OnionShare vs ProjectSend
Self-host pick — both replace WeTransfer (Large file transfer / one-off send).
Both OnionShare and ProjectSend self-host as a replacement for WeTransfer (Large file transfer / one-off send). Pick OnionShare if you want ad-hoc, fully-anonymous transfers — journalist→source, sensitive documents, situations where you don't want a public IP in the chain; pick ProjectSend if you want agencies and creators sending large client deliverables on a recurring basis — has per-client folders and download analytics. Both are GPL-family licensed and similar to set up.
| OnionShareopen-source | ProjectSendopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Setup time | 5min installer (desktop app) | 15min docker-compose (PHP app + MariaDB) |
| Monthly cost | $0 — runs on your laptop or desktop; no VPS needed. | $5 VPS handles a small team; storage scales with attached disk (~$10/TB-mo block storage). |
| GitHub | onionshare/onionshare | projectsend/projectsend |
| Replaces | WeTransfer | WeTransfer |
Good fit for
OnionShare
Ad-hoc, fully-anonymous transfers — journalist→source, sensitive documents, situations where you don't want a public IP in the chain.
Weak at:Recipients must use Tor Browser; speed depends on the Tor network — fine for documents, slow for >10GB.
ProjectSend
Agencies and creators sending large client deliverables on a recurring basis — has per-client folders and download analytics.
Weak at:Drag-and-drop polish — UX is functional, not delightful; not the cleanest WeTransfer-shaped flow.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli wetransfer prints WeTransfer's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, OnionShare or ProjectSend?
OnionShare: 5min installer (desktop app). ProjectSend: 15min docker-compose (PHP app + MariaDB).
What does each cost to run?
OnionShare: $0 — runs on your laptop or desktop; no VPS needed.. ProjectSend: $5 VPS handles a small team; storage scales with attached disk (~$10/TB-mo block storage).. Both projects are free and open source.
Do OnionShare and ProjectSend replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to WeTransfer.