Explore ProjectSend, the free open-source self-hosted file sharing tool: features, setup, pricing, pros and cons, and how it compares to paid alternatives.
ProjectSend is a free, open-source PHP application that businesses install on their own server to share and receive files with clients securely. It dates back to 2012 and was originally created by developer Emmanuel B. Muriaga, and it is released under the GNU GPL v2 license, meaning anyone can use, inspect, and modify the code at no cost.
Unlike consumer cloud storage tools, ProjectSend is purpose-built around client relationships: administrators create client accounts or groups and control exactly which files each client can see, download, or upload, all from infrastructure the organization fully controls.
Core capabilities include client and client-group management, role-based permissions for internal staff, two-way file exchange (clients can be allowed to upload as well as download), detailed activity logging, download tracking, and automatic upload expiration.
The platform also supports S3-compatible object storage as a backend, custom branding and themes so the portal can match a company's own look and feel, mobile-optimized browsing, and an interface translated into more than 70 languages through community contributions.
ProjectSend itself carries no license or subscription fee; it is entirely free and open source under GPL v2. There is no tiered pricing, feature gating, or user-count limit built into the software itself.
The only real cost is hosting: since ProjectSend is self-hosted, an organization needs a server or VPS capable of running PHP and a MySQL/MariaDB database, with basic hosting for small deployments available from various providers for just a few dollars per month.
Yes, ProjectSend is completely free and open source under the GNU GPL v2 license, with no license fees. The only cost is the hosting infrastructure you run it on.
Yes, some technical knowledge is helpful since ProjectSend is self-hosted and typically requires a server running PHP and a MySQL or MariaDB database, though many hosting providers offer one-click installers.
Yes, ProjectSend supports two-way file exchange, so administrators can allow specific clients to upload files into a folder assigned only to them.
ProjectSend's interface is available in more than 70 languages through community-contributed translations distributed via Transifex.
ProjectSend was originally created by developer Emmanuel B. Muriaga, with the project dating back to 2012 and continuing today as an open-source community project.
Yes, in addition to local server storage, ProjectSend supports S3-compatible object storage.
For businesses that want a self-hosted, client-focused portal with full data control and no per-user fees, ProjectSend is a common open-source alternative, though it lacks the polish and real-time collaboration features of consumer cloud storage tools.
Yes, ProjectSend supports custom branding and themes so the client portal can be presented under your own company's look and feel.