PicoShare vs Send
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PicoShare
Minimalist file sharing for permanent direct links
VS
Send
Encrypted file sharing fork of Firefox Send
| Feature | PicoShare | Send |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 37 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,039 | ★ 5,914 |
| First released | 2021 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, WeTransfer | WeTransfer, Firefox Send |
What are PicoShare and Send?
PicoShare
PicoShare is a minimal file-sharing app that makes it easy to share files with simple, permanent URLs. It is designed to be a single-binary deployment with no external dependencies.
- Permanent shareable links
- SQLite-backed storage
- Single-binary deployment
Send
Send is a community-maintained fork of the discontinued Firefox Send. It provides end-to-end encrypted file sharing with links that expire after a download limit or time period.
- End-to-end encryption
- Expiring share links
- No account required
PicoShare vs Send: key differences
PicoShare is written in Go, while Send is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for PicoShare versus MPL-2.0 for Send. PicoShare is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Send.
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 Send if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.9k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is PicoShare or Send better?
Neither is universally better. Send has the larger community, while PicoShare is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are PicoShare and Send free and open-source?
Yes. PicoShare is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Send under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PicoShare and Send with Docker?
PicoShare: yes. Send: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, PicoShare or Send?
PicoShare has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Send. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.