Magic Wormhole 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.
Not the right match-up?
Magic Wormhole
Get things from one computer to another, safely
VS
PsiTransfer
Simple open-source file sharing solution
| Feature | Magic Wormhole | PsiTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22,792 | ★ 1,920 |
| First released | 2016 | 2017 |
| 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 PsiTransfer if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.9k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Magic Wormhole or PsiTransfer 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 PsiTransfer free and open-source?
Yes. Magic Wormhole is licensed under MIT and PsiTransfer under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Magic Wormhole and PsiTransfer with Docker?
Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support. PsiTransfer: yes.