Flying Carpet 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.
PairDrop
Local and internet file sharing inspired by Snapdrop
| Feature | Flying Carpet | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 67 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,322 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2017 | 2022 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, Snapdrop | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Flying Carpet and PairDrop?
Flying Carpet
Flying Carpet is an open source application that transfers files directly between two computers or phones over an ad hoc wireless connection, without needing a router or internet access. It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
- Direct device-to-device transfer
- No router or internet needed
- Encrypted file transfer
- Five-platform support
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
Flying Carpet vs PairDrop: key differences
Flying Carpet is written in Rust, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. PairDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Flying Carpet. Flying Carpet is the more established project (first released 2017), while PairDrop arrived in 2022. PairDrop has the considerably larger community, at 11,459 GitHub stars versus 5,322. PairDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; Flying Carpet does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Flying Carpet if…
- Works fully offline
- Cross-platform including mobile
Watch out for
- Two-device transfers only
- Setup varies by OS
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 Flying Carpet or PairDrop better?
Neither is universally better. PairDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Flying Carpet and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Flying Carpet is licensed under GPL-3.0 and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flying Carpet and PairDrop with Docker?
Flying Carpet: check the project docs for container support. PairDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Flying Carpet or PairDrop?
PairDrop has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Flying Carpet. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.