Pomf vs Zipline
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Pomf | Zipline |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 13 · At risk | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 923 | ★ 3,429 |
| First released | 2015 | 2021 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Imgur | Imgur, Dropbox |
What are Pomf and Zipline?
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
Zipline
Zipline is a fast self-hosted file upload server with a modern dashboard. It supports ShareX, image embeds, URL shortening, and detailed statistics.
- ShareX integration
- URL shortener built in
- Detailed upload statistics
Pomf vs Zipline: key differences
Pomf is written in PHP, while Zipline is built with TypeScript. Pomf is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Zipline. Pomf is the more established project (first released 2015), while Zipline arrived in 2021. Zipline has the considerably larger community, at 3,429 GitHub stars versus 923. Zipline 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 Zipline if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Pomf or Zipline better?
Neither is universally better. Zipline has the larger community, while Pomf is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Pomf and Zipline free and open-source?
Yes. Pomf is licensed under MIT and Zipline under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Pomf and Zipline with Docker?
Pomf: check the project docs for container support. Zipline: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Pomf or Zipline?
Pomf has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Zipline. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.