Spacedrive

Open source alternative to ExpanDrive and Air Explorer

39.3K stars
Apache-2.0
Active this month
Last commit 9 days ago

Last verified Oct 22, 2026

It unifies files from all your devices and clouds into a single, easy-to-use explorer, designed for creators and the disorganized.

Visit website GitHub39.3K 1-click deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Spacedrive is for#

Creators with many storage locations

Use Spacedrive to search and browse projects spread across laptops, external drives, cloud buckets, and archives.

Skip if:

Skip if all files already live cleanly in one managed cloud drive.

Self-hosters organizing home storage

Use content hashing and device indexing to understand redundant files across NAS, desktops, and portable drives.

Skip if:

Skip if you need enterprise records management, retention policy, or legal hold workflows.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Files scatter across laptops, external drives, NAS boxes, cloud buckets, and SaaS exports. The operating system file manager only sees the current machine, while cloud drives force you into separate vendor folders and sync rules.

how Spacedrive solves it

How it solves it#

Virtual distributed file system

Spacedrive builds a cross-device index so files from local drives, offline devices, and cloud volumes appear in one interface.

Content identity with BLAKE3

The README describes BLAKE3 content hashes for file identity, which helps track duplicates and file redundancy across devices.

P2P metadata sync

Devices sync metadata through direct Iroh and QUIC connections, reducing dependence on a central file server for cross-device awareness.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Broader than a cloud driveSpacedrive indexes local storage, cloud volumes, archives, and external data sources instead of treating one vendor folder as the center of your files.
Local-first operating modelThe README emphasizes local operation and user-controlled sync, which fits privacy-conscious file management better than default cloud-first tools.

Trade-offs

-Not a low-level file manager replacementThe README says Spacedrive sits above Finder and Explorer. You still use your OS for low-level file operations while Spacedrive adds search, indexing, and cross-device awareness.

versus alternatives

Spacedrive vs alternatives#

Spacedrive vs Dropbox

Spacedrive is better when you need one searchable index across local disks, offline devices, cloud buckets, and archives. Dropbox is still better when the primary job is simple hosted file sync and sharing with non-technical collaborators.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: PythonRustSwiftTypeScript
Frameworks: Next.jsReact

frequently asked

FAQ#

Does Spacedrive replace Finder or Explorer?

No. The README says Spacedrive sits above the OS file manager and adds cross-device, cloud-aware, and automation-friendly capabilities.

What license does Spacedrive use?

Spacedrive references the Functional Source License 1.1 with Apache-2.0 future licensing. Teams should review the FSL terms before using it in commercial products or managed services.

Can Spacedrive index cloud storage?

Yes. The README lists S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Azure, and GCS as cloud volumes.

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Hostinger

Run Spacedrive on your own server

Hostinger sets Spacedrive up as a one-click app on a VPS.

Deploy on Hostinger

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Who Spacedrive is for#