Flying Carpet vs Snapdrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Snapdrop
Local file sharing in your browser, inspired by AirDrop
| Feature | Flying Carpet | Snapdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 33 · At risk |
| 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 | ★ 19,734 |
| First released | 2017 | 2017 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, Snapdrop | AirDrop |
What are Flying Carpet and Snapdrop?
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
Snapdrop
Snapdrop is a progressive web app for sharing files between devices on the same local network. It uses WebRTC for direct device-to-device transfer with no installation required.
- AirDrop-style local sharing
- Progressive web app
- No setup on client devices
Flying Carpet vs Snapdrop: key differences
Flying Carpet is written in Rust, while Snapdrop is built with JavaScript. Snapdrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Flying Carpet. Snapdrop has the considerably larger community, at 19,734 GitHub stars versus 5,322. Snapdrop 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 Snapdrop if…
- No installation needed
- Direct WebRTC transfers
- Dead simple to use
Watch out for
- Same network only
- Development largely inactive
Frequently asked questions
Is Flying Carpet or Snapdrop better?
Neither is universally better. Snapdrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Flying Carpet and Snapdrop free and open-source?
Yes. Flying Carpet is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Snapdrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Flying Carpet and Snapdrop with Docker?
Flying Carpet: check the project docs for container support. Snapdrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Flying Carpet or Snapdrop?
Snapdrop 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.