PsiTransfer 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.
PsiTransfer
Simple open-source file sharing solution
VS
ShareDrop
Peer-to-peer file transfer in the browser
| Feature | PsiTransfer | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 76 · Good | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,951 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2017 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are PsiTransfer and ShareDrop?
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
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
PsiTransfer vs ShareDrop: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. ShareDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for PsiTransfer. ShareDrop is the more established project (first released 2014), while PsiTransfer arrived in 2017. ShareDrop has the considerably larger community, at 10,753 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 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 PsiTransfer 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 PsiTransfer and ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. PsiTransfer is licensed under MIT and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PsiTransfer and ShareDrop with Docker?
PsiTransfer: yes. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, PsiTransfer or ShareDrop?
ShareDrop has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for PsiTransfer. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.