File Browser vs FileRun

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?
FeatureFile BrowserFileRun
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseApache-2.0⊘ Proprietary
LanguageGoPHP
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM64 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, binarybare-metal
GitHub stars★ 35,800
First released20172020
ReplacesDropbox

Why pick each one

Choose File Browser if…

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Trivial to deploy
  • Good for quick file access
File Browser details

Choose FileRun if…

  • Released under the ⊘ Proprietary license
  • Written in PHP
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
FileRun details

Frequently asked questions

Is File Browser or FileRun better?

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

Are File Browser and FileRun free and open-source?

Yes. File Browser is licensed under Apache-2.0 and FileRun under ⊘ Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run File Browser and FileRun with Docker?

File Browser: yes. FileRun: check the project docs for container support.

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