head to head · open source
Files vs Palmr
Files has 46,600 GitHub stars, 3,026 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Palmr has 2,396 stars, 107 forks, 1 open issues and last shipped 28 days ago. Files leads on adoption by 1,845% (46,600 vs 2,396 stars). Files is written in C# under MIT; Palmr is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. Files has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, Palmr 4%. Files 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 | Palmr | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 47K | ★ 2.4K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | C# | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-11 | 2026-10-16 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.0K | ⑂ 107 |
| 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 Palmr if
- You want the Palmr feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Palmr 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 Palmr
⚠️ Project Archived After deep reflection, I have decided to focus my limited time and energy on my other projects. As a solo developer, I have struggled to actively maintain multiple projects with the care and attention they deserve. Without enough sponsors, it became unfeasible to maintain Palmr. If you are interested in continuing this work through a fork, I will be happy to add a link to it here in the README. We thank all the contributors and users who have supported Palmr over time! 🌴 Palmr. Open Source File Transfer Palmr. is a flexible and open source alternative to file transfer services like…
read the full Palmr overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Files or Palmr more popular?
Files has 46,600 GitHub stars and Palmr has 2,396. Files has the larger community by that measure.
Are Files and Palmr free?
Both are open source. Files is licensed under MIT and Palmr under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Files and Palmr?
Files is written in C# and Palmr 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 Palmr?
Choose Files if you want the larger community (46,600 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Palmr if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.