What is SparkleShare used for?

SparkleShare is a Dropbox-style file sharing and collaboration app that syncs folders with any Git repository on your own server, for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is a good fit for private Dropbox alternative using your own Git server and shared project folders for small creative teams.

Is SparkleShare open source?

Yes. SparkleShare is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at hbons/SparkleShare and is written mainly in C#.

Is SparkleShare free?

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

Can I self-host SparkleShare?

Yes. SparkleShare can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is SparkleShare an alternative to?

SparkleShare is an open-source alternative to Dropbox. Other open-source alternatives to Dropbox include Syncthing, Nextcloud All-in-One and Sync-in.

Is SparkleShare actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to SparkleShare was on 1 September 2026, and the latest release is 3.38.1, published on 20 September 2024. The project has 5k stars on GitHub.

SparkleShare: open-source alternative to Dropbox

About SparkleShare

SparkleShare is a file sharing and collaboration app that works like Dropbox but can run on your own server. It is available for Linux distributions, macOS, and Windows and is written in C#. It is released under the GPL-3.0 license.

It creates a special folder on your computer, and you add remotely hosted projects to it. These projects are kept in sync automatically through Git, which also provides version history. Topics mention Git LFS for large files, decentralization, backup, and cloud storage use, and the app integrates with desktop environments such as GNOME.

The README carries notes from the maintainer about the project's future, with a link to a discussion issue, and a request for sponsorship. Because it relies on Git, it suits technical users, designers, and small teams who already have a Git server and want automatic syncing without a proprietary cloud, though the future of the project should be checked before adopting it.

Key features

Automatic folder syncing through Git
Self-hosted back end with any Git server
Version history from Git
Linux, macOS, and Windows clients
Git LFS support for large files
Desktop integration

Good fit for

→Private Dropbox alternative using your own Git server
→Shared project folders for small creative teams

Built with: C#
Tags: file-sync; git; collaboration; self-hosted; dropbox-alternative; backup; version-control; desktop-app

SparkleShare: questions and answers

What is SparkleShare used for?: SparkleShare is a Dropbox-style file sharing and collaboration app that syncs folders with any Git repository on your own server, for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is a good fit for private Dropbox alternative using your own Git server and shared project folders for small creative teams.
Is SparkleShare open source?: Yes. SparkleShare is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at hbons/SparkleShare and is written mainly in C#.
Is SparkleShare free?: Yes. SparkleShare is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host SparkleShare?: Yes. SparkleShare can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is SparkleShare an alternative to?: SparkleShare is an open-source alternative to Dropbox. Other open-source alternatives to Dropbox include Syncthing, Nextcloud All-in-One and Sync-in.
Is SparkleShare actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to SparkleShare was on 1 September 2026, and the latest release is 3.38.1, published on 20 September 2024. The project has 5k stars on GitHub.