Filebin vs Pomf
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 | Pomf |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 13 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | MIT |
| Language | Go | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 923 |
| First released | 2014 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are Filebin and Pomf?
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
Pomf
Pomf is a lightweight file uploading and sharing platform written in PHP. It powers many community file hosts and is easy to deploy on shared hosting.
- Runs on shared hosting
- Drag-and-drop uploads
- Simple API
Filebin vs Pomf: key differences
Filebin is written in Go, while Pomf is built with PHP. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus MIT for Pomf. Pomf is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Pomf has the considerably larger community, at 923 GitHub stars versus 282. Filebin lists first-class Docker deployment; Pomf 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 Pomf if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or Pomf better?
Neither is universally better. Pomf has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Filebin and Pomf free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Pomf under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and Pomf with Docker?
Filebin: yes. Pomf: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or Pomf?
Pomf 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.