LucidLink vs OpenAFS
LucidLink
lucidlink.comOpenAFS
openafs.orgSide by side
| Figure | LucidLink | OpenAFS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $7/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Distributed File System Software | 8.3 (#5) | 7.7 (#15) |
| Access controls | Security features include SAML 2.0 SSO, SCIM provisioning, folder-level read-only or read-write permissions, and real-time access enforcement. | Directory access control lists specify which users or groups can access files and what permissions they have. |
| Security | LucidLink says files are encrypted end to end using AES-256 and that customers control the keys under its zero-knowledge model. | AFS clients and servers mutually authenticate, and server processes encrypt particularly sensitive information sent to clients. |
| Support | The pricing page lists Slack community support for Starter, Standard support for Business, and Premium 24/7 support for Enterprise. | The project wiki points users to mailing lists, an IRC channel, and a page listing individuals and companies offering support or consulting. |
Plans
LucidLink
- Starter$7 a month
- BusinessPrice not published
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
LucidLink
LucidLink streams files from cloud storage into a shared filespace, so collaborators can work with large files without downloading or syncing entire files. When an application opens a file, it streams only the data that application needs. The service mounts like a local drive and works with Adobe Creative Cloud, AutoCAD, Figma and Final Cut. LucidLink Connect can bring storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint and S3 into a unified filespace. Its iOS and Android apps support uploading, browsing, previewing and sharing. The company says files use end-to-end AES-256 encryption, with customers controlling keys under a zero-knowledge model. Security options include SAML 2.0 SSO, SCIM provisioning, folder permissions and real-time access enforcement; audit logs and snapshots support tracking and recovery. Starter costs $7.00 per billed member/month and is limited to 10 members and 1 TB. Business is listed at $3,227.00 per month, limited to 25 members and described as suitable for up to 10 TB. A 30-day trial is available.
OpenAFS
OpenAFS is a free, open-source implementation of the AFS distributed filesystem for accessing network files as though they were local. Location transparency lets users keep the same pathname when administrators move files between machines. AFS supports federated sharing and read-only replication across file servers, while the client Cache Manager keeps files in disk or memory cache to reduce repeated network requests. Kerberos authentication uses tokens for authenticated status, and directory access control lists define user and group permissions. Clients and servers mutually authenticate, with server processes encrypting particularly sensitive information sent to clients. However, commands in the fs, pts, and vos suites do not encrypt data before transmission. OpenAFS supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted deployment, with AFS access plus NFS and SMB/CIFS options listed. The project lists version 1.8.16.1 as a June 2026 UNIX/Linux maintenance release and distributes it under the IBM Public License. Administrators assign each AFS volume a size limit or quota.