Filebin vs Updog
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 | Updog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 54 · Fair |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | MIT |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 3,412 |
| First released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Filebin and Updog?
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
Updog
Updog is a small Python utility that improves upon SimpleHTTPServer by adding upload capability, HTTPS, and optional password protection. It is useful for quick file transfers.
- Upload support over HTTP
- Optional HTTPS and auth
- Simple drop-in replacement
Filebin vs Updog: key differences
Filebin is written in Go, while Updog is built with Python. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus MIT for Updog. Updog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Filebin is the more established project (first released 2014), while Updog arrived in 2019. Updog has the considerably larger community, at 3,412 GitHub stars versus 282. Filebin lists first-class Docker deployment; Updog 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 Updog if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or Updog better?
Neither is universally better. Updog has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Filebin and Updog free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Updog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and Updog with Docker?
Filebin: yes. Updog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or Updog?
Updog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Filebin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.