head to head · open source
Mole vs Edge-Drop
Mole has 73,785 GitHub stars, 2,615 forks, 6 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Edge-Drop has 746 stars, 48 forks, 22 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. Mole leads on adoption by 9,791% (73,785 vs 746 stars). Mole is written in Shell under GPL-3.0; Edge-Drop is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. Mole has attracted 4% as many forks as stars, Edge-Drop 6%. Edge-Drop 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
| Mole | Edge-Drop | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 74K | ★ 746 |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Shell | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 2.6K | ⑂ 48 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Mole if
- You weight community size — 74K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Shell
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Edge-Drop if
- You want the Edge-Drop 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 Edge-Drop fits your workflow better
About Mole
Mole 🐹 Clean, uninstall, analyze, optimize, and monitor your Mac. Free open source CLI, plus a native Mac app. 💡 Prefer a native app? Mole for Mac brings cleanup, app management, maintenance, disk maps, and live status into one lightweight, VoiceOver ready app. One license covers 2 Macs with lifetime updates and a 14 day refund. The CLI stays free and open source. Features All in one toolkit : Combines CleanMyMac, AppCleaner, DaisyDisk, and iStat Menus in a single binary Deep cleaning : Removes caches, logs, leftovers, and orphaned app data to reclaim gigabytes of space Smart uninstaller : Removes apps plus…
About Edge-Drop
Edge Drop Zero click, hover activated clipboard shelf and desktop file transfer hub with native OS integration. Lives invisibly on the screen edge. Approach it, and it springs open. Drag anything out — anywhere. Download • Why • Demos • Features • Quick Start • Architecture • Sponsor • Contributing Why Every clipboard manager on the market breaks your flow. You copy something, switch apps, paste, then hunt through Win+V history with arrow keys or dig into a tray menu. Multi step. Modal. Slow. Edge Drop removes the friction. It anchors to the screen edge of your monitor as a transparent, always on top, click…
read the full Edge-Drop overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Mole or Edge-Drop more popular?
Mole has 73,785 GitHub stars and Edge-Drop has 746. Mole has the larger community by that measure.
Are Mole and Edge-Drop free?
Both are open source. Mole is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Edge-Drop under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Mole and Edge-Drop?
Mole is written in Shell and Edge-Drop 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, Mole or Edge-Drop?
Choose Mole if you want the larger community (73,785 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Edge-Drop if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.