Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall reception

  • Many commenters use LocalSend daily across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and FireOS and describe it as reliable and fast enough for typical use.
  • It’s praised for being open source, cross‑platform, easy to set up, and not requiring accounts or a central server.
  • Some consider it the “best option” they’ve found for LAN file transfer; others see it as one tool among several (often alongside KDE Connect).

Typical use cases

  • Moving photos and large videos (100 MB–3 GB) between phones and desktops, especially across platforms (Apple ↔ Android ↔ Linux ↔ Windows).
  • Ad‑hoc secure transfer of sensitive configs (SSH keys, VPN profiles, .env files) without cloud storage or chat apps.
  • Sending plaintext snippets between devices (e.g., debugging sessions, notes).
  • One‑off transfers for devices that don’t share an ecosystem (e.g., iPad → Windows laptop, old Android → Mac).

Comparison to AirDrop

  • Core limitation: requires both devices on the same LAN or a manual hotspot; cannot autonomously create peer‑to‑peer Wi‑Fi like AirDrop.
  • Several people say AirDrop is faster and more integrated but notably unreliable; others say LocalSend is more dependable even if less slick.
  • Some argue LocalSend is not a “true” AirDrop replacement because it lacks automatic proximity discovery and off‑network operation.
  • A few users find LocalSend noticeably slower than AirDrop; others say speed is excellent for their needs.

Technical behavior & constraints

  • Uses REST over HTTPS on the local network; some note it can run purely in the browser via a WebRTC-based web client.
  • Troubles with VPNs (especially Tailscale) and complex or isolated networks are reported; often it works once VPN is disabled.
  • On some systems it reportedly prevents sleep or has high resource usage; implementation details are debated (Flutter vs. “heavy Electron”; unclear).
  • Interrupted transfers can leave corrupted partial files instead of cleaning them up, which is seen as a serious flaw.

Alternatives and related tools

  • Frequently mentioned alternatives: KDE Connect, Quick Share, PairDrop, Blip, Feem, Magic Wormhole, Syncthing, send/ffsend, wormhole.app, FlyingCarpet, Sendme/Iroh, and various ad‑hoc methods (HTTP server, rsync/sshfs).
  • Some prefer browser‑only or WebRTC tools for zero‑install sharing; others prioritize strictly local, offline operation and reject internet‑relay solutions.