Linx vs PairDrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PairDrop
Local and internet file sharing inspired by Snapdrop
| Feature | Linx | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 67 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,582 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2015 | 2022 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Linx and PairDrop?
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
PairDrop
PairDrop is an enhanced fork of Snapdrop that adds device pairing across networks and the internet. It enables easy, encrypted peer-to-peer file transfer between paired devices.
- Cross-network device pairing
- Paste and share text
- WebRTC encrypted transfer
Linx vs PairDrop: key differences
Linx is written in Go, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. Linx is the more established project (first released 2015), while PairDrop arrived in 2022. PairDrop has the considerably larger community, at 11,459 GitHub stars versus 1,582.
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 PairDrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Linx or PairDrop better?
Neither is universally better. PairDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Linx and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Linx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Linx and PairDrop with Docker?
Linx: yes. PairDrop: yes.