head to head · open source
PairDrop vs Sync-in
PairDrop has 11,740 GitHub stars, 720 forks, 111 open issues and last shipped 7 months ago. Sync-in has 1,951 stars, 160 forks, 13 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. PairDrop leads on adoption by 502% (11,740 vs 1,951 stars). PairDrop is written in JavaScript under GPL-3.0; Sync-in is written in TypeScript under AGPL-3.0. PairDrop has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, Sync-in 8%. Sync-in was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (file-sharing), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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
| PairDrop | Sync-in | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 12K | ★ 2.0K |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Written in | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-04-22 | 2026-11-01 |
| Forks | ⑂ 720 | ⑂ 160 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick PairDrop if
- You weight community size — 12K stars and counting
- You want the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Sync-in if
- You want the Sync-in feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the AGPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Sync-in fits your workflow better
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 →
About Sync-in
Website • Documentation • Demo • Docker setup • NPM setup • GitHub Server • GitHub Desktop & CLI Sync in is a self hosted platform for file storage, synchronization, and team collaboration. Run your own workspace for files, documents, shares, and collaborative work without giving up control of your infrastructure or data. Sync in is designed to stay fast, lightweight, and centered on your data, keeping files readable on your filesystem while adding collaboration features only where they are needed. Features 🖥️ Modern web interface with drag and drop, smart clipboard, gallery view, sorting, filtering, and…
read the full Sync-in overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is PairDrop or Sync-in more popular?
PairDrop has 11,740 GitHub stars and Sync-in has 1,951. PairDrop has the larger community by that measure.
Are PairDrop and Sync-in free?
Both are open source. PairDrop is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Sync-in under AGPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between PairDrop and Sync-in?
PairDrop is written in JavaScript and Sync-in 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, PairDrop or Sync-in?
Choose PairDrop if you want the larger community (11,740 stars) or its GPL-3.0 licence terms. Choose Sync-in if its feature set, stack or AGPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.