Local Drive
Local Drive: An open-source file server for small groups who want storage on hardware they control. Ranked #14 of 30 in Self-Hosted Cloud Storage Software by our editors (7.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for households and small teams wanting a self-hosted drive.
At a glance
- Editor score7.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forHouseholds and small teams wanting a self-hosted drive
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- File sync clientsBoth
- Facts checked25 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Stores files on local disks, network shares, or external drives
- Includes file versions, trash, search, sharing, and user permissions
- Offers browser, desktop, and mobile clients with per-device offline availability
Where it doesn't
- Is not a whole-disk synchronization client
- The requirements page says no macOS server build is published
- Support is listed through documentation
Our verdict on Local Drive
Local Drive is an open-source file server for households and small teams that want files stored on hardware they control. Its server can store files on local disks, network shares, or external drives, while clients are listed for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The core covers folders, filename search, file versions, trash, uploads, and a transfer queue. It is positioned as a self-hosted drive rather than a subscription cloud-storage service, and may suit groups that want shared access without moving their files to a hosted storage provider.
For everyday file access, Local Drive supports multi-user accounts with server-enforced permissions, plus sharing with users or through public links. A photo and video gallery is included, and users can make files available offline per device. A Go server works with Flutter clients for desktop, mobile, and browser use, and the product also provides REST and WebSocket APIs. Administrator accounts can use two-factor authentication. These features make it a practical fit for basic team or household storage, though the product is explicitly not a whole-disk synchronization client; groups seeking automatic syncing of entire computers should look elsewhere.
Local Drive is open source under the MIT license, and the vendor describes it as having no subscription. The published information does not present paid tiers; the product is framed around running a server on your own hardware. Deployment details matter for Mac users: macOS clients are listed, but the requirements page says no macOS server build is published. Support is listed through documentation. Choose Local Drive if you can manage self-hosting and need straightforward file storage, sharing, and permissions; consider an alternative if you need whole-disk sync or a published macOS server build.
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Local Drive pricing
Local Drive fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment options | Self-hosted |
| File sync clients | Both |
| File versioning | Yes |
| Collaborative editing | Not verified |
| Maximum file size | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Compliance & security | 2FA |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | localdrive.iprog.dev |
| Facts checked | 25 Oct 2026 |
Alternatives to Local Drive
- Nextcloud FilesOpen-source file sync and sharing with self-hosting and organizational controls.9.3
- SeafileSelf-hosted sync and collaboration with desktop, mobile, and virtual-drive access.9.1
- ownCloudA flexible file platform with self-hosted and hosted options for organizations.9.0
See all Local Drive alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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