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SparkleShare vs WebDAV Server Go

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?
SP SparkleShare Git-backed file synchronization with version history VS WE WebDAV Server Go Lightweight standalone WebDAV file server
FeatureSparkleShareWebDAV Server Go
Deploy effortRead-the-docs projectUnder-an-hour setup
Health score71 · Good90 · Excellent
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseGPL-3.0MIT
LanguageC#Go
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM128 MB64 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binarydocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 4,981★ 5,877
First released20102017
ReplacesDropboxDropbox

What are SparkleShare and WebDAV Server Go?

SparkleShare

SparkleShare is a file synchronization tool that uses Git repositories as the storage backend, giving every change a full version history. It is well suited to syncing collaborative projects and small text-heavy files across machines.

  • Git-backed versioning
  • Automatic conflict handling
  • End-to-end encryption option
  • Self-hosted on any SSH host

Read the full SparkleShare guide →

WebDAV Server Go

A lightweight standalone WebDAV server that exposes a directory tree for syncing with WebDAV-capable clients. It is useful as a minimal sync backend for many file managers and apps.

  • Standalone WebDAV
  • Per-user permissions
  • Minimal backend
  • Cross-platform clients

SparkleShare vs WebDAV Server Go: key differences

SparkleShare is written in C#, while WebDAV Server Go is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for SparkleShare versus MIT for WebDAV Server Go. WebDAV Server Go is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for SparkleShare. SparkleShare is the more established project (first released 2010), while WebDAV Server Go arrived in 2017. WebDAV Server Go lists first-class Docker deployment; SparkleShare does not.

Why pick each one

Choose SparkleShare if…

  • Full history of every change
  • Works over plain SSH

Watch out for

  • Poor with large binary files
  • Slower development pace
SparkleShare details

Choose WebDAV Server Go if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Mature project with 5.9k GitHub stars
WebDAV Server Go details

Frequently asked questions

Is SparkleShare or WebDAV Server Go better?

WebDAV Server Go is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider SparkleShare if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are SparkleShare and WebDAV Server Go free and open-source?

Yes. SparkleShare is licensed under GPL-3.0 and WebDAV Server Go under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run SparkleShare and WebDAV Server Go with Docker?

SparkleShare: check the project docs for container support. WebDAV Server Go: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, SparkleShare or WebDAV Server Go?

WebDAV Server Go has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for SparkleShare. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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