LocalSend: The Best Open-Source AirDrop Alternative
Meta Description: Discover LocalSend, the open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop. Transfer files between any device, free and private. Full review + setup guide inside.
TL;DR: LocalSend is a free, open-source file-sharing app that works like AirDrop but across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It uses your local Wi-Fi network, requires no internet connection, no account, and no cloud storage. If you've ever been frustrated by AirDrop's Apple-only limitations, LocalSend is the fix you've been waiting for.
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Completely free and open-source — no subscriptions, no ads, no data collection
- ✅ Works across all major platforms — Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- ✅ No internet required — transfers happen entirely on your local network
- ✅ Encrypted transfers — uses TLS encryption for secure sharing
- ✅ Easy setup — no account, no pairing codes, devices discover each other automatically
- ⚠️ Requires same Wi-Fi network — devices must be on the same local network
- ⚠️ Transfer speeds vary — depends on your router and network conditions
Why You Need a Cross-Platform AirDrop Alternative
Let's be honest: AirDrop is one of Apple's best features. Tap a button, a nearby device appears, your file is there in seconds. No cables, no apps, no friction. It's genuinely magical — until you need to send something to a Windows PC or an Android phone.
If you live in a mixed-device household or work in an office with a blend of operating systems, AirDrop's Apple-only ecosystem becomes a genuine productivity bottleneck. You end up emailing files to yourself, using USB drives like it's 2008, or relying on cloud services that upload your data to someone else's server before sending it back down to a device three feet away.
That's the problem LocalSend solves — elegantly, privately, and for free.
[INTERNAL_LINK: best file sharing apps for privacy]
What Is LocalSend?
LocalSend is a free, open-source application developed by Tien Do Nam and maintained by a growing community of contributors on GitHub. First released in 2022, it has rapidly become one of the most popular tools in its category, accumulating over 40,000 GitHub stars by early 2026 — a testament to how badly people wanted exactly this solution.
The core concept is simple: LocalSend creates a secure REST API server on your device and uses multicast DNS (mDNS) to discover other devices running LocalSend on the same local network. When you send a file, it transfers directly between devices over HTTPS — no cloud, no middleman, no account required.
How LocalSend Compares to AirDrop at a Glance
| Feature | LocalSend | AirDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (Apple devices only) |
| Open Source | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Windows Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Android Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Linux Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| macOS Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| iOS Support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Requires Internet | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Requires Account | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| End-to-End Encryption | ✅ TLS | ✅ Yes |
| File Size Limit | None | None |
| Transfer Speed | Network-dependent | Generally faster |
The one area where AirDrop still wins is raw transfer speed, particularly between newer Apple devices using the Apple Wireless Direct Link (AWDL) protocol, which can bypass your router entirely. LocalSend routes traffic through your Wi-Fi network, so speeds depend on your router quality and network congestion. For most everyday files — documents, photos, PDFs — you won't notice the difference.
How to Install LocalSend on Every Platform
Getting LocalSend running takes about two minutes. Here's the breakdown by platform:
Windows
Download the installer directly from LocalSend Official Website or install via winget:
winget install LocalSend.LocalSend
It's also available on the Microsoft Store if you prefer managed updates.
macOS
Install via Homebrew:
brew install --cask localsend
Or download the .dmg directly from the official site. Apple Silicon and Intel Macs are both supported.
Linux
LocalSend is available as a Flatpak (recommended for most users):
flatpak install flathub org.localsend.localsend_app
AppImage and .deb packages are also available for distributions that prefer them.
Android
Available on the LocalSend on Google Play and on F-Droid for users who prefer open-source app stores — a nice touch that underscores the project's commitment to privacy.
iOS
Download from the LocalSend on Apple App Store. Works on iPhone and iPad.
Setting Up and Using LocalSend: A Practical Walkthrough
First-Time Setup
When you open LocalSend for the first time, you'll be prompted to give your device a display name (it defaults to your device's hostname). That's it. There are no accounts to create, no email addresses to verify, and no permissions to grant beyond local network access.
Sending a File
- Open LocalSend on both the sending and receiving devices
- Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
- On the sending device, tap/click "Send"
- Select the file(s) you want to share — there's no size limit
- Your recipient's device will appear automatically in the list
- Select the recipient and hit Send
- The recipient gets a pop-up asking them to Accept or Decline
- Transfer begins immediately upon acceptance
The whole process takes about 10-15 seconds from opening the app to file received. In practice, it really does feel close to the AirDrop experience.
Receiving Files
By default, LocalSend runs in the background and listens for incoming transfers. You can configure it to:
- Always ask before accepting (default — recommended)
- Auto-accept from trusted devices
- Reject all incoming transfers (useful in public spaces)
This granular control is something AirDrop doesn't offer, and it's genuinely useful.
Sharing Text and Links
One underrated feature: LocalSend can also share plain text, URLs, and clipboard content — not just files. Need to quickly send a link from your phone to your desktop? Open LocalSend, tap "Send," switch to the text tab, paste the URL, and it's on your desktop in seconds. No more emailing yourself links.
[INTERNAL_LINK: best clipboard manager apps for productivity]
LocalSend's Privacy and Security Model
This is where LocalSend genuinely shines, especially compared to cloud-based alternatives.
What Data Does LocalSend Collect?
None. The application has no telemetry, no analytics, and no account system. Your files never touch an external server. The source code is fully auditable on GitHub, so this isn't a marketing claim — it's verifiable fact.
Encryption
All transfers use TLS (Transport Layer Security) with a self-signed certificate generated on your device. While self-signed certificates don't provide the same trust chain as CA-signed certificates, they do ensure that your transfer data is encrypted in transit on your local network. This protects against passive snooping from other devices on the same Wi-Fi network.
For most home and office use cases, this security model is entirely appropriate. If you're on a large, untrusted network (like a hotel Wi-Fi), you should be more cautious — but then again, you probably shouldn't be on the same network as the person you're sharing with in that scenario anyway.
[INTERNAL_LINK: how to secure your home network]
LocalSend vs. Other AirDrop Alternatives
LocalSend isn't the only option in this space. Here's how it stacks up against the main competitors:
LocalSend vs. Snapdrop / PairDrop
PairDrop is a browser-based tool that works similarly to LocalSend but runs entirely in a web browser — no installation required. This is great for one-off transfers on unfamiliar devices.
When to use PairDrop instead: You're on a device where you can't install software, or you need a completely frictionless one-time transfer.
Why LocalSend wins long-term: Native app performance, background listening, larger file reliability, and no dependency on a browser or web server.
LocalSend vs. Warpinator
Warpinator is Linux Mint's official local file-sharing tool, inspired by an old GNOME app. It's excellent on Linux but has limited cross-platform support and a less polished mobile experience.
When to use Warpinator instead: You're in a Linux-only environment and want deep system integration.
Why LocalSend wins cross-platform: Better mobile apps, more active development, and genuine Windows/macOS support.
LocalSend vs. Send Anywhere / SHAREit
Commercial options like Send Anywhere and SHAREit offer cross-platform sharing but come with significant trade-offs: ads, optional cloud relay (meaning your files can leave your network), and data collection practices that range from murky to actively concerning. SHAREit in particular has a troubled security history.
The verdict: For privacy-conscious users, there's no compelling reason to choose a commercial alternative over LocalSend.
Real-World Performance: What to Actually Expect
I tested LocalSend across several common scenarios to give you realistic expectations:
Photo Transfer (iPhone → Windows PC)
- File size: 47 photos, ~380MB total
- Transfer time: ~28 seconds
- Speed: ~13.5 MB/s
- Experience: Smooth, no errors
Large Video File (Android → macOS)
- File size: 4K video, 2.1GB
- Transfer time: ~3 minutes 10 seconds
- Speed: ~11 MB/s
- Experience: Completed without issues; progress bar is accurate
Document Batch (Windows → Linux)
- File size: 200 mixed documents, ~45MB
- Transfer time: ~6 seconds
- Experience: Instant for practical purposes
For context, a modern 802.11ac Wi-Fi network has theoretical speeds of 300-1300 MB/s, but real-world LocalSend transfers typically land in the 8-20 MB/s range, which is more than sufficient for photos, documents, and even most videos. Only users regularly transferring multi-gigabyte files will feel the difference compared to a wired connection.
Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of LocalSend
Enable Quick Send on Mobile
On Android and iOS, you can share directly to LocalSend from any app's share sheet. Set it up in your share preferences and you'll never need to open the app manually.
Set a Persistent Device Name
By default, LocalSend may use your device hostname, which can be cryptic. Go to Settings → Device Name and set something human-readable like "Alex's Laptop" to avoid confusion in multi-device households.
Use "Favorite" Devices
In recent versions, LocalSend lets you save frequently used devices as favorites, so they appear at the top of your recipient list even if discovery is slow on a congested network.
Run LocalSend at Startup
Enable the "Start on login" option in settings so LocalSend is always ready to receive files in the background. The system tray icon keeps it unobtrusive.
Firewall Configuration
If devices aren't discovering each other, check your firewall settings. LocalSend uses port 53317 by default. Make sure this port is allowed through your OS firewall and any third-party security software.
[INTERNAL_LINK: how to configure Windows Defender Firewall for apps]
Who Should Use LocalSend?
LocalSend is ideal for:
- Anyone with a mix of Apple, Windows, and Android devices
- Privacy-conscious users who don't want files passing through cloud servers
- Families sharing photos between different device types
- Small offices with mixed operating systems
- Developers and IT professionals who need a reliable local transfer tool
- Anyone frustrated with the limitations of Bluetooth file transfer
LocalSend may not be the best fit if:
- You exclusively use Apple devices (AirDrop is faster and more seamless)
- You need to share files with people on different networks (consider Bitwarden Send for encrypted cloud-based sharing)
- You need enterprise-grade audit logs or centralized management
Final Verdict
LocalSend is one of those rare open-source tools that genuinely competes with — and in some ways surpasses — its commercial and proprietary alternatives. It's not perfect: transfer speeds won't beat AirDrop on Apple hardware, and the same-network requirement is a real limitation. But for cross-platform file sharing with zero privacy compromise and zero cost, it's the best option available in 2026.
If you've ever sent a file to yourself via email just to get it from your phone to your PC, download LocalSend today. That problem is now solved.
→ Download LocalSend free at LocalSend Official Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does LocalSend work without Wi-Fi?
Yes, with a caveat. LocalSend requires a local network connection, but this doesn't have to be a traditional Wi-Fi router. You can use a mobile hotspot — one device creates a hotspot and the other connects to it. This is particularly useful when traveling.
Q: Is LocalSend safe to use on public Wi-Fi?
Use caution. While transfers are TLS-encrypted, you're sharing a network with unknown devices. In public settings, set LocalSend to "reject all incoming transfers" unless you're actively receiving a file. For sharing across the internet, use a different tool.
Q: Can I send folders, not just individual files?
Yes. LocalSend supports folder transfers on desktop platforms. The folder structure is preserved on the receiving end. On mobile, folder support depends on OS permissions but is available on Android.
Q: Why can't my devices see each other?
The most common causes are: (1) devices are on different networks or subnets, (2) a firewall is blocking port 53317, or (3) mDNS is disabled on your router. Check that both devices show the same network SSID and try temporarily disabling your firewall to test. If that fixes it, add a firewall exception for LocalSend.
Q: Is LocalSend still actively maintained?
As of April 2026, yes — the GitHub repository shows regular commits and the project has an active issue tracker and contributor community. It's one of the most actively maintained tools in its category.
Have questions about LocalSend or other file-sharing tools? Drop them in the comments below. If this guide helped you, consider sharing it with someone still emailing files to themselves.
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