Dufs vs Snapdrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Dufs
Distinctive utility file server with WebDAV support
VS
Snapdrop
Local file sharing in your browser, inspired by AirDrop
| Feature | Dufs | Snapdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,562 | ★ 19,707 |
| First released | 2022 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | AirDrop |
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 10.6k GitHub stars
Choose Snapdrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 19.7k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or Snapdrop better?
Neither is universally better. Snapdrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Dufs and Snapdrop free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Snapdrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and Snapdrop with Docker?
Dufs: yes. Snapdrop: yes.