Free, open-source alternatives to GitHub Gist
Code snippets hosted on GitHub. 4 apps you can run yourself instead of GitHub Gist, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
OpengistBest match
Pastebin powered by Git.
ByteStash
Pastebin and file storage service with a simple web interface. Supports syntax highlighting, optional user authentication and public sharing.
PrivateBin
Minimalist pastebin/discussion board where the server has zero knowledge of hosted data.
Pastefy
Beautiful, simple and easy to deploy Pastebin with optional client encryption, multitab pastes, an API, a highlighted editor and more.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opengist | 3,384 | AGPL-3.0 | Docker, Go, Node.js | |
| ByteStash | 2,550 | GPL-3.0 | Docker | |
| PrivateBin | 8,662 | Zlib | PHP | |
| Pastefy | 460 | MIT | Docker, Kubernetes, Java |
Why replace GitHub Gist?
GitHub Gist works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to GitHub Gist?
Opengist is the closest open-source replacement for GitHub Gist in our list. ByteStash and PrivateBin are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to GitHub Gist?
Yes. All 4 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.