head to head · open source
Files vs PairDrop
Files has 46,461 GitHub stars, 3,012 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped yesterday. PairDrop has 11,740 stars, 720 forks, 111 open issues and last shipped 7 months ago. Files leads on adoption by 296% (46,461 vs 11,740 stars). Files is written in C# under MIT; PairDrop is written in JavaScript under GPL-3.0. Files has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, PairDrop 6%. 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.
← all 20902 open source comparisons
Side by side
| Files | PairDrop | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 46K | ★ 12K |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | C# | JavaScript |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-04-22 |
| Forks | ⑂ 3.0K | ⑂ 720 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Files if
- You weight community size — 46K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C#
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick PairDrop if
- You want the PairDrop feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You evaluated both and PairDrop 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 PairDrop
Send it , with PairDrop Local file sharing in your web browser . Inspired by Apple's AirDrop. Fork of Snapdrop. Report a bug Request feature Features File sharing on your local network that works on all platforms. A multi platform AirDrop like solution that works. Send images, documents or text via peer to peer connection to devices on the same local network. Internet transfers Join temporary public rooms to transfer files easily over the Internet. Web app Works on all devices with a modern web browser. Send a file from your phone to your laptop? Share photos in original quality with friends using Android and…
read the full PairDrop overview →
More in Productivity & Utilities
Related comparisons
More File Management & Sync projects
Compare either of these against the rest of the File Management & Sync field.
Frequently asked questions
Is Files or PairDrop more popular?
Files has 46,461 GitHub stars and PairDrop has 11,740. Files has the larger community by that measure.
Are Files and PairDrop free?
Both are open source. Files is licensed under MIT and PairDrop under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Files and PairDrop?
Files is written in C# and PairDrop in JavaScript. 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 PairDrop?
Choose Files if you want the larger community (46,461 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose PairDrop if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.