FilePizza vs PairDrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
FilePizza
Peer-to-peer file transfers in your browser
VS
PairDrop
Local and internet file sharing inspired by Snapdrop
| Feature | FilePizza | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 67 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 50 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,189 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are FilePizza and PairDrop?
FilePizza
Peer-to-peer file transfers in your browser.
PairDrop
PairDrop is an enhanced fork of Snapdrop that adds device pairing across networks and the internet. It enables easy, encrypted peer-to-peer file transfer between paired devices.
- Cross-network device pairing
- Paste and share text
- WebRTC encrypted transfer
FilePizza vs PairDrop: key differences
FilePizza is written in TypeScript, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — BSD-3-Clause for FilePizza versus GPL-3.0 for PairDrop. FilePizza is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 64 MB for PairDrop. PairDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; FilePizza does not.
Why pick each one
Choose FilePizza if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Mature project with 10.2k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Choose PairDrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is FilePizza or PairDrop better?
PairDrop is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider FilePizza if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are FilePizza and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. FilePizza is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FilePizza and PairDrop with Docker?
FilePizza: check the project docs for container support. PairDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, FilePizza or PairDrop?
FilePizza has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for PairDrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.