Pomf vs PsiTransfer
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
PsiTransfer
Simple open-source file sharing solution
| Feature | Pomf | PsiTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 13 · At risk | 76 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 923 | ★ 1,951 |
| First released | 2015 | 2017 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | WeTransfer |
What are Pomf and PsiTransfer?
Pomf
Pomf is a lightweight file uploading and sharing platform written in PHP. It powers many community file hosts and is easy to deploy on shared hosting.
- Runs on shared hosting
- Drag-and-drop uploads
- Simple API
PsiTransfer
PsiTransfer is a self-hosted file sharing application with a drag-and-drop web interface. It supports resumable uploads, file expiration, and password protection.
- Resumable uploads
- Password-protected buckets
- Drag-and-drop interface
Pomf vs PsiTransfer: key differences
Pomf is written in PHP, while PsiTransfer is built with JavaScript. Pomf is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for PsiTransfer. Pomf is the more established project (first released 2015), while PsiTransfer arrived in 2017. PsiTransfer has the considerably larger community, at 1,951 GitHub stars versus 923. PsiTransfer lists first-class Docker deployment; Pomf does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Pomf if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Choose PsiTransfer if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Pomf or PsiTransfer better?
Neither is universally better. PsiTransfer has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Pomf and PsiTransfer free and open-source?
Yes. Pomf is licensed under MIT and PsiTransfer under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Pomf and PsiTransfer with Docker?
Pomf: check the project docs for container support. PsiTransfer: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Pomf or PsiTransfer?
Pomf has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for PsiTransfer. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.