Dufs vs elFinder
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 | elFinder |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Rust | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 4,804 |
| First released | 2022 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are Dufs and elFinder?
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
elFinder
elFinder is an open-source web file manager with a user interface inspired by the macOS Finder. It supports multiple storage backends, drag and drop, and image editing.
- macOS Finder-style UI
- Multiple storage backends
- Built-in image editor
Dufs vs elFinder: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while elFinder is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus BSD-3-Clause for elFinder. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for elFinder. ElFinder is the more established project (first released 2010), while Dufs arrived in 2022. Dufs has the considerably larger community, at 10,778 GitHub stars versus 4,804. Dufs lists first-class Docker deployment; elFinder does not.
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 elFinder if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Active community (4.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or elFinder better?
Dufs is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider elFinder if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dufs and elFinder free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and elFinder under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and elFinder with Docker?
Dufs: yes. elFinder: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or elFinder?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for elFinder. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.