Plik vs ShareDrop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Plik | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 50 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,821 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | None | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Plik and ShareDrop?
Plik
Temporary file upload system (Wetransfer like).
ShareDrop
ShareDrop is a browser-based peer-to-peer file sharing app using WebRTC. It lets devices on the same network exchange files directly without uploading to a server.
- WebRTC peer-to-peer transfer
- No server-side storage
- Works across local networks
Plik vs ShareDrop: key differences
Plik is written in Go, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. Plik is the lighter option, starting around 50 MB of RAM against 64 MB for ShareDrop. ShareDrop has the considerably larger community, at 10,753 GitHub stars versus 1,821. ShareDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; Plik does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Plik if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
Choose ShareDrop if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Plik or ShareDrop better?
ShareDrop 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 Plik and ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Plik is licensed under MIT and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Plik and ShareDrop with Docker?
Plik: check the project docs for container support. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Plik or ShareDrop?
Plik has the smaller minimum footprint at 50 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for ShareDrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.