Gokapi vs Updog
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 | Updog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 54 · Fair |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,881 | ★ 3,412 |
| First released | 2021 | 2019 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Gokapi and Updog?
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
Updog
Updog is a small Python utility that improves upon SimpleHTTPServer by adding upload capability, HTTPS, and optional password protection. It is useful for quick file transfers.
- Upload support over HTTP
- Optional HTTPS and auth
- Simple drop-in replacement
Gokapi vs Updog: key differences
Gokapi is written in Go, while Updog is built with Python. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Gokapi versus MIT for Updog. Updog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Gokapi. Updog is the more established project (first released 2019), while Gokapi arrived in 2021. Gokapi lists first-class Docker deployment; Updog 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 Updog if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Gokapi or Updog better?
Neither is universally better. Updog has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Gokapi and Updog free and open-source?
Yes. Gokapi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Updog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Gokapi and Updog with Docker?
Gokapi: yes. Updog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Gokapi or Updog?
Updog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Gokapi. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.