# Seafile

> Seafile (15k stars on the sync-client repo; server 13.0 docs) syncs "libraries" of files between a server and desktop clients, with delta transfer, conflict handling by history, client-side encrypted libraries, password-protected download links, upload links and version control. A virtual-drive client syncs on demand. Licences are split: server core AGPLv3, web UI Apache-2.0, desktop client GPLv2. The Community Edition needs 2 cores and 2 GB RAM via Docker. The Professional Edition (clustering, SeaSearch full-text search) is free for up to three users.

- Repository: https://github.com/haiwen/seafile
- Official docs: https://manual.seafile.com/latest/
- Checked: 2026-10-16

## What it replaces
- Dropbox: Desktop folder sync across devices, Share links and shared folders, File version history and recovery, Browse and manage files in a web app (full). Sync, links, versions and web access in the free Community Edition; Pro adds clustering and full-text search.
- Box: Desktop file sync, File sharing links, Browser access to files (partial). File sync, share links and online access cover daily file work; Some enterprise features require Seafile Professional; Box governance is not covered.

## Facts, with sources

| Question | Status | Answer | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on my machine? | Confirmed | Self-hosted server with Docker; desktop and mobile clients | https://manual.seafile.com/latest/setup/setup_ce_by_docker/ | 2026-10-16 |
| Code licence | Partial | Mixed; server core AGPLv3, web UI Apache-2.0, desktop client GPLv2, Android GPLv3, iOS Apache-2.0 | https://manual.seafile.com/latest/ | 2026-10-16 |
| Model weights licence | Confirmed | No separate model weights | https://github.com/haiwen/seafile#readme | 2026-10-16 |
| Commercial use | Partial | Community Edition under AGPL/GPL/Apache terms; Professional Edition is proprietary and needs a paid licence above three users | https://manual.seafile.com/latest/setup/setup_pro_by_docker/ | 2026-10-16 |
| Paid services needed? | Partial | None for Community Edition; Professional Edition (clustering, SeaSearch) is paid beyond three users | https://manual.seafile.com/latest/setup/setup_pro_by_docker/ | 2026-10-16 |
| Hardware | Confirmed | Community Edition with Docker - 2 cores, 2 GB RAM, 10 GB disk (50 GB+ recommended) | https://manual.seafile.com/latest/setup/system_requirements/ | 2026-10-16 |
| Operating systems | Confirmed | Server on Linux (x86 and ARM64 Docker images); clients for Windows 10+, macOS 11+, Linux, Android and iOS | https://www.seafile.com/en/download/ | 2026-10-16 |
| Setup effort | Confirmed | Medium; download Docker Compose files and env, then docker compose up | https://manual.seafile.com/latest/setup/setup_ce_by_docker/ | 2026-10-16 |

GitHub: 15338 stars, 1674 forks, last push 2026-10-15, archived: no.
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Source: RepoQuarry (https://repoquarry.dev/projects/seafile). Data licence: CC BY 4.0. Quotes are from project documentation and belong to their authors.