ProjectSend 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.
ProjectSend
Self-hosted client-oriented file sharing
VS
ShareDrop
Peer-to-peer file transfer in the browser
| Feature | ProjectSend | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,022 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2012 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, WeTransfer | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are ProjectSend and ShareDrop?
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
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
ProjectSend vs ShareDrop: key differences
ProjectSend is written in PHP, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for ProjectSend versus MIT for ShareDrop. ShareDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for ProjectSend. ProjectSend is the more established project (first released 2012), while ShareDrop arrived in 2014. ShareDrop has the considerably larger community, at 10,753 GitHub stars versus 2,022.
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 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 ProjectSend or ShareDrop better?
Neither is universally better. ShareDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ProjectSend and ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. ProjectSend is licensed under GPL-2.0 and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ProjectSend and ShareDrop with Docker?
ProjectSend: yes. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, ProjectSend or ShareDrop?
ShareDrop has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for ProjectSend. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.