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Best Productivity ResourcesBy Shushant LakhyaniVerified creator

Desktop App

LocalSend

Free, open-source AirDrop for every device on your Wi-Fi.

Visit LocalSend4.7

  • Rating

    4.7 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Beginner

  • Works on

    Windows, macOS, Linux

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Free: 1,100+ ways people make money onlineFree: 399+ ways to make money online

What is LocalSend?

LocalSend sends files between nearby devices over your local Wi-Fi network without internet access, accounts or logins. It is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence with no ads or tracking, and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, plus a web app. Transfers are encrypted over HTTPS, with optional PIN verification.

Pros: what LocalSend does well

  • Free, open source, no ads or tracking
  • Works without internet or an account
  • Every major platform, including iPhone to Windows

Cons: where it falls short

  • Both devices must be on the same network
  • Transfers files; it does not keep them in sync

Who LocalSend is for

Anyone moving files between a phone and a computer at home or in the office.

Who can skip it

People who need files available from anywhere.

What people use LocalSend for

  • Sending photos and files between your phone and computer without a cable
  • Sharing files between Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone on the same Wi-Fi
  • Moving files at home or in the office without uploading them to a cloud service

How to get started

  1. 1Install LocalSend on each device from localsend.org or your app store.
  2. 2Connect the devices to the same local network and open the app on both.
  3. 3Pick the files to send, then tap the nearby device that appears.
  4. 4Accept on the receiving device; files go to your Downloads folder unless you change it in settings.

LocalSend pricing

LocalSend is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence, with no ads, no tracking and no account. There is no paid plan. See current prices on LocalSend's site

Checked 2026-10-26. Prices change, so double-check before you pay.

LocalSend FAQ: quick answers

Does LocalSend need the internet?
No. It sends files over your local network, and nothing passes through an outside server.
Which devices does LocalSend work on?
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, so it works as an AirDrop-style option across brands.
Is LocalSend secure?
Transfers are encrypted over HTTPS, and you can turn on a PIN so only people who know it can send to you.

LocalSend alternatives

Not sold on LocalSend? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

All File Management resources

Magic Wormhole

Focus: command line, sharing and one-time code. Shares file transfer and open source with LocalSend. Rated 4.6 (LocalSend: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreeCross-Platform
4.6Visit

fzf

Focus: fuzzy finder, command line and shell. Shares open source with LocalSend. Adds Offline. Rated 4.8 (LocalSend: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.8Visit

ripgrep

Focus: search tool, command line and developer tool. Shares open source with LocalSend. Adds Offline. Rated 4.8 (LocalSend: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.8Visit

bat

Focus: file viewer, command line and developer tool. Shares open source with LocalSend. Adds Offline. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

fd

Focus: file search, command line and developer tool. Shares open source with LocalSend. Adds Offline. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

Free alternatives to LocalSend

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

restic

Focus: backup, encryption and snapshots. Shares open source with LocalSend. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit

scrcpy

Focus: android, screen mirroring and phone control. Shares open source with LocalSend. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit

zoxide

Focus: terminal, navigation and command line. Shares open source with LocalSend. Same 4.7 rating.

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.7Visit

BorgBackup

Focus: backup, encryption and deduplication. Shares open source with LocalSend. Rated 4.6 (LocalSend: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

dua-cli

Focus: disk usage, storage cleanup and terminal. Shares open source with LocalSend. Rated 4.6 (LocalSend: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit

Etcher

Focus: usb, sd card and disk image. Shares open source with LocalSend. Rated 4.6 (LocalSend: 4.7).

Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
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