Linx vs Zipline
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 | Zipline |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 18 · At risk | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,582 | ★ 3,429 |
| First released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | Imgur, Dropbox |
What are Linx and Zipline?
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
Zipline
Zipline is a fast self-hosted file upload server with a modern dashboard. It supports ShareX, image embeds, URL shortening, and detailed statistics.
- ShareX integration
- URL shortener built in
- Detailed upload statistics
Linx vs Zipline: key differences
Linx is written in Go, while Zipline is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Linx versus MIT for Zipline. Linx is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Zipline. Linx is the more established project (first released 2015), while Zipline arrived in 2021. Zipline has the considerably larger community, at 3,429 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 Zipline if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Linx or Zipline better?
Neither is universally better. Zipline 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 Zipline free and open-source?
Yes. Linx is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Zipline under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Linx and Zipline with Docker?
Linx: yes. Zipline: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Linx or Zipline?
Linx has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zipline. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.