FileGator vs Syncthing-Fork
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
Syncthing-Fork
Android client wrapper for continuous Syncthing file synchronization
| Feature | FileGator | Syncthing-Fork |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,078 | ★ 2,894 |
| First released | 2019 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Dropbox | Dropbox, Google Drive |
What are FileGator and Syncthing-Fork?
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
Syncthing-Fork
Syncthing-Fork is a maintained Android wrapper around the Syncthing core that provides a polished mobile experience for continuous, peer-to-peer file synchronization. It adds battery-aware scheduling and per-folder controls on top of the Syncthing engine.
- Battery-aware sync scheduling
- Per-folder run conditions
- Wi-Fi and charging triggers
- Open peer-to-peer protocol
FileGator vs Syncthing-Fork: key differences
FileGator is written in PHP, while Syncthing-Fork is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for FileGator versus MPL-2.0 for Syncthing-Fork. Syncthing-Fork is the more established project (first released 2017), while FileGator arrived in 2019. FileGator lists first-class Docker deployment; Syncthing-Fork 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 Syncthing-Fork if…
- Actively maintained
- No central server needed
Watch out for
- Android only
- Initial setup can be fiddly
Frequently asked questions
Is FileGator or Syncthing-Fork better?
Neither is universally better. FileGator has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are FileGator and Syncthing-Fork free and open-source?
Yes. FileGator is licensed under MIT and Syncthing-Fork under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FileGator and Syncthing-Fork with Docker?
FileGator: yes. Syncthing-Fork: check the project docs for container support.