File Browser vs Syncany

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 BrowserSyncany
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseApache-2.0GPL-3.0
LanguageGoJava
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM64 MB256 MB
Deploymentdocker, binarybare-metal, binary, source
GitHub stars★ 35,800★ 1,641
First released20172011
ReplacesDropboxDropbox, SpiderOak

Why pick each one

Choose File Browser if…

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

Choose Syncany if…

  • Works with any storage provider
  • Strong encryption design
Syncany details

Frequently asked questions

Is File Browser or Syncany better?

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

Are File Browser and Syncany free and open-source?

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

Can I run File Browser and Syncany with Docker?

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

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