PairDrop vs Pingvin Share
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?
PairDrop
Local and internet file sharing inspired by Snapdrop
VS
Pingvin Share
Self-hosted file sharing alternative to WeTransfer
| Feature | PairDrop | Pingvin Share |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,133 | ★ 4,684 |
| First released | 2022 | 2022 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, WeTransfer | WeTransfer, Firefox Send |
Why pick each one
Choose PairDrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.1k GitHub stars
Choose Pingvin Share if…
- Released under the BSD-2-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4.7k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is PairDrop or Pingvin Share better?
Neither is universally better. PairDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are PairDrop and Pingvin Share free and open-source?
Yes. PairDrop is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Pingvin Share under BSD-2-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PairDrop and Pingvin Share with Docker?
PairDrop: yes. Pingvin Share: yes.