Lufi vs Pomf
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Lufi | Pomf |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Perl | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 923 |
| First released | 2015 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are Lufi and Pomf?
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
Pomf
Pomf is a lightweight file uploading and sharing platform written in PHP. It powers many community file hosts and is easy to deploy on shared hosting.
- Runs on shared hosting
- Drag-and-drop uploads
- Simple API
Lufi vs Pomf: key differences
Lufi is written in Perl, while Pomf is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Lufi versus MIT for Pomf. Pomf is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Lufi. Pomf has the considerably larger community, at 923 GitHub stars versus 300. Lufi lists first-class Docker deployment; Pomf does not.
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 Pomf if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Lufi or Pomf better?
Pomf 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 Pomf free and open-source?
Yes. Lufi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Pomf under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lufi and Pomf with Docker?
Lufi: yes. Pomf: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Lufi or Pomf?
Pomf 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.