Magic Wormhole 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 | Magic Wormhole | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 67 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22,946 | ★ 11,459 |
| First released | 2016 | 2022 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Magic Wormhole and PairDrop?
Magic Wormhole
Magic Wormhole is a library and CLI tool for securely transferring files and directories between computers. It uses short human-pronounceable codes and PAKE encryption for safe transfers.
- PAKE-based encryption
- Human-readable transfer codes
- Self-hostable relay and mailbox
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
Magic Wormhole vs PairDrop: key differences
Magic Wormhole is written in Python, while PairDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Magic Wormhole versus GPL-3.0 for PairDrop. Magic Wormhole is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for PairDrop. Magic Wormhole is the more established project (first released 2016), while PairDrop arrived in 2022. Magic Wormhole has the considerably larger community, at 22,946 GitHub stars versus 11,459. PairDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; Magic Wormhole does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Magic Wormhole if…
- Dead-simple pairing codes
- End-to-end encrypted
- No account needed
Watch out for
- Terminal-based workflow
- Both ends online simultaneously
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 Magic Wormhole or PairDrop better?
Neither is universally better. Magic Wormhole has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Magic Wormhole and PairDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Magic Wormhole is licensed under MIT and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Magic Wormhole and PairDrop with Docker?
Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support. PairDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Magic Wormhole or PairDrop?
Magic Wormhole has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for PairDrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.