PicoShare vs Plik
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?
PicoShare
Minimalist file sharing for permanent direct links
VS
Plik
Temporary file upload system (Wetransfer like)
| Feature | PicoShare | Plik |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,971 | ★ 1,810 |
| First released | 2021 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, WeTransfer | WeTransfer |
Why pick each one
Choose PicoShare if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3k GitHub stars)
Choose Plik if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is PicoShare or Plik better?
PicoShare is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Plik if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are PicoShare and Plik free and open-source?
Yes. PicoShare is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Plik under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PicoShare and Plik with Docker?
PicoShare: yes. Plik: check the project docs for container support.