Linx vs Lufi
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Linx | Lufi |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,582 | ★ 300 |
| First released | 2015 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | WeTransfer, Firefox Send |
What are Linx and Lufi?
Linx
Linx is a self-hosted file and code-paste sharing server with a clean interface. It supports expiring uploads, file deletion keys, an API, and torrent download generation.
- Expiring uploads
- Code syntax highlighting
- Torrent download support
Lufi
Lufi is a file hosting application where files are encrypted in the browser before being uploaded, so the server never sees their contents. Files can be set to delete after a chosen expiration period.
- Client-side encryption
- Automatic file expiration
- Part of the Framasoft suite
Linx vs Lufi: key differences
Linx is written in Go, while Lufi is built with Perl. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Linx versus AGPL-3.0 for Lufi. Linx is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Lufi. Linx has the considerably larger community, at 1,582 GitHub stars versus 300.
Why pick each one
Choose Linx if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
Choose Lufi if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Perl
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Linx or Lufi better?
Linx is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Lufi if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Linx and Lufi free and open-source?
Yes. Linx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Lufi under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Linx and Lufi with Docker?
Linx: yes. Lufi: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Linx or Lufi?
Linx has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Lufi. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.