PairDrop vs qrcp
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
qrcp
Transfer files to and from phones by scanning a QR code
| Feature | PairDrop | qrcp |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,133 | ★ 10,491 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, WeTransfer | AirDrop, Snapdrop |
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
Frequently asked questions
Is PairDrop or qrcp 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 qrcp free and open-source?
Yes. PairDrop is licensed under GPL-3.0 and qrcp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PairDrop and qrcp with Docker?
PairDrop: yes. qrcp: check the project docs for container support.