Syncthing vs Seafile
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Dropbox. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Syncthing
Continuous peer-to-peer file sync with no cloud.
Syncthing keeps folders in sync directly between your own devices, peer-to-peer and encrypted, with no server and no cloud in the middle. It is the purest self-owned option — brilliant for device-to-device sync, though it is sync only, not a sharing suite.
Seafile
Fast, reliable self-hosted file sync and share.
Seafile is an open-source file-sync-and-share platform known for fast, reliable syncing and client-side encryption options. Its Community Edition is self-hostable and a strong choice when raw sync performance matters.
Side by side
| Syncthing | Seafile | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 92 | 86 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes |
| Local-first | Yes | No |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free / open-source | Free self-host (Community Edition); paid Pro tier |
Syncthing edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Syncthing
Strengths
- +No server or cloud at all
- +Peer-to-peer and encrypted
- +Very light and reliable
Trade-offs
- −Sync only — no web sharing/links
- −Devices must be online to sync
Seafile
Strengths
- +Fast, reliable sync engine
- +Client-side encryption option
- +Mature clients
Trade-offs
- −Some features are Pro-only
- −Smaller app ecosystem than Nextcloud
More Dropbox head-to-heads
Facts verified 2026-07-04. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.