Linx vs Send
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 | Send |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 37 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,582 | ★ 5,914 |
| First released | 2015 | 2020 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | WeTransfer, Firefox Send |
What are Linx and Send?
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
Send
Send is a community-maintained fork of the discontinued Firefox Send. It provides end-to-end encrypted file sharing with links that expire after a download limit or time period.
- End-to-end encryption
- Expiring share links
- No account required
Linx vs Send: key differences
Linx is written in Go, while Send is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Linx versus MPL-2.0 for Send. Linx is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Send. Linx is the more established project (first released 2015), while Send arrived in 2020. Send has the considerably larger community, at 5,914 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 Send if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.9k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Linx or Send better?
Neither is universally better. Send has the larger community, while Linx is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Linx and Send free and open-source?
Yes. Linx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Send under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Linx and Send with Docker?
Linx: yes. Send: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Linx or Send?
Linx has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Send. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.