Samba Alternatives

Samba is described as 'The standard Windows interoperability suite of programs for Linux and Unix' and is a popular app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Samba for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Mac, Windows, Android and Self-Hosted apps. The best Samba alternative is Syncthing, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Samba are OnionShare, Croc, Magic Wormhole and Univention Corporate Server (UCS).

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Samba alternatives page was last updated Aug 10, 2025

Syncthing
866 likes
Open-source, peer-to-peer service offering encrypted file synchronization, ensuring data privacy and user-autonomy without relying on cloud storage or central servers, suitable for various uses.
132 Syncthing alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (MPL-2.0)
Application type
File Sync Tool
Origin
Sweden
EU
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Self-Hosted
Cloudron
Termux
Terminal
Is Syncthing a good alternative to Samba?

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1comment
Comments about Syncthing as an Alternative to Samba

Odin
Negative commentJan 31, 2022
0
Syncthing cannot mount folders without using local storage space.
Syncthing is the most popular Windows, Mac, Linux & Self-Hosted alternative to Samba.
Syncthing is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Samba.
Syncthing is Free and Open SourceSamba is also Free and Open Source
Syncthing is Lightweight and Privacy focusedSamba is not according to our users
OnionShare
109 likes
OnionShare is an open source tool that lets you securely and anonymously share files, host websites, and chat with friends using the Tor network.
63 OnionShare alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Application type
Large File Transfer Service
Origin
United States
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
iPad
Flathub
F-Droid
Snapcraft
+9
Is OnionShare a good alternative to Samba?
OnionShare is the most popular Android, iPhone & iPad alternative to Samba.
OnionShare is Free and Open SourceSamba is also Free and Open Source
OnionShare is Privacy focused, Security-focused and LightweightSamba is not according to our users
Croc
25 likes
croc is a tool I built to easily and securely transfer stuff from one computer to another.

The only tool that is easily installed and used on any platform, and has secure peer-to-peer transferring, and has the capability to resume broken transfers.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (MIT)
Application type
Large File Transfer Service
Origin
International
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Termux
Is Croc a good alternative to Samba?
Magic Wormhole
26 likes
This package provides a library and a command-line tool named wormhole, which makes it possible to get arbitrary-sized files and directories (or short pieces of text) from one computer to another.
82 Magic Wormhole alternatives
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (MIT)
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Python
Is Magic Wormhole a good alternative to Samba?
Univention Corporate Server (UCS)
34 likes
UCS is an open platform for central identity & access management, IT management, and active directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.
94 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives
Cost / License
Freemium
Open Source (AGPL-3.0)
Application types
Linux Distro
Operating System
Origin
Germany
EU
Platforms
Online
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Self-Hosted
Kubernetes
+9
Is this a good alternative to Samba?
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Samba.
Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Freemium and Open SourceSamba is Free and Open Source
SambaBox
14 likes
SambaBox is an enterprise directory appliance with Web based management interface. SambaBox also offers integrated domain name (DNS), dynamic computer configuration (DHCP), certificate authority (CA), Microsoft Exchange compatible and also supports up to 2016 Functional Level...
Cost / License
Subscription
Proprietary
Application type
Identity Management Tool
Origin
Türkiye
Platforms
Self-Hosted
Is SambaBox a good alternative to Samba?
SambaBox is the most popular commercial alternative to Samba.
SambaBox is Paid and ProprietarySamba is Free and Open Source
SambaBox is Lightweight and Privacy focusedSamba is not according to our users
NitroShare
35 likes
A network file-sharing application that makes sending a file to another machine on the local network as easy as dragging-and-dropping.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Origin
United States
Alerts
Discontinued
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
Is NitroShare a good alternative to Samba?
Linux Network File System
1 like
The NFS implementation in the Linux kernel.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Platforms
Linux
Is this a good alternative to Samba?
syncspirit
4 likes
Open-source, decentralized peer-to-peer service offering file synchronization, ensuring data privacy and encryption and user-autonomy without relying on cloud storage providers.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source (GPL-3.0)
Application type
File Sync Tool
Origin
Belarus
Platforms
Windows
Linux
Mac
Is syncspirit a good alternative to Samba?
PowerBroker Identity Services
8 likes
Application that joins Linux, Unix, and Mac machines to Microsoft Active Directory and securely authenticates users with their domain credentials.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Origin
United States
Platforms
Mac
Linux
Is this a good alternative to Samba?
RazDC
1 like
It's an active directory replacement built on CentOS + Samaba4. Includes support for Directory, DNS, DCHP, and NTP type services.
Cost / License
Free
Open Source
Platforms
Linux
Self-Hosted
+6
Is RazDC a good alternative to Samba?
elapp
5 likes
Elapp let's you send files to mobile and desktop devices near you. Send photos and videos to friends nearby super fast without losing quality.
Cost / License
Free
Proprietary
Origin
United States
Platforms
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
iPad
Is elapp a good alternative to Samba?