Top pick · highest health
Directory Lister
Simple PHP based directory lister that lists a directory and all its sub-directories and allows you to navigate there within.
★ 2.5k 30 commits / 90d ⟳ today MIT Docker
Category
Open source file transfer - web-based file managers
Web-based file managers. 17 self-hosted web-based file managers tools are listed here, ordered purely by a repository health score that Repoly recomputes nightly. Directory Lister leads at 94/100 with 30 commits in the last 90 days and 2.5k stars, followed by FileGator (94) and Sync-in (93). 9 of the 17 score 70 or above, 7 publish a Docker image, and the median health is 70. MIT is the most common licence, carried by 9 of them. Between them they stand in for Dropbox. The score weighs commits in the last 90 days, release recency, stars, archive status and Docker support; a low number means low measurable activity, not low quality, so a finished, stable tool can legitimately sit lower down.
updated Oct 2026 17 tools ★ 93k stars 7 with Docker median 70
Best for…
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Most starred
47,196 stars on GitHub, the largest community in the category.
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Most active
270 commits in the last 90 days, the fastest-moving codebase here.
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Most permissive
MIT licence with health 94/100: the strongest option if you need to embed or fork commercially.
Ranked by health
Table view
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FileGator
FileGator is a powerful multi-user file manager with a single page front-end.
★ 3.1k 37 commits / 90d ⟳ 3 days ago MIT Docker
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Sync-in
File storage, syncing, sharing, and collaboration with real-time editing, permission management, and desktop/CLI clients.
★ 1.9k 270 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday AGPL-3.0 Docker
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FileRise
Web file manager with uploads, tagging, share links, gallery/table views, and an in-browser editor.
★ 1k 31 commits / 90d ⟳ 9 days ago MIT Docker
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mikochi
Browse remote folders, upload files, delete, rename, download and stream files to VLC/mpv.
★ 379 36 commits / 90d ⟳ 8 days ago MIT Docker
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copyparty
Portable file server with accelerated resumable uploads, deduplication, WebDAV, FTP, zeroconf, media indexer, video thumbnails, audio transcoding, and write-only folders, in a single file with no mandatory dependencies.
★ 47k 129 commits / 90d ⟳ 9 days ago MIT
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Flare
A nonbloated, modern, and highly configurable file/screenshot vault server with support for ShareX, Flameshot, and Spectacle. Offers OCR search and more.
★ 138 79 commits / 90d ⟳ 4 days ago MIT Docker
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Filestash
Web file manager that lets you manage your data anywhere it is located: FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Git, S3, Minio, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
★ 15k 142 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday AGPL-3.0 Docker
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TagSpaces
TagSpaces is an offline, cross-platform file manager and organiser that also can function as a note taking app. The WebDAV version of the application can be installed on top of a WebDAV servers such as Nextcloud or ownCloud.
★ 5.3k 17 commits / 90d ⟳ yesterday AGPL-3.0
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Tiny File Manager
Web based File Manager in PHP, simple, fast and small file manager with a single file.
★ 6k 0 commits / 90d ⟳ 3 months ago GPL-3.0
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Apaxy
Theme built to enhance the experience of browsing web directories, using the mod_autoindex Apache module and some CSS to override the default style of a directory listing.
★ 1.9k 0 commits / 90d ⟳ 2.1 years ago GPL-3.0
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ClyoCloud
A personal, self-hosted cloud storage and media management application built for privacy, efficiency, and aesthetics.
★ 0 0 commits / 90d ⟳ unknown AGPL-3.0
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ResourceSpace
Simple, fast, and free way to organise your digital assets.
★ 0 0 commits / 90d ⟳ unknown BSD-4-Clause
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| # | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Directory Lister Docker | 2.5k | 30 | MIT | today | |
| 2 | FileGator Docker | 3.1k | 37 | MIT | 3 days ago | |
| 3 | Sync-in Docker | 1.9k | 270 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday | |
| 4 | FileRise Docker | 1k | 31 | MIT | 9 days ago | |
| 5 | mikochi Docker | 379 | 36 | MIT | 8 days ago | |
| 6 | copyparty | 47k | 129 | MIT | 9 days ago | |
| 7 | Flare Docker | 138 | 79 | MIT | 4 days ago | |
| 8 | Filestash Docker | 15k | 142 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday | |
| 9 | TagSpaces | 5.3k | 17 | AGPL-3.0 | yesterday | |
| 10 | IFM | 370 | 14 | MIT | 2 months ago | |
| 11 | miniserve | 8k | 4 | MIT | 29 days ago | |
| 12 | slcl | 6 | 8 | AGPL-3.0 | 23 days ago | |
| 13 | Tiny File Manager | 6k | 0 | GPL-3.0 | 3 months ago | |
| 14 | Apaxy | 1.9k | 0 | GPL-3.0 | 2.1 years ago | |
| 15 | ClyoCloud | 0 | 0 | AGPL-3.0 | unknown | |
| 16 | ResourceSpace | 0 | 0 | BSD-4-Clause | unknown | |
| 17 | Surfer | 0 | 0 | MIT | unknown |
How the web-based file manager tools compare
Directory Lister and FileGator tie at 94/100. FileGator is the busier codebase, with 37 commits in 90 days to 30. copyparty has the largest following at 47k stars, yet ranks #6 of 17, held back mostly by Docker support (no Docker image).
The most recent release is Directory Lister 5.8.3, published today. Filestash and Apaxy publish no tagged releases, which costs up to 25 of the 100 points. Tiny File Manager and Apaxy score under 40, so check recent activity before adopting them. By stack, PHP (6), Nodejs (5) and C (1) are the most common. Directory Lister, FileGator, FileRise and 7 more are permissively licensed; Sync-in, Filestash, TagSpaces and 4 more are copyleft. ClyoCloud, ResourceSpace and Surfer are not hosted on a forge Repoly can read, so they have no measured score yet.
File Transfer - Web-based File Managers: common questions
What is the best open source web-based file manager tool?
By Repoly's GitHub health score, Directory Lister at 94/100 (30 commits in 90 days, 5.8.3 from today). FileGator is next at 94. The score measures maintenance, not features, so shortlist the top few and try them.
Which web-based file manager tools are the most actively developed?
Sync-in (270 commits in 90 days), Filestash (142 commits in 90 days) and copyparty (129 commits in 90 days). Commit activity is 35 of the 100 health points, the largest single term.
Which web-based file manager tools can I run in Docker?
7 of 17 publish a Docker image or Compose file, led by Directory Lister, FileGator, Sync-in, FileRise, mikochi and 2 more.
Which web-based file manager tools have a permissive licence?
10 of 17: Directory Lister (MIT), FileGator (MIT), FileRise (MIT), mikochi (MIT), copyparty (MIT) and 5 more. 7 are copyleft.
Which paid products can open source web-based file manager tools replace?
Dropbox (copyparty ranks highest here).
