Filebin vs PicoShare
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PicoShare
Minimalist file sharing for permanent direct links
| Feature | Filebin | PicoShare |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 3,039 |
| First released | 2014 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | Dropbox, WeTransfer |
What are Filebin and PicoShare?
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
PicoShare
PicoShare is a minimal file-sharing app that makes it easy to share files with simple, permanent URLs. It is designed to be a single-binary deployment with no external dependencies.
- Permanent shareable links
- SQLite-backed storage
- Single-binary deployment
Filebin vs PicoShare: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus AGPL-3.0 for PicoShare. PicoShare 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 PicoShare arrived in 2021. PicoShare has the considerably larger community, at 3,039 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 PicoShare if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or PicoShare better?
Neither is universally better. PicoShare has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Filebin and PicoShare free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and PicoShare under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and PicoShare with Docker?
Filebin: yes. PicoShare: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or PicoShare?
PicoShare 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.