Dufs vs OpenCloud
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
OpenCloud
Modern open-source file platform from ownCloud team
| Feature | Dufs | OpenCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 6,056 |
| First released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are Dufs and OpenCloud?
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
OpenCloud
OpenCloud is a modern open-source file sync, share, and collaboration platform built on a microservice architecture. It targets organizations wanting a current, lightweight content collaboration server. It is deployed via Docker Compose.
- Microservice-based architecture
- Web-based collaboration
- Lightweight Go backend
- Compatible desktop clients
Dufs vs OpenCloud: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while OpenCloud is built with Go. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenCloud. Dufs is the more established project (first released 2022), while OpenCloud arrived in 2025.
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 OpenCloud if…
- Modern, fast codebase
- Lightweight footprint
- Permissively licensed
Watch out for
- Very new project
- Smaller ecosystem so far
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or OpenCloud better?
Dufs is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider OpenCloud if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dufs and OpenCloud free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OpenCloud under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and OpenCloud with Docker?
Dufs: yes. OpenCloud: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or OpenCloud?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenCloud. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.