SFTPGo vs Stalwart
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
| Feature | SFTPGo | Stalwart |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | free |
| Language | Go | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,371 | ★ 14,059 |
| First released | 2019 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Dropbox | — |
Why pick each one
Choose SFTPGo if…
- Multi-protocol in one binary
- Flexible storage backends
- Strong access controls
Choose Stalwart if…
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
- Mature project with 14.1k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is SFTPGo or Stalwart better?
Stalwart is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider SFTPGo if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are SFTPGo and Stalwart free and open-source?
Yes. SFTPGo is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Stalwart under free. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run SFTPGo and Stalwart with Docker?
SFTPGo: yes. Stalwart: yes.