Jirafeau vs Zipline
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Jirafeau | Zipline |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0-only | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 50 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | — | ★ 3,429 |
| First released | 2023 | 2021 |
| Replaces | ImageShack, Imgur | Imgur, Dropbox |
What are Jirafeau and Zipline?
Jirafeau
Upload a file in a simple way and give a unique link to it.
Zipline
Zipline is a fast self-hosted file upload server with a modern dashboard. It supports ShareX, image embeds, URL shortening, and detailed statistics.
- ShareX integration
- URL shortener built in
- Detailed upload statistics
Jirafeau vs Zipline: key differences
Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0-only for Jirafeau versus MIT for Zipline. Jirafeau is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Zipline. Zipline is the more established project (first released 2021), while Jirafeau arrived in 2023. Zipline lists first-class Docker deployment; Jirafeau does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Jirafeau if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0-only license
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Choose Zipline if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Jirafeau or Zipline better?
Neither is universally better. Zipline has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Jirafeau and Zipline free and open-source?
Yes. Jirafeau is licensed under AGPL-3.0-only and Zipline under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Jirafeau and Zipline with Docker?
Jirafeau: check the project docs for container support. Zipline: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Jirafeau or Zipline?
Jirafeau has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zipline. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.