What is YouTransfer used for?

YouTransfer is a free, Apache-licensed, self-hosted file transfer and sharing tool positioned as a privacy-respecting alternative to Dropbox and WeTransfer, though it needs a new maintainer. It is a good fit for internal file sharing behind a company firewall.

Is YouTransfer open source?

Yes. YouTransfer is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at YouTransfer/YouTransfer and is written mainly in JavaScript.

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

Can I self-host YouTransfer?

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

What is YouTransfer an alternative to?

YouTransfer is an open-source alternative to WeTransfer, Dropbox, Smash and Filemail. Other open-source alternatives to WeTransfer include Gokapi, Plik and Sharry.

Is YouTransfer actively maintained?

The most recent commit to YouTransfer was on 2 May 2023, and the latest release is 1.0.6, published on 18 October 2015. The project has 2k stars on GitHub.

YouTransfer: open-source alternative to WeTransfer, Dropbox

About YouTransfer

YouTransfer is a self-hosted file transfer and sharing application built as an alternative to paid services such as Dropbox and WeTransfer. It is aimed at organizations and individuals who want similar file-sharing convenience but without usage limitations, pricing tiers or a lengthy third-party privacy policy, since files stay on infrastructure the operator controls.

It is designed to be installed behind a firewall on private servers, letting teams combine easy-to-use file transfer with the security and control of self-hosting. A live but limited public demo is available, and the README recommends running it locally for the full experience.

YouTransfer can be installed quickly using a published Docker image, with additional documentation on the project's GitHub Wiki covering installation and usage in more depth. It is written in JavaScript and released under an Apache license. The README explicitly states the project is looking for a new maintainer to update outdated packages, merge pull requests and continue improving it, so prospective users should weigh its current maintenance status.

Key features

Self-hosted file transfer and sharing
Docker-based quick installation
No usage limits or pricing tiers
Runs behind your own firewall
Public demo instance available

Good fit for

→Private alternative to WeTransfer or Dropbox
→Internal file sharing behind a company firewall

Built with: JavaScript
Tags: file-sharing; self-hosted; file-transfer; dropbox-alternative; docker; privacy

YouTransfer: questions and answers

What is YouTransfer used for?: YouTransfer is a free, Apache-licensed, self-hosted file transfer and sharing tool positioned as a privacy-respecting alternative to Dropbox and WeTransfer, though it needs a new maintainer. It is a good fit for internal file sharing behind a company firewall.
Is YouTransfer open source?: Yes. YouTransfer is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at YouTransfer/YouTransfer and is written mainly in JavaScript.
Is YouTransfer free?: Yes. YouTransfer is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host YouTransfer?: Yes. YouTransfer can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is YouTransfer an alternative to?: YouTransfer is an open-source alternative to WeTransfer, Dropbox, Smash and Filemail. Other open-source alternatives to WeTransfer include Gokapi, Plik and Sharry.
Is YouTransfer actively maintained?: The most recent commit to YouTransfer was on 2 May 2023, and the latest release is 1.0.6, published on 18 October 2015. The project has 2k stars on GitHub.