FileGator vs ownCloud
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
ownCloud
Open-source file sync, share and content collaboration
| Feature | FileGator | ownCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,078 | ★ 8,830 |
| First released | 2019 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Dropbox | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are FileGator and ownCloud?
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
ownCloud
ownCloud is a file sync and share server that lets organizations host their own cloud storage with sharing and collaboration features. It targets businesses and individuals wanting an established self-hosted alternative to commercial cloud storage. It is deployed via Docker or a traditional PHP stack.
- Established sync and share platform
- LDAP and enterprise integrations
- Newer ownCloud Infinite Scale rewrite
- Desktop and mobile clients
FileGator vs ownCloud: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for FileGator versus AGPL-3.0 for ownCloud. FileGator is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for ownCloud. OwnCloud is the more established project (first released 2010), while FileGator arrived in 2019. OwnCloud has the considerably larger community, at 8,830 GitHub stars versus 3,078.
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 ownCloud if…
- Mature and stable
- Enterprise features available
- Good admin controls
Watch out for
- Nextcloud forked away most momentum
- Classic core in maintenance mode
Frequently asked questions
Is FileGator or ownCloud better?
Neither is universally better. ownCloud has the larger community, while FileGator is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are FileGator and ownCloud free and open-source?
Yes. FileGator is licensed under MIT and ownCloud under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FileGator and ownCloud with Docker?
FileGator: yes. ownCloud: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, FileGator or ownCloud?
FileGator has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for ownCloud. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.