Send vs Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare
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 | Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 37 · At risk | 91 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,914 | ★ 7,098 |
| First released | 2020 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer, Dropbox |
What are Send and Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare?
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
Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare
OnionShare is an open-source tool that lets you securely and anonymously share files using the Tor network. It can also host websites and run a chat server accessible only as a Tor onion service.
- Anonymous sharing over Tor
- No central server needed
- Host sites and chat anonymously
Send vs Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare: key differences
Send is written in JavaScript, while Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare is built with Python. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Send versus GPL-3.0 for Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare. Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare is the more established project (first released 2014), while Send arrived in 2020. Send lists first-class Docker deployment; Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare does not.
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 Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Mature project with 7.1k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Send or Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare better?
Neither is universally better. Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Send and Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare free and open-source?
Yes. Send is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Send and Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare with Docker?
Send: yes. Resilio Sync alternative Onionshare: check the project docs for container support.