FileRun vs Pydio Cells (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FileRun grades higher than Pydio Cells: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
FileRun grades higher on value for money and platforms. Pydio Cells grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
FileRun
Self-hosted file sync and sharing app that runs on your own server
Pydio Cells
Open-core, self-hosted document sharing and content platform
Which one is for you
Pick FileRun if
- Fits if you have a server and want to keep control of your files
- Works for a team of 10 or more at a low per-user licence
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not want to run PHP and MySQL yourself
- Skip it if you want a free plan, as there is only a trial on request
- Watch out: each licence is tied to one domain name
- Watch out: the EUR 99 Home licence is for non-business use, five users and community support only
- Tight if you have under 10 users, as the small plan starts at 10 or 20
Pick Pydio Cells if
- Fits if you have an IT person to run a server and want SSO
- Works for firms that want files in storage they control
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not want to run a server
- Skip it if you want the free edition for work, as Home is for home use and evaluation
- Watch out: Connect and Enterprise prices are not published
- Watch out: which features sit in Home or Enterprise is in a separate table
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAFileRunGood | 2.2GPAPydio CellsFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AEUR 9.9 a user a year, or EUR 99 once for the Home licence, far under the cheapest quarter. The storage and server are your own cost. | CHome is free but self-hosted, and Connect and Enterprise are quoted by user count, so there is no figure to compare. |
| Free plan and trial | DTrial on request with no length stated, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. No free plan. | CFree Home edition for home use and evaluation, plus a trial key on request. You host it on your own server. |
| Features | BWeb, sync apps and WebDAV, with every feature in every plan. Editing needs an office suite you connect yourself. | BSharing, Collabora or OnlyOffice editing, SSO through OIDC, SAML and LDAP, and S3, Azure and Google storage back ends. |
| Ease of use | DYou install and maintain it on your own server with PHP and MySQL. No store rating on record. | DYou install and maintain it yourself. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, with WebDAV, ONLYOFFICE, Collabora, SSO and LDAP. | BWeb only, with real integrations: Collabora, OnlyOffice, SSO and cloud storage. |
| Best for | a self-hosted file server for small teams | self-hosted document sharing with single sign-on |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: FileRun and Pydio Cells. How we grade
Where they differ
- FileRun can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Pydio Cells is open source, according to its own site.
- Pydio Cells also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| FileRun | Pydio Cells | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free plan |
| Starts at | €9.9 per user / year (annual subscription) | Not published |
| Free plan | None | Pydio Cells Home is free, for home use and evaluation. |
| Free trial | Free trial available on request | Trial key available for a limited period on request |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | FileRun Lda | Wire France SAS |
| Price read from | filerun.com | pydio.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
FileRun
- You install and maintain it on your own server; it needs PHP and MySQL.
- Home license is for non-business domain names only and has no direct e-mail support.
- Licenses are tied to one domain name, and every plan includes all features.
- Prices are in euros; storage is your own disk and is not billed.
Pydio Cells
- Prices for Connect and Enterprise are not published; they are quoted by number of users.
- You host and maintain the software yourself, or buy a subscription for support.
- Which features sit in Home versus Enterprise is shown in a separate comparison table.
Key features
FileRun
- Uses your existing folders
- Manages files already on the server's filesystem without importing them, so they stay normal files that other tools can read.
- Sharing with roles and links
- Share with users, groups or outside e-mail addresses using seven roles, and send links protected by a password, expiry date or download limit.
- Sync, WebDAV and mobile apps
- Two-way sync for Windows, macOS and Linux, iOS and Android apps, and standard WebDAV access.
- Document editing
- Edit documents in the browser through ONLYOFFICE, Collabora Online, LibreOffice Online, Euro-Office, Google Docs, Zoho Docs or Microsoft 365.
- Sign-in and audit trail
- Connects to LDAP, Active Directory, OpenID Connect and SAML, and records each action with the IP address and program used.
- Branding
- Your logo, colors and wording throughout the interface, plus desktop and mobile apps carrying your own name.
Pydio Cells
- Real-time document editing
- Co-author standard document formats in the browser, powered by Collabora Online or OnlyOffice.
- Workspaces and Cells
- Files are grouped in workspaces and shared collaboration spaces, with access extended to external collaborators.
- Single sign-on and policies
- OpenID Connect, SAML and LDAP/Active Directory sign-in, with access rules by user, group, IP address, location or time.
- Multi-tenancy
- Separate configuration, data and identity per tenant on a single deployment.
- Cells Flows
- A workflow engine for automating tasks around files.
- Storage options
- The pricing page lists file system, S3, Google Cloud Storage and Azure Blob support.
Plans
FileRun
Small business€9.9
per user / year, for 10 or 20 users
Installation help and community-based support, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Medium business€9.9
per user / year, for 30 to 90 users
Adds Docker installation service and e-mail support, with a 24 working hour response on critical issues.
Large business€9.9
per user / year, for 100 or more users
FileRun installs and configures it for you; includes 9 free guest accounts per paid user and weekend support.
Home€99
one-time
5 user accounts for non-business use, with free updates for life and community forum support only.
Pydio Cells
Pydio Cells HomeFree
For home use and evaluation, with web only, next business day support as the entry tier.
Pydio Cells ConnectCustom
Subscription for connecting all collaborators; priced by number of users, free trial and quote on request.
Pydio Cells EnterpriseCustom
Subscription aimed at privacy-conscious industries, priced by number of users; quote on request.
Ways to pay less
FileRun
- Nonprofit
Free or reduced plans for public benefit work
FileRun says it will give nonprofit and public benefit organizations a free or heavily reduced plan, decided case by case.
- Lifetime license
Home license paid once
The Home plan is a single €99 payment with free software updates for life, for non-business use.
Pydio Cells
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, FileRun or Pydio Cells?
As of Nov 13, 2026, FileRun starts at €9.9 per user / year (annual subscription), and Pydio Cells publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, FileRun or Pydio Cells?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Pydio Cells has a free plan. FileRun does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do FileRun and Pydio Cells run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only FileRun lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.