Filebin vs Linx
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Filebin | Linx |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 18 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 1,582 |
| First released | 2014 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are Filebin and Linx?
Filebin
Filebin is a self-hosted file-sharing service where users drop files into shareable bins that expire automatically. It requires no registration and is convenient for quick transfers.
- Auto-expiring bins
- No registration
- Drag-and-drop upload
- Simple deployment
Linx
Linx is a self-hosted file and code-paste sharing server with a clean interface. It supports expiring uploads, file deletion keys, an API, and torrent download generation.
- Expiring uploads
- Code syntax highlighting
- Torrent download support
Filebin vs Linx: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus GPL-3.0 for Linx. Linx is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Linx has the considerably larger community, at 1,582 GitHub stars versus 282.
Why pick each one
Choose Filebin if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
Choose Linx if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or Linx better?
Neither is universally better. Linx has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Filebin and Linx free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Linx under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and Linx with Docker?
Filebin: yes. Linx: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or Linx?
Linx has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Filebin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.