File Browser vs slcl

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 Browserslcl
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseApache-2.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageGoC
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 slcl if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • Written in C
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
slcl details

Frequently asked questions

Is File Browser or slcl better?

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

Are File Browser and slcl free and open-source?

Yes. File Browser is licensed under Apache-2.0 and slcl under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run File Browser and slcl with Docker?

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

Related comparisons