LocalSend
Focus: dropbox alternative. Shares file transfer and airdrop alternative with PairDrop. A desktop app, not a web app. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
Web App
PairDrop
An open-source way to send files between nearby devices in the browser.
Rating
4.6 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Beginner
Works on
Web, Cross-Platform
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is PairDrop?
PairDrop is a free, open-source tool for sending files and text between devices on the same network, straight from the browser. Transfers are peer to peer, nothing to install, and you can pair devices or use temporary public rooms to share across different networks.
Pros: what PairDrop does well
- Works on any device with a browser
- Peer-to-peer transfers
- No account or app needed
Cons: where it falls short
- Large transfers depend on your connection
- Both devices must be open at the same time
Who PairDrop is for
People moving photos and files between a phone and a laptop on different platforms.
Who can skip it
Users who already share everything through a single ecosystem like AirDrop.
PairDrop alternatives
Not sold on PairDrop? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
FilePizza
Focus: webrtc and file sharing. Shares file transfer and peer to peer with PairDrop. Rated 4.5 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb
4.5Visit
croc
Focus: encryption, command line and github. Shares file transfer and open source with PairDrop. A desktop app, not a web app. Adds macOS, Windows and Linux. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.7Visit
rclone
Focus: cloud sync, backup and command line. Shares file transfer and open source with PairDrop. A desktop app, not a web app. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.7Visit
Magic Wormhole
Focus: command line, sharing and one-time code. Shares file transfer and open source with PairDrop. A desktop app, not a web app. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeCross-Platform
4.6Visit
Syncthing
Focus: file sync and dropbox alternative. Shares peer to peer and open source with PairDrop. A desktop app, not a web app. Adds Windows, macOS and Linux. Same 4.6 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, macOS
4.6Visit
Free alternatives to PairDrop
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Immich
Focus: photo backup, photo library and self-hosted. Shares open source with PairDrop. Adds iOS and Android. Rated 4.8 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, iOS
4.8Visit
BentoPDF
Focus: pdf tools, merge pdf and privacy. Shares open source with PairDrop. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.7Visit
Paperless-ngx
Focus: documents, ocr and self-hosted. Shares open source with PairDrop. Adds Linux. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, Linux
4.7Visit
Squoosh
Focus: image compression, webp and avif. Shares open source with PairDrop. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, Offline
4.7Visit
SVGOMG
Focus: svg, optimisation and web performance. Shares open source with PairDrop. Adds Offline. Rated 4.7 (PairDrop: 4.6).
Web AppFreeWeb, Offline
4.7Visit
OmniTools
Focus: online tools, file conversion and self-hosted. Shares open source with PairDrop. Same 4.6 rating.
Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.6Visit
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