Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GitHub Desktop VS LocalSend

Compare GitHub Desktop VS LocalSend and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

GitHub Desktop logo GitHub Desktop

GitHub Desktop is a seamless way to contribute to projects on GitHub and GitHub Enterprise.

LocalSend logo LocalSend

An open source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop
  • GitHub Desktop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-02
  • LocalSend Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29

GitHub Desktop features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GitHub Desktop offers a clean, intuitive GUI that simplifies the Git process, making it accessible for beginners and less technical users.
  • Seamless GitHub Integration
    The application is tightly integrated with GitHub, allowing users to easily clone repositories, create branches, and submit pull requests directly through the desktop interface.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    GitHub Desktop is available on both Windows and macOS, offering a consistent experience across these major operating systems.
  • Simplifies Workflow
    Features like drag-and-drop to add files, visual diff tools, and easy branching help streamline the workflow for users.
  • Collaborative Features
    The app provides useful collaborative tools such as reviewing changes, creating requests, and viewing history, enhancing team productivity.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Desktop

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While GitHub Desktop is great for basic tasks, it lacks advanced features found in other Git clients like GitKraken or the command line.
  • Dependency on GitHub
    The app is deeply integrated with GitHub, which can be limiting for users who want to interact with repositories hosted on other platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues when dealing with large repositories or a significant number of files, which can hinder productivity.
  • Customization Limitations
    GitHub Desktop offers limited customization options compared to other Git clients or the command line, which may be a drawback for power users.
  • Offline Limitations
    Certain features of GitHub Desktop require an internet connection to interact with GitHub, limiting its usability in offline scenarios.

LocalSend features and specs

  • Privacy
    LocalSend allows for file transfers directly between devices without routing data through external servers, enhancing user privacy.
  • Speed
    Transfers can be much faster compared to cloud-based solutions since files are sent directly over a local network without internet lags.
  • No Internet Required
    LocalSend operates over a local network, meaning it doesn't need an active internet connection, making it ideal for offline file sharing.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    LocalSend supports multiple operating systems, which allows for seamless communication and file transfer between different devices.
  • Ease of Use
    Designed with a user-friendly interface, LocalSend simplifies the process of sending and receiving files between devices.

Possible disadvantages of LocalSend

  • Limited to Local Network
    Users must be on the same local network to transfer files, which can be restrictive compared to cloud services that function globally.
  • Dependent on Network Quality
    Transfer speeds and reliability are dependent on the quality and stability of the local network connection.
  • Initial Setup Requirements
    The initial setup might be complex for some users, especially those unfamiliar with network configurations.
  • Limited Documentation
    Compared to established tools, LocalSend might have limited documentation or community support, which can be a challenge for troubleshooting issues.

Analysis of LocalSend

Overall verdict

  • LocalSend is considered a good option for individuals or groups looking to share files locally with ease and security.

Why this product is good

  • LocalSend is designed for easy and fast file sharing within a local network. It provides a user-friendly interface and supports various file types, making it a convenient tool for transferring data without an internet connection. Additionally, it emphasizes privacy since the files don't need to be uploaded to external servers.

Recommended for

  • Users who prioritize privacy and wish to avoid cloud-based solutions.
  • Teams or households needing quick file sharing across devices within the same network.
  • Individuals with limited or unreliable internet access who still require file transfer capabilities.

GitHub Desktop videos

GitHub Desktop 2.0 -- Easy Mode Version Control

More videos:

  • Review - GitHub Desktop Quick Intro For Windows
  • Tutorial - Git and GitHub for Beginners: GitHub basics, and how to use GitHub Desktop

LocalSend videos

Localsend: An Open Source Airdrop Alternative

More videos:

  • Review - LocalSend: Effortless Cross-Platform File Transfer between Windows, iPad OS, iOS, Mac OS, Android
  • Review - Send Files Across Platforms | Android | Windows | Mac | Linux | #kluniversity #klu #localsend

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GitHub Desktop and LocalSend)
Git
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing
0 0%
100% 100
Code Collaboration
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GitHub Desktop and LocalSend

GitHub Desktop Reviews

Best Git GUI Clients of 2022: All Platforms Included
Creating branches and switching to existing ones isnโ€™t a hassle, so is merging code with the master branch. Furthermore, you can track your changes with GitHub Desktop. Check out our detailed guide on how to use GitHub for more detailed information.
Boost Development Productivity With These 14 Git Clients for Windows and Mac
GitHub Desktop is the global standard for working with Git-related tasks in a graphical user interface (GUI). It is an open-source tool and hence completely free to use for all sorts of projects. It is available for both Windows and macOS desktops and laptops.
Source: geekflare.com
Best Git GUI Clients for Windows
GitHub Desktop is, perhaps, the most famous solution for working with Git in a visual interface. It is familiar to all developers keeping their repositories on GitHub (Git repository hosting service used for version-controlling IT projects). This free Git GUI is open-source, transparent, and functional. When you consider the Git graphical interface for Windows, GitHub...
Source: blog.devart.com

LocalSend Reviews

We have no reviews of LocalSend yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GitHub Desktop should be more popular than LocalSend. It has been mentiond 136 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GitHub Desktop mentions (136)

  • You too can Git it: A beginners guide to connecting Git and GitHub
    Optional: You can also download GitHub Desktop (https://desktop.github.com) if you prefer a GUI version, but this guide focuses on Git Bash to understand the basics. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • How to Fix the Issue of Not Being Able to View Your GitHub Account on Other Devices
    Download the latest version from the GitHub Desktop website. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • 12 Steps to Organize and Maintain Your Python Codebase for Beginners
    Iโ€™m not going to dive into Git commands here โ€” you can find plenty of tutorials online. If youโ€™re not a fan of using the plain terminal CLI, you can also manage repositories with tools like GitHub Desktop or SourceTree, which provide a more visual, intuitive interface. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • File Governance and Versioning in Corticon BRMS
    Using terminal commands isnโ€™t necessary for basic adoption of Git with Corticon Studio files, though. There are various tools that will allow us to bypass the command line when defining rules, including the built-in Eclipse plugin for Git version control. If youโ€™ll be storing your assets on GitHub, though, an even easier solution is GitHub Desktop, a free desktop software that GitHub offers. It can be used in... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • An Introduction to Nix for Ruby Developers
    Nix currently is akin to git's "porcelain": powerful but esoteric. However, much like git evolved into exoteric, user-friendly tools such as git-flow, GitHub Desktop, and Tower to become user-friendly, many developers are building abstractions, wrappers, and utilities to simplify Nix usage. Let's briefly look at a few of these tools now. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
View more

LocalSend mentions (24)

  • Google Hits 50% IPv6
    IPv6 doesn't solve the Airdrop problem. It'll only work at reasonably-fast speeds in the rare case that both people are connected to the same wifi network - but there's already tools like LocalSend[0] for that. Having a file go via cellular provider A, halfway across the country, through some IX, halfway across the country back, and via cellular provider B tends to make things a bit slow. Similarly, using... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Latest SteamOS Beta Now Includes Ntsync Kernel Driver
    Did you try loading the browser as a non-game application? To be honest, I primarily do my browsing offline, and I installed https://localsend.org using Flatpak to move files to/from the Steam Deck. It works amazingly well. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10 family
    Shoutout to https://localsend.org/ - it can even open a local webserver if needed. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • What Happened to Apple's Legendary Attention to Detail?
    Maybe try localsend itโ€˜s a great piece of software replicating airdrop but cross platform and open source. https://localsend.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • KDE Connect: Enabling communication between all your devices
    I also quite like Localsend to quickly share files on the same network. Used to send photos/files to myself on Whatsapp/Telegram before but after discovering Localsend, stopped! https://localsend.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GitHub Desktop and LocalSend, you can also consider the following products

GitKraken - The intuitive, fast, and beautiful cross-platform Git client.

PairDrop - Local file sharing in your browser. Inspired by Apple's AirDrop. Fork of Snapdrop.

SourceTree - Mac and Windows client for Mercurial and Git.

Snapdrop - An open source alternative to Alternative to AirDrop.

SmartGit - SmartGit is a front-end for the distributed version control system Git and runs on Windows, Mac OS...

Wormhole.app - Wormhole lets you share files with end-to-end encryption and a link that automatically expires.