Send 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.
| Feature | Send | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 37 · At risk | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,914 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2020 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are Send and ShareDrop?
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
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
Send vs ShareDrop: key differences
Both projects are written in JavaScript. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Send versus MIT for ShareDrop. ShareDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Send. ShareDrop is the more established project (first released 2014), while Send arrived in 2020.
Why pick each one
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
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 Send or ShareDrop better?
ShareDrop is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Send if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Send and ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. Send is licensed under MPL-2.0 and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Send and ShareDrop with Docker?
Send: yes. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Send or ShareDrop?
ShareDrop has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Send. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.