Dufs vs Pydio Cells
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 | Pydio Cells |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 2,252 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Dropbox, Box, Google Drive |
What are Dufs and Pydio Cells?
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
Pydio Cells
Pydio Cells is a content collaboration platform for organizations, offering file sharing, workspaces, and access controls. It is designed for teams and enterprises needing governed document collaboration. It is deployed via Docker or native binaries.
- Workspace-based collaboration
- Granular access control
- Built-in search and metadata
- Mobile and desktop clients
Dufs vs Pydio Cells: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while Pydio Cells is built with Go. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus AGPL-3.0 for Pydio Cells. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Pydio Cells. Pydio Cells is the more established project (first released 2018), while Dufs arrived in 2022. Dufs has the considerably larger community, at 10,778 GitHub stars versus 2,252.
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 Pydio Cells if…
- Strong enterprise features
- Modern Go codebase
- Good access governance
Watch out for
- Heavier than simple tools
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or Pydio Cells better?
Dufs is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Pydio Cells if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dufs and Pydio Cells free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Pydio Cells under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and Pydio Cells with Docker?
Dufs: yes. Pydio Cells: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or Pydio Cells?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Pydio Cells. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.