FileGator vs h5ai
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
FileGator
Multi-user file manager with role-based access
VS
h5ai
Modern HTTP web server index for browsing files
| Feature | FileGator | h5ai |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 23 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,078 | ★ 6,055 |
| First released | 2019 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Dropbox | Google Drive |
What are FileGator and h5ai?
FileGator
FileGator is a self-hosted multi-user file manager supporting various storage adapters such as local disk, FTP, and Amazon S3. It offers role-based permissions and a modern interface.
- Multiple storage adapters
- Role-based permissions
- Zip and unzip support
h5ai
h5ai is a modern file indexer for HTTP web servers that provides a polished directory listing with previews, search, and multiple view modes. It enhances browsing of shared file directories.
- Polished directory listings
- File previews and search
- Multiple view modes
FileGator vs h5ai: key differences
FileGator is written in PHP, while h5ai is built with JavaScript. H5ai is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for FileGator. H5ai is the more established project (first released 2012), while FileGator arrived in 2019. FileGator lists first-class Docker deployment; h5ai does not.
Why pick each one
Choose FileGator if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.1k GitHub stars)
Choose h5ai if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 6.1k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is FileGator or h5ai better?
Neither is universally better. h5ai has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are FileGator and h5ai free and open-source?
Yes. FileGator is licensed under MIT and h5ai under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FileGator and h5ai with Docker?
FileGator: yes. h5ai: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, FileGator or h5ai?
h5ai has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for FileGator. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.