Dufs vs ownCloud Web
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 | ownCloud Web |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 567 |
| First released | 2022 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are Dufs and ownCloud Web?
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
ownCloud Web
ownCloud Web is the modern single-page web frontend for ownCloud file storage and sharing. It provides fast file management, sharing, and collaboration in the browser.
- Modern file management UI
- File sharing
- Browser-based collaboration
- Fast single-page app
Dufs vs ownCloud Web: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: ownCloud Web's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Dufs is actively maintained. Dufs is written in Rust, while ownCloud Web is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus AGPL-3.0 for ownCloud Web. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for ownCloud Web. OwnCloud Web is the more established project (first released 2020), while Dufs arrived in 2022. Dufs has the considerably larger community, at 10,778 GitHub stars versus 567.
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 ownCloud Web if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or ownCloud Web better?
Dufs is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider ownCloud Web if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dufs and ownCloud Web free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and ownCloud Web under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and ownCloud Web with Docker?
Dufs: yes. ownCloud Web: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or ownCloud Web?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for ownCloud Web. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.