alist vs filestash
Self-hosted file access and management compared
alist and filestash both provide browser-based access to files across storage systems, with Go implementations and AGPL-3.0 licenses. alist focuses on file browsing, previews, sharing, and WebDAV, while filestash adds APIs, protocol gateways, plugins, and workflows.
alist: Browse and Share Files Across Multiple Storages
AList is a self-hostable file-listing and WebDAV server that connects local storage and many cloud and network drives through one web interface. It suits people who want to browse, preview, and share files across storage providers.
filestash: Manage Files Across Storage Systems
Filestash is a file-management platform that connects a browser-based client to many storage systems and protocols. It also provides APIs, gateways, and plugins for extending access, workflows, and file handling.
| alist | filestash | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Go | Go |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Stars | 50.3k | 14.8k |
| Forks | 7.9k | 1k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 |
Key differences
- alist emphasizes a unified file list, browser previews, shareable links, and file operations; filestash has a broader platform scope that includes APIs, gateways, and workflow automation.
- alist supports local storage alongside cloud and network backends; filestash lists protocol integrations including IPFS and offers gateways to expose storage through other protocols.
- alist highlights protected routes, authentication, and WebDAV access; filestash provides plugins for authentication and authorization, plus runtime plugin permission controls.
- alist describes previews for common media, documents, code, Markdown, and text; filestash describes file applications for specialized areas such as science, photography, GIS, and engineering.
- Both projects use Go and AGPL-3.0. The supplied repository figures list 50.3k stars and 7.9k forks for alist, and 14.8k stars and 1k forks for filestash.
Choose alist if you…
- need a file-listing server that brings local, cloud, and network storage into one interface.
- want built-in browser previews, file sharing, protected routes, and WebDAV access.
- prefer a project focused on browsing and managing files across configured storage providers.
Choose filestash if you…
- need protocol gateways or APIs to expose storage through other access methods.
- want plugins for storage, authentication, authorization, or file applications.
- need workflows to automate actions in response to file events.
Compare the numbers side by side, or add more projects
This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.