What is KodExplorer used for?

KodExplorer is a PHP web file manager and in-browser code editor with an OS-like interface, now in maintenance mode with kodbox as its successor. It is a good fit for managing server files from a browser, light web development in the browser and team file sharing on a private server.

Is KodExplorer open source?

Yes. KodExplorer is open source. Its source code is on GitHub at kalcaddle/KodExplorer and is written mainly in PHP.

Yes. KodExplorer is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host KodExplorer?

Yes. KodExplorer can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is KodExplorer an alternative to?

KodExplorer is an open-source alternative to Dropbox. Other open-source alternatives to Dropbox include Kodbox, Cloudreve and ownCloud.

Is KodExplorer actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to KodExplorer was on 28 September 2026, and the latest release is 4.55, published on 28 September 2026. The project has 6.4k stars on GitHub.

KodExplorer: open-source alternative to Dropbox

About KodExplorer

KodExplorer is a web-based file manager that doubles as a code editor, so you can browse files and develop websites directly in the browser. The interface imitates a desktop operating system, with rich context menus, a toolbar, drag and drop and keyboard shortcuts.

It runs on Linux, Windows or macOS servers and needs little more than PHP 5. Repository topics point to file sharing and uploads, zip archive handling, Markdown and text editing, previews of Word and Excel documents, and WebDAV and S3-related storage. The interface is available in multiple languages, and a public demo is offered.

The maintainers have placed the project in maintenance mode and recommend its redesigned successor, kodbox, for new deployments. The repository metadata does not list a license, so verify the terms before using it commercially.

Key features

Web file manager with OS-like interface
In-browser code and Markdown editor
Drag and drop with context menus
Keyboard shortcuts for file operations
Zip archive handling
Runs on any server with PHP 5

Good fit for

→Managing server files from a browser
→Light web development in the browser
→Team file sharing on a private server

Built with: PHP
Tags: file-manager; web-ide; php; file-sharing; code-editor; webdav; self-hosted

KodExplorer: questions and answers

What is KodExplorer used for?: KodExplorer is a PHP web file manager and in-browser code editor with an OS-like interface, now in maintenance mode with kodbox as its successor. It is a good fit for managing server files from a browser, light web development in the browser and team file sharing on a private server.
Is KodExplorer open source?: Yes. KodExplorer is open source. Its source code is on GitHub at kalcaddle/KodExplorer and is written mainly in PHP.
Is KodExplorer free?: Yes. KodExplorer is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host KodExplorer?: Yes. KodExplorer can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is KodExplorer an alternative to?: KodExplorer is an open-source alternative to Dropbox. Other open-source alternatives to Dropbox include Kodbox, Cloudreve and ownCloud.
Is KodExplorer actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to KodExplorer was on 28 September 2026, and the latest release is 4.55, published on 28 September 2026. The project has 6.4k stars on GitHub.