SHSelfHostIndex

Unison 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?
UN Unison Bidirectional file synchronizer with conflict detection VS WE WebDAV Server Go Lightweight standalone WebDAV file server
FeatureUnisonWebDAV Server Go
Deploy effortRead-the-docs projectUnder-an-hour setup
Health score88 · Excellent90 · Excellent
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseGPL-3.0MIT
LanguageOCamlGo
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM64 MB64 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binarydocker, binary
GitHub stars★ 5,493★ 5,877
First released19992017
ReplacesDropboxDropbox

What are Unison and WebDAV Server Go?

Unison

Unison is a mature bidirectional file synchronization tool that reconciles changes made independently on two replicas. It detects conflicts, preserves both versions, and works over SSH for secure remote syncing.

  • True bidirectional sync
  • Conflict detection
  • Works over SSH
  • Cross-platform replicas

Read the full Unison 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

Unison vs WebDAV Server Go: key differences

Unison is written in OCaml, while WebDAV Server Go is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Unison versus MIT for WebDAV Server Go. Unison is the more established project (first released 1999), while WebDAV Server Go arrived in 2017. WebDAV Server Go lists first-class Docker deployment; Unison does not.

Why pick each one

Choose Unison if…

  • Very reliable
  • Fine-grained control

Watch out for

  • Dated GTK interface
  • Version matching between hosts
Unison 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 Unison 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 Unison if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

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

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

Can I run Unison and WebDAV Server Go with Docker?

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

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