Spacedrive vs Tiny File Manager
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Spacedrive | Tiny File Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 69 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Rust | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 39,022 | ★ 5,978 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Google Drive, Dropbox | Google Drive |
What are Spacedrive and Tiny File Manager?
Spacedrive
Spacedrive is an open-source, cross-platform file manager written in Rust, built around a virtual distributed filesystem (VDFS). It indexes and organizes files across multiple devices and storage locations from a single native app.
- Virtual distributed filesystem
- Indexes files across devices
- Cross-platform native app
Tiny File Manager
Tiny File Manager is a web-based file manager contained in a single PHP file. It provides multi-user support, file editing, archive handling, and a clean responsive interface.
- Single-file deployment
- Built-in code editor
- Multi-user access control
Spacedrive vs Tiny File Manager: key differences
Spacedrive is written in Rust, while Tiny File Manager is built with PHP. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Spacedrive versus GPL-3.0 for Tiny File Manager. Tiny File Manager is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Spacedrive. Tiny File Manager is the more established project (first released 2016), while Spacedrive arrived in 2022. Spacedrive has the considerably larger community, at 39,022 GitHub stars versus 5,978. Tiny File Manager lists first-class Docker deployment; Spacedrive does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Spacedrive if…
- Unified multi-device view
- Modern Rust core
- Cross-platform clients
Watch out for
- Still beta quality
- Sync features incomplete
Choose Tiny File Manager if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Spacedrive or Tiny File Manager better?
Neither is universally better. Spacedrive has the larger community, while Tiny File Manager is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Spacedrive and Tiny File Manager free and open-source?
Yes. Spacedrive is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tiny File Manager under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Spacedrive and Tiny File Manager with Docker?
Spacedrive: check the project docs for container support. Tiny File Manager: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Spacedrive or Tiny File Manager?
Tiny File Manager has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Spacedrive. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.