Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Snapdrop VS NearDrop

Compare Snapdrop VS NearDrop and see what are their differences

Snapdrop logo Snapdrop

An open source alternative to Alternative to AirDrop.

NearDrop logo NearDrop

An unofficial Google Nearby Share app for macOS
  • Snapdrop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-10-25
  • NearDrop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-04-25

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.

NearDrop features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Sharing
    NearDrop allows file sharing between Android and Windows devices seamlessly, enhancing compatibility and convenience.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, NearDrop allows users and developers to contribute to its codebase, encouraging transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • Wi-Fi Direct Support
    The application leverages Wi-Fi Direct technology, enabling faster and more reliable file transfers without relying on an internet connection.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    NearDrop features a simple and intuitive user interface, making it easy to use for both technical and non-technical users.
  • No External Dependencies
    The application does not require any proprietary software or external services, giving users more control over their file transfers.

Possible disadvantages of NearDrop

  • Platform Limitations
    NearDrop is primarily focused on Android-to-Windows sharing, which might limit its usability for those seeking broader compatibility (e.g., iOS or MacOS).
  • Development Status
    As the project depends on ongoing community development, it may occasionally lack the robustness and polish of commercial alternatives.
  • Security Concerns
    Being an open-source project, users need to rely on community audits for security assurances, which may not be as comprehensive as professional audits.
  • Network Dependency
    While it uses Wi-Fi Direct, NearDrop still requires compatible network hardware and configurations, which may not be available on all devices.
  • Limited Documentation
    Users might face challenges due to potentially limited or technical community-generated documentation and support resources.

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

Snapdrop videos

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!

NearDrop videos

No NearDrop videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Snapdrop and NearDrop)
File Sharing
93 93%
7% 7
Cloud Storage
93 93%
7% 7
Secure File Sharing
88 88%
12% 12
Tool
85 85%
15% 15

User comments

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Reviews

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

Snapdrop Reviews

  1. 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. 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

NearDrop Reviews

We have no reviews of NearDrop yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Snapdrop seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 231 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.

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 / 6 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

NearDrop mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of NearDrop yet. Tracking of NearDrop recommendations started around Apr 2024.

What are some alternatives?

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

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...

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

LocalSend - An open source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

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