Self-host ifm
v4.1.2Web-based file manager as a single PHP file
- Stars
- 370
- Port
- 80 (HTTP web interface)
What is ifm?
IFM (Improved File Manager) is a web-based file manager delivered as a single PHP file. It handles creating and editing files and directories, copying and moving items, downloading, uploading (direct, remote via URL, drag & drop), extracting various archive formats, changing permissions, and previewing images. Authentication options include inline credentials, htpasswd files, and LDAP via ldap_bind. Deployment options are Docker, Docker Compose, or placing a PHP file on any PHP-enabled web server. The project is MIT-licensed open source.
Should you self-host ifm?
ifm scores 49/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #19 of 34 in File Management. It has 370 GitHub stars.
It shipped 2 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v4.1.2, came out on 20 August 2026. New versions land roughly every 8 months.
Setup is easy: most people get it running in one sitting. It is MIT-licensed and written mostly in PHP.
Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is AList (83/100, 50 366 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See ifm vs AList side by side.
Features
- ACE Editor integration
- Archive Extraction
- Authentication
- CDN or bundled assets
- Directory download as ZIP
- File Management
- File Upload
- Image Preview
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Permission management
- Search
ifm README
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