Syncthing-Fork 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 | Syncthing-Fork | Tiny File Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 69 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Java | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,894 | ★ 5,978 |
| First released | 2017 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Dropbox, Google Drive | Google Drive |
What are Syncthing-Fork and Tiny File Manager?
Syncthing-Fork
Syncthing-Fork is a maintained Android wrapper around the Syncthing core that provides a polished mobile experience for continuous, peer-to-peer file synchronization. It adds battery-aware scheduling and per-folder controls on top of the Syncthing engine.
- Battery-aware sync scheduling
- Per-folder run conditions
- Wi-Fi and charging triggers
- Open peer-to-peer protocol
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
Syncthing-Fork vs Tiny File Manager: key differences
Syncthing-Fork is written in Java, while Tiny File Manager is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Syncthing-Fork versus GPL-3.0 for Tiny File Manager. Tiny File Manager is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Syncthing-Fork. Tiny File Manager has the considerably larger community, at 5,978 GitHub stars versus 2,894. Tiny File Manager lists first-class Docker deployment; Syncthing-Fork does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Syncthing-Fork if…
- Actively maintained
- No central server needed
Watch out for
- Android only
- Initial setup can be fiddly
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 Syncthing-Fork or Tiny File Manager better?
Neither is universally better. Tiny File Manager has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Syncthing-Fork and Tiny File Manager free and open-source?
Yes. Syncthing-Fork is licensed under MPL-2.0 and Tiny File Manager under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Syncthing-Fork and Tiny File Manager with Docker?
Syncthing-Fork: check the project docs for container support. Tiny File Manager: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Syncthing-Fork or Tiny File Manager?
Tiny File Manager has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Syncthing-Fork. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.