head to head · open source
Files vs hfs
Files has 46,514 GitHub stars, 3,016 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. hfs has 3,984 stars, 376 forks, 17 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Files leads on adoption by 1,068% (46,514 vs 3,984 stars). Files is written in C# under MIT; hfs is written in TypeScript under GPL-3.0. Files has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, hfs 9%. hfs was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Files | hfs | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 47K | ★ 4.0K |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C# | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-06 | 2026-11-06 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.0K | ⑂ 376 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Files if
- You weight community size — 47K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C#
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick hfs if
- You want the hfs feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and hfs fits your workflow better
About Files
Files is a modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders. Our mission with Files is to build the best file manager for Windows, and we’re proud to be building it out in the open so everyone can participate. User feedback helps shape the features we work on, & the bug reports on GitHub help to make Files more reliable. Built and maintained by the open source community, Files features robust multitasking experiences, file tags, deep integrations, and an intuitive design. Installing and running Files Files is a community driven project that depends on your support to grow and improve. Please…
read the full Files overview →
About hfs
HFS: HTTP File Server Index Introduction How does it work Features Installation Configuration Internationalization Hidden features Contribute More Introduction Turn your computer into a file sharing server in seconds. Unlimited space and bandwidth — no cloud upload, files come directly from your disk Instant ZIP downloads , even for huge folders Virtual file system to organize what you share Real time activity monitoring Bandwidth throttling to control transfer speed Plugin system to extend functionality Runs on: Windows, Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, Android How does it work run HFS on your computer; an administration…
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Frequently asked questions
Is Files or hfs more popular?
Files has 46,514 GitHub stars and hfs has 3,984. Files has the larger community by that measure.
Are Files and hfs free?
Both are open source. Files is licensed under MIT and hfs under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Files and hfs?
Files is written in C# and hfs in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Files or hfs?
Choose Files if you want the larger community (46,514 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose hfs if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.