Dufs and h5ai?
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
h5ai
h5ai is a modern file indexer for HTTP web servers that provides a polished directory listing with previews, search, and multiple view modes. It enhances browsing of shared file directories.
- Polished directory listings
- File previews and search
- Multiple view modes
Dufs vs h5ai: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while h5ai is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus MIT for h5ai. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for h5ai. H5ai is the more established project (first released 2012), while Dufs arrived in 2022. Dufs lists first-class Docker deployment; h5ai does not.
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 h5ai if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 6.1k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or h5ai 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 h5ai free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and h5ai under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and h5ai with Docker?
Dufs: yes. h5ai: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or h5ai?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for h5ai. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.