Magic Wormhole vs Plik
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Magic Wormhole
Get things from one computer to another, safely
VS
Plik
Temporary file upload system (Wetransfer like)
| Feature | Magic Wormhole | Plik |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22,792 | ★ 1,810 |
| First released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | WeTransfer |
Why pick each one
Choose Magic Wormhole if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 22.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose Plik if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Magic Wormhole or Plik better?
Magic Wormhole is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Plik if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Magic Wormhole and Plik free and open-source?
Yes. Magic Wormhole is licensed under MIT and Plik under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Magic Wormhole and Plik with Docker?
Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support. Plik: check the project docs for container support.