Miniserve

Self-Hosted

Lightweight cross-platform web-based file server and manager

Overview

Miniserve is a fast, lightweight CLI tool that turns any directory into a secure web-based file manager. It supports file uploads, downloads, folder navigation, search, password authentication, TLS encryption, dark mode, and responsive design for mobile/desktop. Deployment is hassle-free: use pre-built binaries, Docker (docker run -v $(pwd):/data -p 8080:8080 svenstaro/miniserve /data), or package managers like Homebrew or Cargo. Ideal for quick local file sharing or temporary directory hosting without heavy setup.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  miniserve:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: miniserve
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Instantly serve any directory via CLI or Docker
Secure access with password authentication and TLS support
Responsive design for mobile/desktop and dark mode

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Miniserve hard to install?

No—Miniserve is straightforward to install. Options include pre-built binaries for Windows/macOS/Linux, Docker (docker run -v $(pwd):/data -p 8080:8080 svenstaro/miniserve /data), Homebrew (brew install miniserve), or Cargo (cargo install miniserve).

? Is it a good alternative to Google Drive Web?

Yes—Miniserve is an excellent self-hosted alternative for local file sharing. It keeps files private (no cloud uploads) and lets you serve any directory quickly, though it lacks Google Drive’s cloud sync and collaboration features.

? Is Miniserve completely free?

Yes—Miniserve is open source under the MIT License, so it’s 100% free to use, modify, and distribute without any subscriptions or hidden costs.

Top Alternatives

Google Drive Web Interface Search Google

Microsoft OneDrive Web Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category File Transfer - Web-based File Managers

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted, no third-party cloud dependency)
⊕ Extremely easy to set up with a single command

Cons

⊖ Requires basic command-line knowledge to use
⊖ Lacks advanced features like multi-user roles or cloud sync