Community Edition
$0
One-time
Free and open-source self-hosted edition with core file synchronization and collaboration capabilities.
Check current pricing →S
Seafile
Seafile is an open-source file synchronization and collaboration platform with self-hosted and cloud deployment options.
Editorial overview
Aggregated Overview
Seafile offers broad synchronization, sharing, security, metadata, knowledge-base, office-editing, and deployment features. Public G2 and Capterra reviews report strong satisfaction, while self-hosting requires technical administration.
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
Overview
Seafile is an open-source platform for synchronizing, storing, sharing, and collaborating on files. Organizations can deploy it on their own Linux infrastructure or use Seafile’s hosted cloud services.
The product combines desktop synchronization, virtual-drive access, mobile applications, browser access, version history, sharing controls, and optional online office integrations. Its broader platform also includes metadata management, wikis, and SeaDoc collaboration features.
Seafile was established in 2012 by Daniel Pan and Jonathan Xu. The company lists offices and operations in Beijing and Singapore.
Seafile Decision Snapshot
A quick way to understand who this product may suit, where its limits matter, and which facts are most relevant before you compare alternatives.
Platforms
Android, API, Docker, iOS, Linux, macOS
TechZella assessment
8.5/10
Seafile Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free and open-source Community Edition is available.
- Supports both self-hosted and hosted deployment models.
- Provides broad desktop and mobile client coverage.
- Includes strong file synchronization, sharing, versioning, and permission controls.
- Offers documented API and multiple enterprise integrations.
- Publishes transparent Professional and hosted pricing.
Cons
- Self-hosting requires technical infrastructure and administration.
- Advanced features vary between Community, Professional, and Plus editions.
- WebDAV may perform worse than the native synchronization client.
- Online office editing requires an additional office integration.
- Enhanced support services require separate paid plans.
Seafile Pricing & Plans
Professional Edition
Free for 3 users; from $48/user
year
Self-hosted annual subscription. Nine users cost $100 total; volume pricing applies from 10 users upward.
Check current pricing →SeafilePlus Cloud Trial
$0
30 days
Hosted trial for up to three users with 1 GB of storage. Trial accounts are later inactivated and deleted under the published policy.
Check current pricing →SeafilePlus Cloud Team
$8/user
month
Hosted plan starting at three users with 500 GB of storage and expandable capacity.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Seafile Competitors & Alternatives
Compare similar products directly, then see which alternatives may make more sense when your requirements differ.
Direct competitors
These products address broadly similar requirements. The descriptions focus on documented reasons a buyer might compare them with Seafile.
Seafile Features
File Management
- File synchronization across desktop clients
- Virtual-drive access through SeaDrive
- Version history and recovery
- File locking
- Full-text search
- Public and protected sharing links
Collaboration
- Library and folder sharing
- Granular folder permissions
- OnlyOffice integration
- Collabora Online integration
- Knowledge-base wikis
- SeaDoc document collaboration
Security and Administration
- Client-side file encryption
- Two-factor authentication
- Remote wipe
- Audit logs
- Antivirus integration
- LDAP and OAuth authentication
Metadata and AI
- Custom file properties
- Table, gallery, Kanban, and map views
- Hierarchical tagging
- AI-assisted metadata extraction
- AI-generated file descriptions and tags
Integrations and API
- WebDAV
- S3-compatible storage backends
- OnlyOffice
- Collabora Online
- LDAP
- OAuth
- Web API v2.1
Seafile Specifications
| Deployment | Cloud or self-hosted |
|---|---|
| License model | Open source Community Edition; paid Professional and Plus editions |
| Desktop clients | Windows 10 or later; macOS 11 or later; Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora Linux |
| Mobile clients | Android and iOS |
| Server deployment | Linux, Docker, and Raspberry Pi ARM64 |
| Integrations | OnlyOffice, Collabora Online, WebDAV, LDAP, OAuth, antivirus tools, and S3-compatible storage |
| API | Web API v2.1 and administrative API |
| Free trial | 30-day SeafilePlus Cloud trial; Professional Edition trial by request |
| Office editing | OnlyOffice and Collabora Online integrations |
| Company founded | 2012 |
Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
8.5/10Moderate confidence
Seafile offers broad synchronization, sharing, security, metadata, knowledge-base, office-editing, and deployment features. Public G2 and Capterra reviews report strong satisfaction, while self-hosting requires technical administration.
Methodology v1.0. The assessment weighs feature coverage (25%), ease of use (15%), value for money (20%), performance (15%), support (10%) and user sentiment (15%), using researched product evidence and verified review evidence where available. It is a TechZella editorial assessment, not a direct user-review average.
Seafile FAQs
Answers begin with the clearest available response, followed by the context that helps you act on it.
Is Seafile free?
Yes. The Community Edition is free and open source for self-hosted use. Paid Professional and hosted Plus editions add commercial features and services.
Can Seafile be self-hosted?
Yes. Seafile provides Docker deployment and server documentation for generic Linux systems. It also documents Raspberry Pi deployment using Docker and ARM64 hardware.
Does Seafile offer a cloud service?
Yes. SeafilePlus Cloud provides hosted plans, including a free trial and a paid Team plan.
What operating systems does Seafile support?
Desktop clients are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Mobile applications are available for Android and iOS. Browser access is also supported.
Does Seafile have an API?
Yes. Seafile documents a Web API v2.1 and an administrative API through its official manual.
Does Seafile provide a free trial?
Yes. SeafilePlus Cloud provides a 30-day trial plan. Professional Edition trials can be requested from sales and normally run for three weeks or longer.
Can users edit Microsoft Office files online?
Yes. Seafile documents integrations with OnlyOffice and Collabora Online for browser-based office editing.
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