h5ai vs elFinder
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | h5ai | elFinder |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 23 · At risk | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,055 | ★ 4,804 |
| First released | 2012 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Google Drive | Google Drive, Dropbox |
What are h5ai and elFinder?
h5ai
h5ai is a modern file indexer for HTTP web servers that provides a polished directory listing with previews, search, and multiple view modes. It enhances browsing of shared file directories.
- Polished directory listings
- File previews and search
- Multiple view modes
elFinder
elFinder is an open-source web file manager with a user interface inspired by the macOS Finder. It supports multiple storage backends, drag and drop, and image editing.
- macOS Finder-style UI
- Multiple storage backends
- Built-in image editor
h5ai vs elFinder: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for h5ai versus BSD-3-Clause for elFinder. H5ai is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for elFinder. ElFinder is the more established project (first released 2010), while h5ai arrived in 2012.
Why pick each one
Choose h5ai if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 6.1k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Choose elFinder if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- Active community (4.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in JavaScript
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is h5ai or elFinder better?
h5ai is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider elFinder if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are h5ai and elFinder free and open-source?
Yes. h5ai is licensed under MIT and elFinder under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run h5ai and elFinder with Docker?
h5ai: check the project docs for container support. elFinder: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, h5ai or elFinder?
h5ai has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for elFinder. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.