ProjectSend vs rustypaste
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
ProjectSend
Self-hosted client-oriented file sharing
VS
rustypaste
Minimal file upload and pastebin service
| Feature | ProjectSend | rustypaste |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,022 | ★ 1,207 |
| First released | 2012 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, WeTransfer | WeTransfer, Imgur |
What are ProjectSend and rustypaste?
ProjectSend
ProjectSend is a self-hosted application for sharing files with clients in a private, organized way with per-client access. It targets freelancers and agencies delivering files to customers. It is deployed via a PHP stack or Docker.
- Per-client file delivery
- Group and permission management
- Email notifications
- Branding options
rustypaste
rustypaste is a minimal self-hosted file upload and pastebin service written in Rust. It supports expiring uploads, one-shot files, and command-line usage with curl.
- One-shot expiring uploads
- Curl-friendly API
- Minimal resource usage
ProjectSend vs rustypaste: key differences
ProjectSend is written in PHP, while rustypaste is built with Rust. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for ProjectSend versus MIT for rustypaste. Rustypaste is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for ProjectSend. ProjectSend is the more established project (first released 2012), while rustypaste arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose ProjectSend if…
- Great for client deliverables
- Simple to operate
- Clear access control
Watch out for
- Not a general sync tool
- Dated interface
Choose rustypaste if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is ProjectSend or rustypaste better?
Neither is universally better. ProjectSend has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ProjectSend and rustypaste free and open-source?
Yes. ProjectSend is licensed under GPL-2.0 and rustypaste under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ProjectSend and rustypaste with Docker?
ProjectSend: yes. rustypaste: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ProjectSend or rustypaste?
rustypaste has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for ProjectSend. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.