Gokapi vs Kleeja
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Gokapi | Kleeja |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 75 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,881 | ★ 193 |
| First released | 2021 | 2006 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Gokapi and Kleeja?
Gokapi
Gokapi is a minimalist file sharing server inspired by Firefox Send. It lets you upload files and generate download links that can expire after a set time or number of downloads.
- Expiring download links
- End-to-end encryption option
- AWS S3 storage support
Kleeja
Kleeja is a long-running PHP application for uploading and sharing files and images. It supports multiple languages, themes, and a plugin system for extension.
- Plugin and theme system
- Multilingual interface
- Long-standing project
Gokapi vs Kleeja: key differences
Gokapi is written in Go, while Kleeja is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Gokapi versus GPL-3.0 for Kleeja. Gokapi is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Kleeja. Kleeja is the more established project (first released 2006), while Gokapi arrived in 2021. Gokapi has the considerably larger community, at 2,881 GitHub stars versus 193. Gokapi lists first-class Docker deployment; Kleeja does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Gokapi if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.9k GitHub stars)
Choose Kleeja if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Gokapi or Kleeja better?
Neither is universally better. Gokapi has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gokapi and Kleeja free and open-source?
Yes. Gokapi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Kleeja under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gokapi and Kleeja with Docker?
Gokapi: yes. Kleeja: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Gokapi or Kleeja?
Gokapi has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Kleeja. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.