Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

MooseFS

moosefs.com

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
Visit moosefs.com
Spec score 8.4 #4 of 32 in Distributed File System Software

What it is

MooseFS is distributed storage software that combines data held across multiple servers into one resource. It can be mounted as a POSIX filesystem, used as a block device, or accessed through the C API. Reads and writes run across multiple chunkservers, so adding servers can increase both storage capacity and bandwidth. MooseFS replicates data chunks and restores missing copies after disk or node loss. The Community edition is open source under GPLv2, with one active master and single-parity erasure coding. Personal provides the full Pro feature set for non-commercial use, free up to 20 TiB of used raw space; beyond that, the listed price is €9 as a one-time purchase for each TiB. Pro adds synchronized master failover and support for clusters spanning locations. MooseFS 5 adds cluster-wide authentication. Official packages are offered for Linux distributions, FreeBSD, Raspberry Pi OS, and macOS; macOS requires macFUSE and macOS 12 or later. The native Windows client is included with Pro.

Spec sheet

Product
MooseFS is distributed storage software that spreads data across multiple servers while presenting it as one resource.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Security
MooseFS 5 adds cluster-wide authentication that gates data access through the master and prevents storage-layer bypass of export permissions.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Support
Commercial Pro includes 24/7 support from the developers, while Community support is community-driven discussion and documentation.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Headquarters
Warsaw, PolandRead 28 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Founded
2005Read 28 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Company
MooseFS is developed and maintained by Saglabs SA, an engineering company headquartered in Warsaw, Poland.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Access
The system can be mounted as a POSIX filesystem, used as a block device, or accessed through the C API.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Fault tolerance
MooseFS replicates chunks across different chunkservers and automatically recreates missing copies after disk or node loss.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Multi-location
Pro supports clusters spanning locations, with per-location storage policies intended to keep data near where it is used.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Parallel I/O
Reads and writes run in parallel against multiple chunkservers, and adding chunkservers adds capacity and bandwidth.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Pro failover
Pro runs synchronized master servers so a follower can take over automatically if the leader fails.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Quote response
The company says quote enquiries usually receive a written email reply within one or two working days.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Supported systems
Official binary packages are offered for Linux distributions, FreeBSD, Raspberry Pi OS, and macOS; macOS packages require macFUSE and target macOS 12 or later.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Target users
The maker describes Community as suitable for development, evaluation, and smaller deployments, and Personal as intended for individual developers, researchers, and home-lab use.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Windows client
The native Windows client is included with Pro.Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com

Plans and prices

Community Free Free forever GPLv2 open source · single active master · single-parity erasure coding Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Personal €9, paid once 9 € per TiB beyond 20 TiB used raw space Non-commercial use · free up to 20 TiB used raw space · full Pro feature set Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com
Enterprise Priced on request Pricing tailored to deployment; request a quote Commercial use · 24/7 support · dedicated releases Read 30 Sep 2026 · moosefs.com

Every MooseFS plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Can be mounted as a POSIX filesystem or used as a block device.
  • Parallel reads and writes can scale with added chunkservers.
  • Replicates chunks and recreates copies after disk or node loss.
  • Pro supports synchronized master failover and multi-location clusters.

Limits

  • Personal is for non-commercial use.
  • Windows client is included with Pro.
  • macOS packages require macFUSE and macOS 12 or later.
  • Enterprise pricing requires a quote.

Who it suits

Community is described as suitable for development, evaluation, and smaller deployments. Personal is intended for individual developers, researchers, and home-lab use; Enterprise offers commercial use with pricing tailored to deployment.

Verdict

MooseFS offers several ways to access distributed storage, with replication and parallel I/O built into the system. Check which edition fits your use: Community has one active master, while Personal is non-commercial and Enterprise pricing is quote-based.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to MooseFSAll alternatives →