Lufi vs ProjectSend
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
ProjectSend
Self-hosted client-oriented file sharing
| Feature | Lufi | ProjectSend |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Perl | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 2,022 |
| First released | 2015 | 2012 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | Dropbox, WeTransfer |
What are Lufi and ProjectSend?
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
ProjectSend
ProjectSend is a self-hosted application for sharing files with clients in a private, organized way with per-client access. It targets freelancers and agencies delivering files to customers. It is deployed via a PHP stack or Docker.
- Per-client file delivery
- Group and permission management
- Email notifications
- Branding options
Lufi vs ProjectSend: key differences
Lufi is written in Perl, while ProjectSend is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Lufi versus GPL-2.0 for ProjectSend. Lufi is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for ProjectSend. ProjectSend is the more established project (first released 2012), while Lufi arrived in 2015. ProjectSend has the considerably larger community, at 2,022 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 ProjectSend if…
- Great for client deliverables
- Simple to operate
- Clear access control
Watch out for
- Not a general sync tool
- Dated interface
Frequently asked questions
Is Lufi or ProjectSend better?
ProjectSend 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 ProjectSend free and open-source?
Yes. Lufi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and ProjectSend under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lufi and ProjectSend with Docker?
Lufi: yes. ProjectSend: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Lufi or ProjectSend?
Lufi has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for ProjectSend. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.