LocalSend: The Open-Source AirDrop Alternative You’ve Been Waiting For
Why This Matters
Ever been stuck trying to send a file between your Windows laptop and your Android phone? Or wished AirDrop worked outside Apple’s walled garden? Enter LocalSend, a free, open-source tool that lets you share files across devices—no cloud, no accounts, just local network magic. With over 65k GitHub stars, it’s clear developers (and users) are hungry for a cross-platform solution that just works.
What It Does
LocalSend is a lightweight app that enables peer-to-peer file transfers between devices on the same network. Think of it as AirDrop, but for every platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It’s built with Flutter, so the UI is consistent across devices, and it doesn’t rely on external servers—your data stays local.
Why It’s Cool
- No Internet Required: Works offline via Wi-Fi or LAN.
- End-to-End Encryption: Files are encrypted during transfer.
- No Bloat: Unlike some alternatives, there’s no signup, no ads, and no tracking.
- CLI Support: For devs who love scripting, there’s even a command-line interface.
- Active Development: Recent updates added WebRTC discovery and Windows share sheet integration.
How to Try It
- Download: Grab the app for your OS from localsend.org.
- Open on Both Devices: Launch LocalSend on the sender and receiver.
- Send: Select files, pick the recipient, and hit send.
For devs: The repo’s Apache-2.0 licensed, so you can fork it or contribute.
Final Thoughts
LocalSend fills a glaring gap in cross-platform file sharing. It’s simple, privacy-focused, and actually open-source (looking at you, Snapdrop). If you’re tired of emailing files to yourself or wrestling with USB cables, give this a shot. For devs, it’s also a great example of Flutter’s potential for cross-platform apps.
Got thoughts? Hit us up @githubprojects.