Send vs Updog
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 | Updog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 37 · At risk | 54 · Fair |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,914 | ★ 3,412 |
| First released | 2020 | 2019 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Send and Updog?
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
Updog
Updog is a small Python utility that improves upon SimpleHTTPServer by adding upload capability, HTTPS, and optional password protection. It is useful for quick file transfers.
- Upload support over HTTP
- Optional HTTPS and auth
- Simple drop-in replacement
Send vs Updog: key differences
Send is written in JavaScript, while Updog is built with Python. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Send versus MIT for Updog. Updog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Send. Send lists first-class Docker deployment; Updog 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 Updog if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Send or Updog better?
Neither is universally better. Send has the larger community, while Updog is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Send and Updog free and open-source?
Yes. Send is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Updog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Send and Updog with Docker?
Send: yes. Updog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Send or Updog?
Updog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Send. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.