copyparty
Portable self-hosted file server with a web UI, upload support, and multiple protocols.
HN commenters like it as a quick, just-works file server for uploading and accessing files from any device1234, with OPDS feeds for e-readers and WebDAV access over plain files.56 The one complaint is that the UI is awkward and ugly for copying, moving, renaming and deleting files.7
Why people recommend it
Just works · 3
Users say it is quick to set up and reliable, replacing fiddlier setups like Samba or Jellyfin.
“It is a masterpiece of "Just Works" Technology.”
“I recommend copyparty if you just want something quick and easy actually.”
Show 1 more
“And I use it every day now...”
OPDS ebooks · 2
Its OPDS feeds serve ebook libraries to e-readers like KOreader and Readest, and it is simpler than other OPDS servers.
“I love the OPDS feature to serve ebooks to my families ereader devices.”
“I have my own eBook library hosted with copyparty. It is a single binary. Runs on plain files.”
Media playback · 2
Commenters use it to watch videos and play music and pictures straight from the server.
“And I use it every day now...”
“I recommend copyparty if you just want something quick and easy actually.”
Plain files, protocols · 1
It is a single binary that runs on plain files and also speaks WebDAV for syncing via rclone.
“I have my own eBook library hosted with copyparty. It is a single binary. Runs on plain files.”
Any-device access · 2
Used to upload and access server files quickly from any device.
“to upload files I need on the server quickly and easily from any device”
“And I use it every day now...”
Caveats and dissent
Clunky UI · 1
One home-server user finds the UI ugly and painful for basic file operations like move and rename.
“i use copyparty on a home server, but the ui is really a pain to use (and ugly)”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Copyparty, the FOSS file server [video] 4 mentions
- Ask HN: What do you run on a $5 VPS that's worth keeping online 24/7? 1 mention
- Bookshelf – Self-hosted eBook library that runs on object storage 1 mention
- US Court of Appeals: TOS may be updated by email, use may imply consent [pdf] 1 mention
- European Alternatives 1 mention
- Why Nextcloud feels slow to use 1 mention
Data: copyparty.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 9
“to upload files I need on the server quickly and easily from any device”
“I have my own eBook library hosted with copyparty. It is a single binary. Runs on plain files.”
“I recommend copyparty if you just want something quick and easy actually.”
“i found about copyparty[0] from it because it was listed as an alternative to file hosting services”
“I love the OPDS feature to serve ebooks to my families ereader devices.”
“And I use it every day now...”
“i use copyparty on a home server, but the ui is really a pain to use (and ugly)”
“It is a masterpiece of "Just Works" Technology.”
“makes me want to give it a shot”