Pingvin Share vs Updog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Pingvin Share
Archived
Self-hosted file sharing alternative to WeTransfer
VS
Updog
Replacement for Python SimpleHTTPServer with uploads
| Feature | Pingvin Share | Updog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 15 · At risk | 54 · Fair |
| Status | Archived | Actively maintained |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | BSD-2-Clause | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,668 | ★ 3,412 |
| First released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Pingvin Share and Updog?
Pingvin Share
Pingvin Share is a self-hosted file sharing platform with a clean interface, designed as an alternative to WeTransfer and Firefox Send. It supports expiring shares and password protection.
- Expiring share links
- OAuth and LDAP login
- Password-protected shares
Updog
Updog is a small Python utility that improves upon SimpleHTTPServer by adding upload capability, HTTPS, and optional password protection. It is useful for quick file transfers.
- Upload support over HTTP
- Optional HTTPS and auth
- Simple drop-in replacement
Pingvin Share vs Updog: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Pingvin Share's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Updog is actively maintained. Pingvin Share is written in TypeScript, while Updog is built with Python. Licensing differs — BSD-2-Clause for Pingvin Share versus MIT for Updog. Updog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Pingvin Share. Updog is the more established project (first released 2019), while Pingvin Share arrived in 2022. Pingvin Share lists first-class Docker deployment; Updog does not.
Why pick each one
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)
Choose Updog if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Pingvin Share or Updog better?
Neither is universally better. Pingvin Share has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Pingvin Share and Updog free and open-source?
Yes. Pingvin Share is licensed under BSD-2-Clause and Updog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Pingvin Share and Updog with Docker?
Pingvin Share: yes. Updog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Pingvin Share or Updog?
Updog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Pingvin Share. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.