Gokapi 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 | Gokapi | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 67 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,881 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Gokapi and PairDrop?
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
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
Gokapi vs PairDrop: key differences
Gokapi is written in Go, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Gokapi versus GPL-3.0 for PairDrop. PairDrop has the considerably larger community, at 11,459 GitHub stars versus 2,881.
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 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 Gokapi 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 Gokapi and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Gokapi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gokapi and PairDrop with Docker?
Gokapi: yes. PairDrop: yes.