PsiTransfer vs Send
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
VS
Send
Encrypted file sharing fork of Firefox Send
| Feature | PsiTransfer | Send |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 37 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,951 | ★ 5,914 |
| First released | 2017 | 2020 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer | WeTransfer, Firefox Send |
What are PsiTransfer and Send?
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
Send
Send is a community-maintained fork of the discontinued Firefox Send. It provides end-to-end encrypted file sharing with links that expire after a download limit or time period.
- End-to-end encryption
- Expiring share links
- No account required
PsiTransfer vs Send: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — MIT for PsiTransfer versus MPL-2.0 for Send. PsiTransfer is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Send. PsiTransfer is the more established project (first released 2017), while Send arrived in 2020. Send has the considerably larger community, at 5,914 GitHub stars versus 1,951.
Why pick each one
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)
Choose Send if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.9k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is PsiTransfer or Send better?
Neither is universally better. Send has the larger community, while PsiTransfer is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are PsiTransfer and Send free and open-source?
Yes. PsiTransfer is licensed under MIT and Send under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PsiTransfer and Send with Docker?
PsiTransfer: yes. Send: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, PsiTransfer or Send?
PsiTransfer has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Send. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.