Magic Wormhole 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 | Magic Wormhole | Pomf |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 13 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22,946 | ★ 923 |
| First released | 2016 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are Magic Wormhole and Pomf?
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
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
Magic Wormhole vs Pomf: key differences
Magic Wormhole is written in Python, while Pomf is built with PHP. Magic Wormhole is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for Pomf. Magic Wormhole has the considerably larger community, at 22,946 GitHub stars versus 923.
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 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 Magic Wormhole or Pomf 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 Pomf free and open-source?
Yes. Magic Wormhole is licensed under MIT and Pomf under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Magic Wormhole and Pomf with Docker?
Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support. Pomf: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Magic Wormhole or Pomf?
Magic Wormhole has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for Pomf. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.