Filebin vs Plik
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 | Plik |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | MIT |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 1,821 |
| First released | 2014 | None |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Filebin and Plik?
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
Plik
Temporary file upload system (Wetransfer like).
Filebin vs Plik: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus MIT for Plik. Plik is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Plik has the considerably larger community, at 1,821 GitHub stars versus 282. Filebin lists first-class Docker deployment; Plik does not.
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 Plik if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or Plik better?
Neither is universally better. Plik has the larger community, while Filebin is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Filebin and Plik free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Plik under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and Plik with Docker?
Filebin: yes. Plik: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or Plik?
Plik has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Filebin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.