Seafile

Self-hosted file sync and sharing organized into libraries, with client-side encryption, delta sync, metadata views and built-in wiki and docs.

15.5k stars, 1.7k forks C On GitHub since July 2012

Visit website View on GitHub How to run it

Seafile at a glance

Open sourceYes, GPL-2.0No paid parts in the repository
Health38 of 100Actively developed
Self-hostingFrom sourceOne-click in Umbrel, YunoHost and 3 more
InterfaceEnglish onlyNo translation files found
Issue repliesWithin ~4 daysMedian first reply; 71% of recent issues answered

What is Seafile?

Seafile stores files in libraries, and each library syncs on its own and can be locked with a password the user picks. Sync transfers only the changed parts of a file, resumes broken uploads and resolves conflicts from history rather than timestamps. A drive client exposes the whole cloud as a virtual disk that fetches files on demand. Seafile also supports file properties such as owner, status or deadline, with table, Kanban, gallery and map views over them. Collaboration includes the SeaDoc editor, wikis, Excalidraw whiteboards and OnlyOffice or Collabora integration. This repository holds the desktop sync daemon; the server, web interface and mobile apps sit in sibling repositories.

Good fit if

  • You sync large file collections and care about efficient transfers and correct conflict handling.
  • Some folders must be encrypted on the client so the server operator cannot read them.
  • You want to tag and track documents with custom fields and views alongside storage.

Look elsewhere if

  • You also want calendars, contacts and a large app store: Nextcloud.
  • You prefer sync between devices with no server in the middle: Syncthing.

Before you adopt it

This sync client is under GPL-2.0 with an OpenSSL linking exception; it switched from GPL-3.0 in 2015. Other components carry their own licenses: the server core uses AGPL-3.0, the Seahub web interface and the iOS app use Apache-2.0, and the Android app uses GPL-3.0. The repository has no paid parts, yet the README refers to Pro customers, so a commercial edition exists. The last tagged release here is v9.0.5 from February 2024, though commits continue. Expect to assemble several components; build instructions live in the Seafile manual.

Drafted with AI from the project's README and repository data, then checked against that data on 7 November 2026. Report a correction

How to run Seafile yourself

One-click install

Not listed in CasaOS, Runtipi and Proxmox VE Helper-Scripts. Checked against each panel’s app catalog on 12 November 2026.

Ways to install

Docker files
None in the repository
Compose file
None in the repository
Setup effort
Not rated: no compose file to judge from
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Packages
Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, AUR, openSUSE, Gentoo and Nix versions on Repology
Desktop and mobile
No app builds in GitHub releases
Interface languages
English only

Install instructions: seafile.com or the README on GitHub. Docker images and packages are checked weekly.

Seafile health: is it still maintained?

38 of 100, actively developed

Release rhythmNone in 12 monthsLatest: v9.0.5, 27 February 2024
Issue repliesWithin ~4 daysMedian first reply; 71% of recent issues answered
Bus factorMedium riskThe most active of 3 authors wrote 43% of recent commits
  • Activity
    7 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 16 October 2026.
    11 / 30
  • Contributors
    3 people wrote the 7 commits of the last 90 days; the most active wrote 43% of them.
    8 / 20
  • Releases
    0 releases in the last 12 months; the latest, v9.0.5, on 27 February 2024.
    1 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Maintainers answered 71% of recent issues, with a median first reply after 4 days.
    13 / 20
  • Security practices
    OpenSSF Scorecard 4.5 of 10.
    5 / 10

Read from GitHub on 12 November 2026. How the score works

Seafile security

Security advisories are the vulnerabilities the maintainers disclosed on GitHub, with the versions that fix them; many advisories can mean careful disclosure as much as weak code. OpenSSF Scorecard checks how a project is developed and released: reviews, protected branches, pinned dependencies, signed releases. It does not audit the code itself.

Security advisoriesNone publishedNo advisories in the repository’s Security tab
OpenSSF Scorecard4.5 of 10How the project is built and released
Security policyNoNo SECURITY.md or similar

What each Scorecard check found

  • Binary files10 / 10No compiled binaries checked into the repository
  • Maintained10 / 10Steady commits and issue activity in the last 90 days
  • License file9 / 10A license file is present, but not where tools look for it
  • Code review7 / 10Some changes are merged without review
  • Best-practices badge0 / 10No OpenSSF Best Practices badge
  • Branch protection0 / 10The main branch has no protection rules
  • Fuzzing0 / 10No fuzz testing found
  • Security policy0 / 10No security policy
  • Static analysis0 / 10No static analysis found

Advisories read from GitHub on 12 November 2026. From the OpenSSF Scorecard of 9 November 2026; checks that do not apply to Seafile are left out.

Seafile license: is it open source?

Seafile uses GPL-2.0, an open-source license approved by the OSI.

  1. July 2012First published on GitHub under GPL-3.0.
  2. 28 May 2015Changed to GPL-2.0. Commit: Change license to GPLv2 and add exception to allow linking OpenSSL.
  3. TodayGPL-2.0.

Seafile for developers

Written in

  • C 83%
  • Python 14%
  • M4 1%
  • CMake <1%
  • Shell <1%
  • Other <1%

Getting involved

Contributing guideNot foundNo CONTRIBUTING file in the repository
Open issues78On GitHub
Authors, 90 days3Of 7 commits

Language shares are GitHub’s count of the code in the repository.

Alternatives to Seafile

  • CloudreveSelf-hosted file management and sharing system, supports multiple storage providers 54 health · GPL-3.0 · 29k stars
  • ownCloudownCloud web server core (Files, DAV, etc.) 79 health · AGPL-3.0 · 8.8k stars
  • copypartyPortable file server with accelerated resumable uploads, dedup, WebDAV, SFTP, FTP, TFTP, zeroconf, media… 75 health · MIT · 47.3k stars
  • NextcloudNextcloud server, a safe home for all your data 90 health · AGPL-3.0 · 37.5k stars
  • PuterThe Internet Computer! Free, Open-Source, and Self-Hostable. 85 health · AGPL-3.0 · 44.2k stars

All 18 projects in File storage & sync

Questions about Seafile

Is Seafile open source?

Yes. Seafile is published under GPL-2.0, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is Seafile still maintained?

Its health score is 38 of 100 (actively developed). It had 7 commits in the last 90 days, the latest on 16 October 2026, and its latest release came out on 27 February 2024.

Did Seafile change its license?

Yes. It moved from GPL-3.0 to GPL-2.0 on 28 May 2015.

How do I run Seafile?

You can run it in one click from Umbrel, YunoHost, TrueNAS and 2 more. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What is Seafile written in?

Seafile is written mainly in C (83% of the code), with Python (14%), by GitHub’s count of the repository.

What are the alternatives to Seafile?

Close alternatives in the File storage & sync category include Cloudreve, ownCloud, copyparty.