SHSelfHostIndex

FileBrowser Quantum vs elFinder

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
FileBrowser Quantum Enhanced web file manager fork with extra features VS EL elFinder Web file manager with a desktop-style interface
FeatureFileBrowser QuantumelFinder
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupRead-the-docs project
Health score92 · Excellent87 · Excellent
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseApache-2.0BSD-3-Clause
LanguageGoJavaScript
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM128 MB128 MB
Deploymentdocker, binarybare-metal
GitHub stars★ 8,406★ 4,804
First released20242010
ReplacesGoogle Drive, DropboxGoogle Drive, Dropbox

What are FileBrowser Quantum and elFinder?

FileBrowser Quantum

FileBrowser Quantum is a community fork of File Browser that adds advanced search, multiple sources, and improved performance. It provides a web interface for managing files on a server.

  • Advanced indexed search
  • Multiple file sources
  • Improved performance over original

elFinder

elFinder is an open-source web file manager with a user interface inspired by the macOS Finder. It supports multiple storage backends, drag and drop, and image editing.

  • macOS Finder-style UI
  • Multiple storage backends
  • Built-in image editor

FileBrowser Quantum vs elFinder: key differences

FileBrowser Quantum is written in Go, while elFinder is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for FileBrowser Quantum versus BSD-3-Clause for elFinder. ElFinder is the more established project (first released 2010), while FileBrowser Quantum arrived in 2024. FileBrowser Quantum lists first-class Docker deployment; elFinder does not.

Why pick each one

Choose FileBrowser Quantum if…

  • Released under the Apache-2.0 license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Mature project with 8.4k GitHub stars
FileBrowser Quantum details

Choose elFinder if…

  • Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
  • Active community (4.8k GitHub stars)
  • Written in JavaScript
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
elFinder details

Frequently asked questions

Is FileBrowser Quantum or elFinder better?

FileBrowser Quantum is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider elFinder if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are FileBrowser Quantum and elFinder free and open-source?

Yes. FileBrowser Quantum is licensed under Apache-2.0 and elFinder under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run FileBrowser Quantum and elFinder with Docker?

FileBrowser Quantum: yes. elFinder: check the project docs for container support.

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