Filebin vs PairDrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PairDrop
Local and internet file sharing inspired by Snapdrop
| Feature | Filebin | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 67 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2014 | 2022 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Filebin and PairDrop?
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
PairDrop
PairDrop is an enhanced fork of Snapdrop that adds device pairing across networks and the internet. It enables easy, encrypted peer-to-peer file transfer between paired devices.
- Cross-network device pairing
- Paste and share text
- WebRTC encrypted transfer
Filebin vs PairDrop: key differences
Filebin is written in Go, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus GPL-3.0 for PairDrop. PairDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Filebin is the more established project (first released 2014), while PairDrop arrived in 2022. PairDrop has the considerably larger community, at 11,459 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 PairDrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or PairDrop better?
Neither is universally better. PairDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Filebin and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and PairDrop with Docker?
Filebin: yes. PairDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or PairDrop?
PairDrop 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.