Lufi vs PsiTransfer
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PsiTransfer
Simple open-source file sharing solution
| Feature | Lufi | PsiTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Perl | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 1,951 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Lufi and PsiTransfer?
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
PsiTransfer
PsiTransfer is a self-hosted file sharing application with a drag-and-drop web interface. It supports resumable uploads, file expiration, and password protection.
- Resumable uploads
- Password-protected buckets
- Drag-and-drop interface
Lufi vs PsiTransfer: key differences
Lufi is written in Perl, while PsiTransfer is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Lufi versus MIT for PsiTransfer. Lufi is the more established project (first released 2015), while PsiTransfer arrived in 2017. PsiTransfer has the considerably larger community, at 1,951 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 PsiTransfer if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Lufi or PsiTransfer better?
PsiTransfer 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 PsiTransfer free and open-source?
Yes. Lufi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and PsiTransfer under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lufi and PsiTransfer with Docker?
Lufi: yes. PsiTransfer: yes.