Pingvin Share — Self-Hosted File Sharing Platform

Introduction

Pingvin Share is a self-hosted file sharing platform that provides a modern alternative to services like WeTransfer or Send. It lets you upload files and generate shareable links with optional password protection, expiration dates, and download limits, all while keeping your data on your own server.

What Pingvin Share Does

• Uploads files via a drag-and-drop web interface and generates shareable download links
• Sets expiration dates and maximum download counts on shared links
• Protects shared files with optional passwords
• Supports reverse sharing where external users can upload files to your server
• Provides email notifications when files are downloaded or uploaded

Architecture Overview

Pingvin Share uses a NestJS backend with a Next.js frontend. File metadata and user accounts are stored in a SQLite or PostgreSQL database. Uploaded files are saved to the local filesystem or can be configured for S3-compatible object storage. The application is distributed as a single Docker image.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy via Docker or Docker Compose with a single volume for file storage
• Configure the application URL and SMTP settings in environment variables
• Set default share expiration times and maximum file sizes in the admin panel
• Enable OIDC or OAuth2 for single sign-on with identity providers
• Optionally configure S3-compatible storage for scalable file hosting

Key Features

• Clean, modern UI with drag-and-drop file uploads
• Configurable share expiration, download limits, and password protection
• Reverse sharing allows external users to upload files to you securely
• Email and SMTP integration for share notifications
• OIDC and OAuth2 support for enterprise single sign-on

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Firefox Send (discontinued) — Pingvin Share is a maintained self-hosted alternative with more features
• FilePizza — peer-to-peer in-browser transfers; Pingvin Share stores files on the server for asynchronous access
• Nextcloud — full cloud platform; Pingvin Share is purpose-built for simple file sharing with less overhead
• OnionShare — Tor-based sharing; Pingvin Share uses standard HTTPS links for broader accessibility

FAQ

Q: Is there a file size limit? A: The default limit is configurable. You can set it in the admin panel based on your server storage capacity.

Q: Can guests share files without an account? A: Yes, if anonymous uploads are enabled in the admin settings.

Q: Does it support S3 storage? A: Yes. You can configure S3-compatible backends like MinIO or AWS S3 for file storage.

Q: How do I migrate from another file sharing service? A: Pingvin Share does not have a built-in import tool. Upload files manually and generate new share links.

Sources

• https://github.com/stonith404/pingvin-share
• https://pingvin-share.dev