ShareDrop 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 | ShareDrop | Updog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 30 · At risk | 54 · Fair |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,753 | ★ 3,412 |
| First released | 2014 | 2019 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, WeTransfer | WeTransfer |
What are ShareDrop and Updog?
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
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
ShareDrop vs Updog: key differences
ShareDrop is written in JavaScript, while Updog is built with Python. Updog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 64 MB for ShareDrop. ShareDrop is the more established project (first released 2014), while Updog arrived in 2019. ShareDrop has the considerably larger community, at 10,753 GitHub stars versus 3,412. ShareDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; Updog does not.
Why pick each one
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
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 ShareDrop or Updog better?
Neither is universally better. ShareDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ShareDrop and Updog free and open-source?
Yes. ShareDrop is licensed under MIT and Updog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ShareDrop and Updog with Docker?
ShareDrop: yes. Updog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, ShareDrop or Updog?
Updog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 64 MB for ShareDrop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.