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LocalSend VS Snapdrop

Compare LocalSend VS Snapdrop and see what are their differences

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LocalSend logo LocalSend

An open source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

Snapdrop logo Snapdrop

An open source alternative to Alternative to AirDrop.
  • LocalSend Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29
  • Snapdrop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-10-25

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.

Snapdrop features and specs

  • Cross-Platform
    Snapdrop works across various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, making it quite versatile for different users.
  • Ease of Use
    The user interface is simple and intuitive, requiring no installation or setup, which makes it accessible for non-technical users.
  • No Account Needed
    Users do not need to create an account to use Snapdrop, which speeds up the file-sharing process and enhances privacy.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Snapdrop allows users to inspect, modify, and improve the source code, fostering community trust and collaboration.
  • Peer-to-Peer
    Files are transferred directly between devices over a local network, which can result in faster transfer speeds compared to cloud-based solutions.

Possible disadvantages of Snapdrop

  • Limited to Local Network
    File transfers are limited to devices on the same local network, making it less useful for remote file sharing.
  • No Permanent Transfer History
    Snapdrop does not keep a permanent history of file transfers, so users cannot retrieve previous files shared after the session ends.
  • Security Concerns
    Despite encrypting data in transit, Snapdrop could still be vulnerable to security issues typical of peer-to-peer networks if not properly managed.
  • Lacks Advanced Features
    Compared to other file-sharing solutions, Snapdrop lacks advanced features like file versioning, cloud storage integration, and large file support.
  • Dependence on Browser
    Snapdrop functions through a web browser, which means users need a browser open to use it and may face compatibility issues with some browser versions.

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.

Analysis of Snapdrop

Overall verdict

  • Snapdrop is a good tool for quick and easy file sharing, especially for users looking for a hassle-free, cross-platform solution without the need for third-party software installation.

Why this product is good

  • Snapdrop is a convenient and simple web-based application for transferring files between devices on the same local network. It does not require installation and works across different operating systems, making it highly versatile. Its peer-to-peer connection ensures that file transfers are fast, and since data does not get uploaded to any external server, it maintains user privacy.

Recommended for

  • Users who frequently transfer files between devices on the same network
  • Individuals looking for a secure method to transfer files without relying on cloud services
  • People who prefer free and open-source software
  • Users with a mix of different operating systems, like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, who need a common platform for file sharing

LocalSend videos

+ Add

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

Snapdrop videos

+ Add

Snapdrop finally let’s IOS & Android users work together seamlessly.

More videos:

  • Review - Forget Airdrop, Transfer Files using Snapdrop
  • Tutorial - Snapdrop: Best Cross Platform AirDrop Alternative! - How to Share Files Between Operating Systems!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LocalSend and Snapdrop)

LocalSend

Snapdrop

File Sharing
20 20%
File Sharing
80% 80
Cloud Storage
20 20%
Cloud Storage
80% 80
Secure File Sharing
25 25%
Secure File Sharing
75% 75
Tool
35 35%
Tool
65% 65

User comments

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Reviews

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

LocalSend Reviews

We have no reviews of LocalSend yet.
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Snapdrop Reviews

  1. Jeff
    A Complete waste of time from a 4 decade mac pro user

    Takes forever to send even small video files with high speed internet. Horrible documentation for transferring instructions. No option in the app menu to choose a destination folder. There's no way to compress all of your videos on an android to send to the Mac, even though that is suggested in their "features". And not 1 single video could I find in 2 hours of google searches that answered these questions. For a company touting such "ease of use", as a 40 year mac user, this was another waste of time app. If the company would like to contact me and answer these questions, if it is indeed an "easy, reliable app", I will gladly help them make a video that actually walks people through the problems I have encountered.

  2. Gar
    Excellent way to share a folder with multiple files to another computer

    SnapDrop does an excellent job in sharing multiple files to another computer. Just zip/compress a folder with multiple files and select that zipped folder to send to the other computer or mobile device.

    🏁 Competitors: AirDrop by Apple

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Snapdrop seems to be a lot more popular than LocalSend. While we know about 231 links to Snapdrop, we've tracked only 17 mentions of LocalSend. 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.

LocalSend mentions (17)

  • Microsoft enables file sharing between iPhone and Windows PCs
    I wish someone forced Apple to make AirDrop an open standard because it is an amazing user experience. It’s great that Microsoft is trying to make an alternative, but ultimately it’s no different than any other AirDrop-like app that you can find around. And it seems like alternatives like LocalSend are potentially much better: https://localsend.org/ Link to Windows is going to require Windows, but LocalSend is... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Ask HN: Apple like integration between iPhone/Android and Linux
    I have been using LocalSend (https://localsend.org) between macOS, Windows, and Linux. It works great. It has Android and iOS clients as well but I haven't tried on mobile yet. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Send: Open-source fork of Firefox Send
    For local network sharing between my devices I tend to use LocalSend [0] which is absolutely brilliant, pretty much replaced my USB stick for transferring files/folders between devices on the same network. [0] https://localsend.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Sharedrop: Easy P2P file transfer powered by WebRTC – inspired by Apple AirDrop
    I tried most of these apps some time ago, and the best ones for large files were Landrop and Localsend. If you have a VPN, you can use them to transfer files remotely too. https://landrop.app https://localsend.org. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Sharedrop: Easy P2P file transfer powered by WebRTC – inspired by Apple AirDrop
    Does this work on mobile? I use localsend so far, https://localsend.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
View more

Snapdrop mentions (231)

  • Query Apple's FindMy Network with Python
    If the constraint is that you don't want to install any software, there are a bunch of these web based AirDrop clones, besides the ones mentioned here are two more: https://pairdrop.net/ https://snapdrop.net/ I've tried PairDrop, it works well. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Send: Open-source fork of Firefox Send
    I love Snapdrop [0] for that use case, since it doesn't require downloading/installing an app. [0] https://snapdrop.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Sharedrop: Easy P2P file transfer powered by WebRTC – inspired by Apple AirDrop
    > My fave is https://snapdrop.net it's so funny how everyone have a favorite. They all use standardized hacks on top of hacks, just because ISP do not want to let you serve content and will fight for NAT, which is their only line of defense from everyone else messing with their precious IGMP multicast hacks so they can subsidize their TV business on your internet bill. it's all so funny. But the best joke is how... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Ask HN: Those who use an Android and macOS, how do you manage sync?
    Https://snapdrop.net/ is a great solution that unlike KDE doesn't require installation. Along with https://webwormhole.io/ they are my go to for transferring assets between systems. Both use WebRTC. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • WebRTC API
    Snapdrop.net is one of many examples of the uses for this API, using it with WebSocket API allows endpoints on the same local network to distribute files and send data between them. We can find the source code for the project here. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

ShareDrop - HTML5 clone of Apple's AirDrop - easy P2P file transfer powered by WebRTC

Send Anywhere - Send whatever you want, wherever you want

Syncthing - Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...

CROC - CROC is an intelligent tool built for easy and secure file transfer from one device to another.

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

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