Pydio Cells vs Pydio Cells Client
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Pydio Cells | Pydio Cells Client |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 52 · Fair |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,252 | ★ 32 |
| First released | 2018 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Box, Google Drive | Dropbox, Box |
What are Pydio Cells and Pydio Cells Client?
Pydio Cells
Pydio Cells is a content collaboration platform for organizations, offering file sharing, workspaces, and access controls. It is designed for teams and enterprises needing governed document collaboration. It is deployed via Docker or native binaries.
- Workspace-based collaboration
- Granular access control
- Built-in search and metadata
- Mobile and desktop clients
Pydio Cells Client
The Pydio Cells Client is a command-line tool for transferring and synchronizing files with a Pydio Cells server. It enables scripted and headless file operations against the platform.
- CLI file transfers
- Scriptable sync
- Headless operation
- Pydio Cells integration
Pydio Cells vs Pydio Cells Client: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Pydio Cells Client is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Pydio Cells. Pydio Cells has the considerably larger community, at 2,252 GitHub stars versus 32. Pydio Cells lists first-class Docker deployment; Pydio Cells Client does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Pydio Cells if…
- Strong enterprise features
- Modern Go codebase
- Good access governance
Watch out for
- Heavier than simple tools
- Smaller community
Choose Pydio Cells Client if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Pydio Cells or Pydio Cells Client better?
Neither is universally better. Pydio Cells has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Pydio Cells and Pydio Cells Client free and open-source?
Yes. Pydio Cells is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Pydio Cells Client under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Pydio Cells and Pydio Cells Client with Docker?
Pydio Cells: yes. Pydio Cells Client: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Pydio Cells or Pydio Cells Client?
Pydio Cells Client has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Pydio Cells. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.