Linx vs PicoShare
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PicoShare
Minimalist file sharing for permanent direct links
| Feature | Linx | PicoShare |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,582 | ★ 3,039 |
| First released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | Dropbox, WeTransfer |
What are Linx and PicoShare?
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
PicoShare
PicoShare is a minimal file-sharing app that makes it easy to share files with simple, permanent URLs. It is designed to be a single-binary deployment with no external dependencies.
- Permanent shareable links
- SQLite-backed storage
- Single-binary deployment
Linx vs PicoShare: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Linx versus AGPL-3.0 for PicoShare. Linx is the more established project (first released 2015), while PicoShare arrived in 2021.
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 PicoShare if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Linx or PicoShare better?
Neither is universally better. PicoShare has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Linx and PicoShare free and open-source?
Yes. Linx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and PicoShare under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Linx and PicoShare with Docker?
Linx: yes. PicoShare: yes.