---
title: Analysis and Comparison of Open-Source Web File Managers: Filestash Leading with GitHub Engagement
created: 2025-03-17
updated: 2025-03-17
type: summary
tags: ["files", "notes", "opensource", "telegram", "web"]
external: http://go/ui/posts/467/
---

### Key Points
- Research suggests Filestash is the most popular open-source web file manager, with around 5,000 GitHub stars, indicating strong community engagement.
- Other notable projects include FileBrowser (4,000 stars) and elFinder (2,700 stars), but Filestash seems to lead based on star counts.
- Popularity is measured by GitHub stars, which may not capture all users, especially those using pre-built solutions.

### Direct Answer

Filestash appears to be the most popular open-source web file manager, based on its significant GitHub activity with approximately 5,000 stars, suggesting a large and active user base. It’s a web-based tool that lets you manage files across various storage options like FTP, SFTP, and cloud services, similar to Dropbox, and is accessible through any web browser. This makes it versatile for users needing a self-hosted solution.

Other contenders like FileBrowser, with around 4,000 stars, and elFinder, with 2,700 stars, are also widely used, but Filestash stands out for its higher engagement. Interestingly, while GitHub stars are a key metric, they don’t account for users who might deploy these tools via pre-built platforms, potentially underrepresenting their overall popularity.

For more details, you can explore Filestash on [GitHub](https://github.com/mickael-kerjean/filestash).

---

### Comprehensive Analysis of Open-Source Web File Managers

This analysis delves into the landscape of open-source web file managers, focusing on identifying the most popular project based on community engagement, GitHub metrics, and mentions across various platforms. The evaluation considers factors such as GitHub stars, forks, and user discussions, providing a detailed overview for users seeking robust, self-hosted file management solutions.

#### Background and Methodology
Open-source web file managers are web applications that enable users to manage files on a remote server via a browser, offering features like upload, download, delete, and edit functionalities. These tools are particularly valuable for self-hosting, providing privacy and customization options. To determine popularity, we analyzed GitHub star counts as a primary metric, supplemented by mentions in articles, Reddit discussions, and curated lists from technology blogs. The analysis was conducted as of March 16, 2025, ensuring relevance to current trends.

#### Key Findings
Our research suggests Filestash is the most popular open-source web file manager, with approximately 5,000 GitHub stars, indicating significant community interest and adoption. It supports a wide range of storage protocols, including FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Git, S3, Minio, Dropbox, and Google Drive, making it a versatile choice for users. Other notable projects include FileBrowser, with 4,000 stars, and elFinder, with 2,700 stars, both of which are well-regarded but lag behind Filestash in terms of star counts.

The metric of GitHub stars, while indicative of popularity, has limitations. It primarily reflects developer and contributor engagement and may not capture users who deploy these tools via pre-built solutions or enterprise platforms. Additionally, projects like FileRun, initially considered, were excluded as they are not open-source, aligning with the query’s focus.

#### Detailed Project Analysis
Below is a table summarizing the top open-source web file managers, their GitHub star counts, and key features, based on available data:

| Project Name   | GitHub Stars | Key Features                                                                 | GitHub URL                                      |
|----------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| Filestash      | ~5,000       | Dropbox-like, supports FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, Git, S3, Minio, cloud integrations | [GitHub](https://github.com/mickael-kerjean/filestash) |
| FileBrowser    | ~4,000       | Multi-user, standalone app, upload, delete, preview, rename, edit files     | [GitHub](https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser) |
| elFinder       | ~2,700       | JavaScript-based, jQuery UI, copy, move, upload, create, rename files       | [GitHub](https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder) |
| Rich Filemanager | ~2,240     | Drag-and-drop, AWS S3, MS Office viewer, chunked uploads, MIT license       | [GitHub](https://github.com/servocoder/RichFilemanager) |
| FileGator      | ~1,500       | Multi-user, local/cloud storage, chunked uploads, drag-drop, pause/resume   | [GitHub](https://github.com/filegator/filegator) |
| KodExplorer    | ~1,000       | Web code editor, multi-language, PHP 5 required, rich context menu          | [GitHub](https://github.com/kalcaddle/KodExplorer) |
| Tiny File Manager | ~500      | PHP-based, multi-language, Cloud9 IDE, single file, requires PHP 5.5+       | [GitHub](https://github.com/prasathmani/tinyfilemanager) |

This table highlights Filestash’s lead in star counts, suggesting higher community engagement. However, the actual user base might differ, especially for projects with enterprise deployments.

#### Community and User Feedback
Community discussions, particularly on Reddit, provide additional insights. For instance, a 2019 thread on r/selfhosted compared FileRun and Filestash, noting Filestash’s open-source nature and versatility. Another thread from 2023 highlighted FileRun’s pricing model, reinforcing its exclusion from open-source considerations. These discussions underscore Filestash’s reputation among self-hosting enthusiasts, aligning with its high GitHub activity.

#### Limitations and Considerations
While GitHub stars are a useful metric, they do not account for all users, especially those using pre-built solutions or enterprise versions. Projects like FileVista, with fewer stars (~100), were considered but did not compete with Filestash’s metrics. Additionally, some projects, like Rich Filemanager, have multiple repositories (e.g., psolom/RichFilemanager as a fork), which may affect star counts but were consolidated to the main repository for accuracy.

#### Unexpected Insights
An unexpected finding was the overlap between web-based file managers and broader cloud storage solutions, with projects like Filestash offering integrations beyond traditional file management, such as Git and cloud storage support. This versatility might contribute to its popularity, appealing to users seeking comprehensive solutions.

#### Conclusion
Based on the analysis, Filestash emerges as the most popular open-source web file manager, with approximately 5,000 GitHub stars and strong community support. Its ability to manage files across diverse storage options, combined with active maintenance, makes it a top choice for users. However, users should consider their specific needs, as other projects like FileBrowser and elFinder offer robust features for different use cases.

For further exploration, visit [Filestash](https://github.com/mickael-kerjean/filestash) for detailed documentation and community contributions.

### Key Citations
- [Filestash GitHub repository with 5,000 stars](https://github.com/mickael-kerjean/filestash)
- [FileBrowser GitHub repository with 4,000 stars](https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser)
- [elFinder GitHub repository with 2,700 stars](https://github.com/Studio-42/elFinder)
- [Rich Filemanager GitHub repository with 2,240 stars](https://github.com/servocoder/RichFilemanager)
- [FileGator GitHub repository with 1,500 stars](https://github.com/filegator/filegator)
- [KodExplorer GitHub repository with 1,000 stars](https://github.com/kalcaddle/KodExplorer)
- [Tiny File Manager GitHub repository with 500 stars](https://github.com/prasathmani/tinyfilemanager)
- [17 Free and Open-source Web-based Cloud File Managers list](https://medevel.com/15-web-based-file-manager/)
- [Reddit discussion on web-based file managers](https://www.reddit.com/r/selfhosted/comments/ayy3mc/web_based_file_browsermanager/)
- [The Top 23 File Manager Open Source Projects list](https://awesomeopensource.com/projects/file-manager)
