Dufs vs Zipline
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 | Zipline |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,778 | ★ 3,429 |
| First released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Imgur, Dropbox |
What are Dufs and Zipline?
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
Zipline
Zipline is a fast self-hosted file upload server with a modern dashboard. It supports ShareX, image embeds, URL shortening, and detailed statistics.
- ShareX integration
- URL shortener built in
- Detailed upload statistics
Dufs vs Zipline: key differences
Dufs is written in Rust, while Zipline is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Dufs versus MIT for Zipline. Dufs is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Zipline. Dufs has the considerably larger community, at 10,778 GitHub stars versus 3,429.
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 Zipline if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Dufs or Zipline better?
Dufs is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Zipline if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Dufs and Zipline free and open-source?
Yes. Dufs is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Zipline under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dufs and Zipline with Docker?
Dufs: yes. Zipline: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dufs or Zipline?
Dufs has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zipline. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.