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hbons/SparkleShare

A Dropbox-like file sharing and sync app that keeps folders in sync through any Git repository, self-hostable on Linux, macOS and Windows.

Open-source alternative to:Dropbox

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Last commit
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What is it?

SparkleShare creates a special folder on your computer. You add remotely hosted folders, called projects, to it, and they stay in sync with the host and all peers whenever someone adds, removes or edits a file.

Under the hood it uses Git and Git LFS for version control and large file handling. Because the backend is a Git host, you can run your own server instead of relying on a commercial cloud service, and the project provides a setup script for that purpose. Larger teams can host a GitLab Community Edition instance.

SparkleShare is available as a Flatpak on Linux distributions, as a download for macOS, and for Windows. It is free software licensed under the GPLv3, with build instructions for each platform in the repository.

Key features

  • 01Keeps folders synced automatically across all connected peers and the host.
  • 02Built on Git and Git LFS, so history is versioned and large files are supported.
  • 03Can be self-hosted on your own Git server for privacy and control.
  • 04Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
  • 05Integrates with GNOME via an AppIndicator or GTK status icon on Linux.

Use cases

  • Sharing and syncing project folders within a small team without a commercial cloud service.
  • Running a private Dropbox-style sync server on your own hardware.
  • Keeping design or media assets in sync, using Git LFS for large files.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Add the Flathub remote

    flatpak remote-add flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
  2. 2

    Install SparkleShare from Flathub

    flatpak install flathub org.sparkleshare.SparkleShare
  3. 3

    Run SparkleShare from the apps menu

Things to know

  • Linux installs are recommended via Flatpak, and the README notes distribution packages are often outdated.
  • Setting up your own host requires Git and Git LFS, and the README suggests GitLab for managing many projects.

In collections

Self-hosted cloud storage and file sharingSelf-hosted apps

Topics

#file-sync#git#self-hosted#file-sharing#cloud-storage#collaboration#version-control#arch#backup#debian

FAQ

What is SparkleShare?
A Dropbox-like file sharing and sync app that keeps folders in sync through any Git repository, self-hostable on Linux, macOS and Windows. SparkleShare creates a special folder on your computer. You add remotely hosted folders, called projects, to it, and they stay in sync with the host and all peers whenever someone adds, removes or edits a file.
Is SparkleShare free to use? What license does it have?
SparkleShare is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is SparkleShare still maintained?
Updated within 6 months. The last commit to SparkleShare was on Sep 1, 2026.
What can I use SparkleShare for?
Sharing and syncing project folders within a small team without a commercial cloud service. Running a private Dropbox-style sync server on your own hardware. Keeping design or media assets in sync, using Git LFS for large files.
How do I install SparkleShare?
Add the Flathub remote: flatpak remote-add flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo Install SparkleShare from Flathub: flatpak install flathub org.sparkleshare.SparkleShare Run SparkleShare from the apps menu
Where can I get SparkleShare?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/hbons/SparkleShare

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