ProjectSend vs XBackBone
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
ProjectSend
Self-hosted client-oriented file sharing
VS
XBackBone
Lightweight file manager with full ShareX support
| Feature | ProjectSend | XBackBone |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 50 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,958 | ★ 1,161 |
| First released | 2012 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, WeTransfer | WeTransfer |
Why pick each one
Choose ProjectSend if…
- Great for client deliverables
- Simple to operate
- Clear access control
Choose XBackBone if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in PHP
Frequently asked questions
Is ProjectSend or XBackBone 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 XBackBone free and open-source?
Yes. ProjectSend is licensed under GPL-2.0 and XBackBone under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ProjectSend and XBackBone with Docker?
ProjectSend: yes. XBackBone: check the project docs for container support.