ownCloud Web vs Tiny File Manager
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | ownCloud Web | Tiny File Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 69 · Good |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 567 | ★ 5,978 |
| First released | 2020 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive |
What are ownCloud Web and Tiny File Manager?
ownCloud Web
ownCloud Web is the modern single-page web frontend for ownCloud file storage and sharing. It provides fast file management, sharing, and collaboration in the browser.
- Modern file management UI
- File sharing
- Browser-based collaboration
- Fast single-page app
Tiny File Manager
Tiny File Manager is a web-based file manager contained in a single PHP file. It provides multi-user support, file editing, archive handling, and a clean responsive interface.
- Single-file deployment
- Built-in code editor
- Multi-user access control
ownCloud Web vs Tiny File Manager: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: ownCloud Web's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Tiny File Manager is actively maintained. OwnCloud Web is written in TypeScript, while Tiny File Manager is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for ownCloud Web versus GPL-3.0 for Tiny File Manager. Tiny File Manager is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for ownCloud Web. Tiny File Manager is the more established project (first released 2016), while ownCloud Web arrived in 2020. Tiny File Manager has the considerably larger community, at 5,978 GitHub stars versus 567.
Why pick each one
Choose ownCloud Web if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Choose Tiny File Manager if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is ownCloud Web or Tiny File Manager better?
Tiny File Manager is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider ownCloud Web if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are ownCloud Web and Tiny File Manager free and open-source?
Yes. ownCloud Web is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tiny File Manager under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ownCloud Web and Tiny File Manager with Docker?
ownCloud Web: yes. Tiny File Manager: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ownCloud Web or Tiny File Manager?
Tiny File Manager has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for ownCloud Web. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.