Flying Carpet vs qrcp
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Flying Carpet | qrcp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 70 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Rust | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,322 | ★ 10,512 |
| First released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, Snapdrop | AirDrop, Snapdrop |
What are Flying Carpet and qrcp?
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
qrcp
qrcp is a command-line tool that transfers files over WiFi by generating a QR code that points to a temporary local web server. Scanning the code with a phone downloads or uploads files without any app or cable.
- QR-code based transfers
- Send and receive files
- Single static binary
- No mobile app required
Flying Carpet vs qrcp: key differences
Flying Carpet is written in Rust, while qrcp is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Flying Carpet versus MIT for qrcp. Qrcp is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Flying Carpet.
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 qrcp if…
- Instant phone transfers
- Zero configuration
Watch out for
- Same-network requirement
- CLI only
Frequently asked questions
Is Flying Carpet or qrcp better?
Neither is universally better. qrcp has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Flying Carpet and qrcp free and open-source?
Yes. Flying Carpet is licensed under GPL-3.0 and qrcp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flying Carpet and qrcp with Docker?
Flying Carpet: check the project docs for container support. qrcp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Flying Carpet or qrcp?
qrcp 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.