OpenCloud vs Tiny File Manager
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
OpenCloud
Modern open-source file platform from ownCloud team
VS
Tiny File Manager
Single-file PHP file manager and browser
| Feature | OpenCloud | Tiny File Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 90 · Excellent | 69 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,056 | ★ 5,978 |
| First released | 2025 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive |
What are OpenCloud and Tiny File Manager?
OpenCloud
OpenCloud is a modern open-source file sync, share, and collaboration platform built on a microservice architecture. It targets organizations wanting a current, lightweight content collaboration server. It is deployed via Docker Compose.
- Microservice-based architecture
- Web-based collaboration
- Lightweight Go backend
- Compatible desktop clients
Tiny File Manager
Tiny File Manager is a web-based file manager contained in a single PHP file. It provides multi-user support, file editing, archive handling, and a clean responsive interface.
- Single-file deployment
- Built-in code editor
- Multi-user access control
OpenCloud vs Tiny File Manager: key differences
OpenCloud is written in Go, while Tiny File Manager is built with PHP. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for OpenCloud versus GPL-3.0 for Tiny File Manager. Tiny File Manager is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for OpenCloud. Tiny File Manager is the more established project (first released 2016), while OpenCloud arrived in 2025.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenCloud if…
- Modern, fast codebase
- Lightweight footprint
- Permissively licensed
Watch out for
- Very new project
- Smaller ecosystem so far
Choose Tiny File Manager if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenCloud or Tiny File Manager better?
Neither is universally better. OpenCloud has the larger community, while Tiny File Manager is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are OpenCloud and Tiny File Manager free and open-source?
Yes. OpenCloud is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Tiny File Manager under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenCloud and Tiny File Manager with Docker?
OpenCloud: yes. Tiny File Manager: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenCloud or Tiny File Manager?
Tiny File Manager has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for OpenCloud. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.