Dufs vs Seafile
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Seafile
High-performance file sync and share with block storage
| Feature | Dufs | Seafile |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 76 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | C |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 15,273 |
| First released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are Dufs and Seafile?
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
Seafile
Seafile is a file sync and share platform built around a reliable, high-performance file storage engine. It is well suited for users and organizations that prioritize fast, reliable sync of large libraries. It is typically deployed via Docker Compose or on bare metal.
- Fast block-level sync engine
- Client-side encrypted libraries
- Reliable handling of large file sets
- Desktop, mobile and web clients
Dufs vs Seafile: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while Seafile is built with C. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus AGPL-3.0 for Seafile. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Seafile. Seafile is the more established project (first released 2012), while Dufs arrived in 2022.
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 Seafile if…
- Excellent sync performance
- Stable and battle-tested
- Good for large libraries
Watch out for
- Fewer collaboration features than Nextcloud
- Setup more involved than simple tools
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or Seafile better?
Neither is universally better. Seafile has the larger community, while Dufs is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Dufs and Seafile free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Seafile under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and Seafile with Docker?
Dufs: yes. Seafile: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or Seafile?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Seafile. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.