StrongFolder vs FilePizza

FilePizza and StrongFolder solve the same problem the same way: they connect two browsers and send files directly, with no upload to a cloud and no copy left behind. The differences are in what you can send, how you host it and what surrounds the transfer. This StrongFolder vs FilePizza comparison covers them honestly — including when FilePizza is the better fit.

How do StrongFolder and FilePizza compare?

FilePizza facts as of 5 November 2026, from its own README on GitHub (source at the end). "Not stated" means the README doesn't say.

How are StrongFolder and FilePizza the same?

Both are true peer-to-peer tools. When the recipient opens the link, their browser connects to the sender's, and the file bytes travel over a WebRTC data channel encrypted with DTLS. Nothing is uploaded first, so the download starts right away, and the file isn't stored on a server.

Both also share the honest trade-off of P2P: the files come from the sender's device. FilePizza's README says the uploader must leave the browser window open until the transfer is complete; for StrongFolder, The sender's browser tab must stay open and online until the recipient finishes downloading — files come from the sender's device, not from a server. See why the sender stays online.

What is the main difference between StrongFolder and FilePizza?

Folders and packaging. FilePizza's README says multiple files are delivered to downloaders as a ZIP. That's convenient for a handful of files, but for a large project folder the recipient has to extract an archive afterwards and needs disk space for both.

StrongFolder sends folders as folders. The recipient chooses a destination, and StrongFolder writes the same subfolders and file names there, file by file — no archive at any point. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API: Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers on a computer. Other browsers can download the files one by one or as a ZIP. Long Windows paths are shortened, and a note lists any renamed files. More in how to send a folder without zipping.

Which one can I host myself?

FilePizza. Its code is on GitHub under the BSD 3-Clause license, and the README covers running it with Docker, keeping server state in Redis and pointing it at your own TURN server. If your organization wants the transfer tool on its own infrastructure, or wants to audit every line, FilePizza is the natural choice.

StrongFolder works out of the box: you open the web app at strongfolder.com or the Chrome extension, and there is nothing to deploy or maintain. Teams whose rules require running the transfer tool on their own servers will find FilePizza the better fit.

What happens when a direct connection isn't possible?

Some networks — strict corporate firewalls, some mobile carriers — block direct peer-to-peer connections. If a direct connection is impossible (strict corporate firewall, some mobile networks), the encrypted stream passes through a StrongFolder relay (TURN) server. The relay forwards the data and does not store it. StrongFolder runs this relay for you.

FilePizza's README describes optional TURN support for peers behind NAT when you host it, and a fallback STUN server when that is off. On a self-hosted instance, whether a relay is available depends on how it's configured.

Which is easier for everyday sharing?

StrongFolder adds a few things around the transfer:

• a Chrome extension that shares files from the browser toolbar in one click — see the Chrome extension;
• a QR code for every link, handy for sending from a computer to a phone;
• several recipients from one link, each downloading directly from you;
• optional Google sign-in that keeps a list of your transfers.

FilePizza focuses on the transfer itself and adds an optional password for uploads and a way to report abuse. Its README says it works on most mobile browsers, including Mobile Safari.

When is FilePizza the better choice?

Choose FilePizza when:

• you want open source you can read, audit or modify;
• you need to self-host the tool on your own servers or in a closed network;
• you want a password on an upload as an extra layer;
• you're sending a few files and a single ZIP download suits the recipient.

When is StrongFolder the better choice?

Choose StrongFolder when:

• you're sending a folder — a video project, a photo shoot, a codebase — and it should arrive with its structure, without a ZIP;
• you want one-click sharing from Chrome via the extension;
• you send from a computer to a phone and a QR code saves typing;
• you don't want to run anything — the relay for difficult networks is already there.

How do I send with StrongFolder?

1. Open strongfolder.com or click the StrongFolder Chrome extension.
2. Choose files or a whole folder. Nothing is uploaded — the browser only reads the files so it can share them.
3. Copy the link or show the QR code and send it by chat or e-mail.
4. Keep the tab open while recipients download, and click Stop Sharing when they're done.

The recipient needs only the link and a modern browser, with no account and no app. To save a folder with its structure, Chrome, Edge or Opera on a computer works best. See how it works.

Summary

FilePizza and StrongFolder are close relatives: both stream files directly between browsers over encrypted WebRTC, with no upload and no stored copy, and both need the sender's tab to stay open. FilePizza is the open-source, self-hostable option with optional passwords and ZIP delivery for multiple files. StrongFolder is the hosted option built around folders — kept as folders — plus a Chrome extension and QR codes. Compare more tools in best P2P file transfer tools.

Sources

Checked on 5 November 2026: FilePizza README and FAQ on GitHub · file.pizza