FileGator vs Pydio Cells
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
Pydio Cells
Document sharing and collaboration for organizations
| Feature | FileGator | Pydio Cells |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,078 | ★ 2,252 |
| First released | 2019 | 2018 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Dropbox | Dropbox, Box, Google Drive |
What are FileGator and Pydio Cells?
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
Pydio Cells
Pydio Cells is a content collaboration platform for organizations, offering file sharing, workspaces, and access controls. It is designed for teams and enterprises needing governed document collaboration. It is deployed via Docker or native binaries.
- Workspace-based collaboration
- Granular access control
- Built-in search and metadata
- Mobile and desktop clients
FileGator vs Pydio Cells: key differences
FileGator is written in PHP, while Pydio Cells is built with Go. Licensing differs — MIT for FileGator versus AGPL-3.0 for Pydio Cells. FileGator is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Pydio Cells.
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 Pydio Cells if…
- Strong enterprise features
- Modern Go codebase
- Good access governance
Watch out for
- Heavier than simple tools
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is FileGator or Pydio Cells better?
FileGator is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Pydio Cells if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are FileGator and Pydio Cells free and open-source?
Yes. FileGator is licensed under MIT and Pydio Cells under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FileGator and Pydio Cells with Docker?
FileGator: yes. Pydio Cells: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, FileGator or Pydio Cells?
FileGator has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Pydio Cells. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.