Filestash is a self-hosted web client that puts a Dropbox-like interface over storage you already own: FTP, SFTP, S3, Dropbox, Google Drive, WebDAV, Git, and local disks. Teams that need to browse, search, and share existing storage through one branded login, without migrating data onto a new platform, are the people it serves.[1][2]
Quick verdict
Teams that already own storage on FTP, S3, or mixed cloud drives and need a branded web window onto it benefit most from Filestash: more than twenty backends, drive-mountable share links, and content-aware search arrive without migrating a byte. That recommendation rests on its backend breadth, built-in viewers, and white-label presentation, in a project maintained since 2017. The material constraint is tiered trust tooling: single sign-on, role-based access, and audit logs sit in paid plans starting at $50 per month, so teams needing governed sharing on the free core alone should choose otherwise. If you control the storage and accept the tier for controls, choose Filestash; if you need collaboration and managed hosting in one suite, choose Nextcloud.[1][2][3]
Key features
One login across 20+ backends One login across 20+ backends: FTP, FTPS, SFTP, S3, Backblaze, Git, WebDAV, Tahoe, Storj, Minio, Dropbox, Drive, and local disks connect side by side, so legacy and cloud storage appear in a single tree.[1][2]
Share links that mount as a drive Share links that mount as a network drive: recipients open a link in the browser or attach it as a drive, keeping external sharing inside the same access model.[1]
Built-in viewers and editors Built-in viewers and editors: images, video, music, GIS, 3D, and data formats preview in place, with an OnlyOffice integration for document editing.[1][2]
AI search with smart folders and OCR AI search with smart folders and OCR: content-aware search, saved smart folders, and text extraction from scanned documents make large heterogeneous stores findable.[1][2]
SSO, role-based access, audit logs SSO, role-based access, and immutable audit logs: paid editions gate sign-on, per-user permissions, and tamper-evident activity history, which is the oversight story teams outgrow anonymous links with.[1][2]
White-label branding White-label branding: operators deploy the interface under their own name and styling, so clients see the company's face rather than a third-party product.[1]
Native sync clients Native sync clients: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS clients keep local copies in step with the same backends the web UI presents.[1]
Workflow engine and forms Workflow engine and forms: file-triggered automation plus form-based uploads structure intake processes such as applications or document collection without a separate tool.[1]
Who will love it
Teams exposing existing FTP, SFTP, or S3 storage through a web UI: the data stays where it is while users gain modern browsing, search, and sharing.[1][2]
Companies needing branded, shareable file access with admin oversight: white-label presentation plus SSO, roles, and audit logs suit client-facing delivery.[1]
Operators consolidating Dropbox, Google Drive, and NAS behind one login: several providers collapse into one pane instead of one tab per service.[1][2]
Who should avoid it
Teams evaluating only the free core for controlled sharing: single sign-on, role-based access, and audit tooling sit in paid tiers, so confirm which controls a plan includes before relying on them.[1][2]
Budget-sensitive teams assuming open source means zero spend: Self Served starts at $50 per month and Enterprise around $290, so cost the tier against a managed provider before committing.[1]
Vendors planning to embed or modify the code commercially: the AGPL-3.0 license carries network-use copyleft obligations, so get licensing advice before building a proprietary offering on it.[1]
Alternatives and compatibility
Nextcloud is the incumbent in the published catalogue relationship and the natural comparison for teams weighing a storage-front-end against a full collaboration suite.[1][2]
Nextcloud fits teams that also need office editing, calendars, and managed hosting options, while Filestash fits operators whose storage already exists and who want one branded window onto it.[1][2]
Moving between them is manual work across connections, shares, permissions, and sync clients; the share-link and sync tooling cover presentation, not full platform state.[1]
Questions worth asking
What is the best Filestash alternative for non-technical users?
Is Filestash really no-code?
How much does Filestash cost per month?
Can you self-host Filestash?
Sources and editorial review
Source research. Reviewed on October 9, 2026. Reviewed by Sanjib Sah. Written by Sanjib Sah. AI assisted; reviewed by a human editor.
We have not run or tested this product.
- Filestash official homepage
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Official homepage: Dropbox-like interface over owned storage, SSO/RBAC/audit, white-label, AI search/OCR, gateways, sync, workflows.
- Filestash official pricing
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Official pricing: Self Served from $50/mo, Enterprise quoted around $290/mo typical, SaaS included, AGPL hobby free.
- Filestash GitHub repository (vendor README)
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Vendor README: 20+ backends, plugin file apps, AI search/smart folders/OCR, install guides, AGPL-3.0, 2017 origin.
- OpenAlternative catalogue record (API observation)
official · Observed October 9, 2026
Catalogue API observation Oct 2026: published entity facts, incumbents, deployment and tier signals.