A minimalist, self-hosted web app for sharing files of any size or type with direct download links.
PicoShare is a minimalist, self-hosted web application that enables users to share files of any size or type on the web. It solves the problem of restrictive file-sharing services by providing direct download links without ads, signups, or forced media re-encoding. Users can deploy it on their own servers for full control over their data.
Individuals or small teams who need a simple, self-hosted solution for sharing files without the limitations of commercial platforms. It's ideal for those who prioritize privacy, control, and avoiding file restrictions.
Developers choose PicoShare for its simplicity, lack of file restrictions, and self-hosting capabilities, offering an ad-free, direct-sharing alternative to services like imgur or Vimeo with minimal maintenance overhead.
A minimalist, easy-to-host service for sharing images and other files
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Generates immediate, ad-free download links upon upload, as shown in the README demo, eliminating wait times for recipients.
Supports any file type and size, unlike platforms like imgur or Vimeo, enabling sharing of diverse content without limits.
Serves files directly without resizing or re-encoding, preserving original quality and avoiding processing delays.
Easy deployment via Docker, Docker Compose, or source code, with clear environment variable setup and optional Litestream cloud replication.
Maintainer explicitly rejects contributions for features not in personal workflow, leading to a minimalist tool that may lack common enhancements.
Deleting files doesn't free up disk space automatically; requires manual SQLite VACUUM command, as noted in Tips and Tricks.
Cannot sync writes across multiple Docker containers, limiting scalability and high availability for concurrent users.
PicoShare is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Imgur is an online image hosting and sharing platform where users can upload, share, and discuss images and GIFs through community features.
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables users to upload, promote, and share audio content.
A video sharing platform where users can upload, share, and view videos, widely used for entertainment and content creation.