Magic Wormhole vs ShareDrop
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 | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 96 · Excellent | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 22,946 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2016 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, AirDrop | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Magic Wormhole and ShareDrop?
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
ShareDrop
ShareDrop is a browser-based peer-to-peer file sharing app using WebRTC. It lets devices on the same network exchange files directly without uploading to a server.
- WebRTC peer-to-peer transfer
- No server-side storage
- Works across local networks
Magic Wormhole vs ShareDrop: key differences
Magic Wormhole is written in Python, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. Magic Wormhole is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for ShareDrop. ShareDrop is the more established project (first released 2014), while Magic Wormhole arrived in 2016. Magic Wormhole has the considerably larger community, at 22,946 GitHub stars versus 10,753. ShareDrop 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 ShareDrop if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Magic Wormhole or ShareDrop 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 ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Magic Wormhole is licensed under MIT and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Magic Wormhole and ShareDrop with Docker?
Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Magic Wormhole or ShareDrop?
Magic Wormhole has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for ShareDrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.