Linx vs rustypaste
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 | rustypaste |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Go | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,582 | ★ 1,207 |
| First released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are Linx and rustypaste?
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
rustypaste
rustypaste is a minimal self-hosted file upload and pastebin service written in Rust. It supports expiring uploads, one-shot files, and command-line usage with curl.
- One-shot expiring uploads
- Curl-friendly API
- Minimal resource usage
Linx vs rustypaste: key differences
Linx is written in Go, while rustypaste is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Linx versus MIT for rustypaste. Rustypaste is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Linx. Linx is the more established project (first released 2015), while rustypaste 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 rustypaste if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Linx or rustypaste better?
Neither is universally better. Linx has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Linx and rustypaste free and open-source?
Yes. Linx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and rustypaste under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Linx and rustypaste with Docker?
Linx: yes. rustypaste: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Linx or rustypaste?
rustypaste has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Linx. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.