Lufi 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 | Lufi | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Perl | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2015 | 2022 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Lufi and PairDrop?
Lufi
Lufi is a file hosting application where files are encrypted in the browser before being uploaded, so the server never sees their contents. Files can be set to delete after a chosen expiration period.
- Client-side encryption
- Automatic file expiration
- Part of the Framasoft suite
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
Lufi vs PairDrop: key differences
Lufi is written in Perl, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Lufi versus GPL-3.0 for PairDrop. PairDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Lufi. Lufi 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 300.
Why pick each one
Choose Lufi if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Perl
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
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 Lufi or PairDrop better?
PairDrop is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Lufi if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Lufi and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Lufi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lufi and PairDrop with Docker?
Lufi: yes. PairDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Lufi or PairDrop?
PairDrop has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Lufi. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.