Local Drive review
An open-source file server for small groups who want storage on hardware they control.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Local Drive pros and cons
- 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
Local Drive fact sheet, pricing and score →
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