Filebin vs XBackBone
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
XBackBone
Lightweight file manager with full ShareX support
| Feature | Filebin | XBackBone |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 77 · Good | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 282 | ★ 1,169 |
| First released | 2014 | 2023 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Filebin and XBackBone?
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
XBackBone
Lightweight file manager with full ShareX support.
Filebin vs XBackBone: key differences
Filebin is written in Go, while XBackBone is built with PHP. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for Filebin versus AGPL-3.0 for XBackBone. XBackBone is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Filebin. Filebin is the more established project (first released 2014), while XBackBone arrived in 2023. XBackBone has the considerably larger community, at 1,169 GitHub stars versus 282. Filebin lists first-class Docker deployment; XBackBone 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 XBackBone if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is Filebin or XBackBone better?
Neither is universally better. XBackBone has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Filebin and XBackBone free and open-source?
Yes. Filebin is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and XBackBone under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Filebin and XBackBone with Docker?
Filebin: yes. XBackBone: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Filebin or XBackBone?
XBackBone 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.