LocalSend
Share files to nearby devices over local network
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask localsendQuick Take: LocalSend
LocalSend remains the best free AirDrop alternative for mixed-device setups in August 2026. It is simple, private, and actively maintained. Keep it on every Mac that talks to Android or Windows hardware.
Best For
- •Mixed OS households
- •Classrooms and offices without USB sharing
- •Privacy-minded local transfers
What is LocalSend?
LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file sharing app that moves files and messages between nearby devices over your local network without accounts, without the cloud, and without needing internet. It runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS, and it is the usual recommendation when AirDrop cannot reach a Windows PC or Android phone. Transfers use a REST API with HTTPS encryption on the LAN. Devices discover each other on the same network and ask for acceptance unless you trust favourites. As of August 2026, LocalSend 1.17.0 is the latest tagged release (February 2025), described by maintainers as an interim release before WebRTC-based transport work stabilises. The 1.16 line rewrote the sending HTTP client in Rust for speed and added substantial macOS integration (menu-bar drag-and-drop, share-sheet target, sandboxing for DMG installs, Dock status). The project remains actively maintained on GitHub with millions of downloads across stores, and it is still 100% free with no premium tier. On Mac it is an excellent AirDrop complement for mixed-device households, classrooms, and offices. It is not a full replacement for iCloud continuity features.
How LocalSend works as a cross-platform AirDrop stand-in
LocalSend's design choices explain why it stuck where browser toys and OS-locked shares failed. The protocol is REST over HTTPS on the LAN, with mDNS/Bonjour discovery and self-signed certificates per device. Flutter keeps one codebase on five platforms; the tradeoff is a UI that is good everywhere rather than perfectly native on any one OS. On Mac, prefer localsend.org, the Mac App Store, or the Homebrew cask, and always grant Local Network permission after install or after a major macOS upgrade. Version 1.16's Rust HTTP client and menu-bar/share-sheet work are why Mac transfers feel less temporary than early releases. Version 1.17.0 stays an interim tag while WebRTC transport lands; expect chunked resume and better large-file behaviour after that lands. When discovery fails on corporate Wi-Fi, typing the peer IP usually beats toggling every firewall checkbox. For Mac-to-Android camera dumps, LocalSend beats cable adapters and messaging apps that recompress media. It still will not replace Tailscale Taildrop or Syncthing when devices are not on the same LAN. Package LocalSend the same way on every machine in a household so discovery names stay recognizable, and revisit Privacy & Security if macOS stops listing peers after a system update.
History & Background
LocalSend started in late 2022 when Tien Do Nam wanted a simple cross-platform share tool. AirDrop worked between Apple devices and ignored everything else. Snapdrop needed a browser. KDE Connect skewed Linux. LocalSend's pitch was install everywhere and send. It went viral on GitHub in 2023, hitting 10,000 stars within weeks and later passing 80,000.
How It Works
LocalSend uses a custom REST protocol over HTTPS. On launch it announces itself via multicast DNS (mDNS/Bonjour). Peers on the same network show up in the device list. A transfer opens a TLS session from sender to receiver and streams the file. Each device generates a self-signed certificate; fingerprints can be checked manually. The protocol is documented in the repository.
Ecosystem & Integrations
Flutter powers the shared UI across macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS. Platform-specific code handles mDNS, filesystem access, and network permissions. Community work covers Linux desktop environments (GNOME, KDE), Android share sheets, and iOS share extensions.
Future Development
The roadmap includes better large-file performance (chunked transfers with resume), a nearby mode without an existing network (Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth discovery), and deeper system share-menu integration. A CLI for servers and headless environments has also been discussed. WebRTC is the major transport upgrade in progress after 1.17.
Key Features
Local network peer-to-peer transfer
Send files, folders, images, and text to devices on the same Wi-Fi/LAN without cloud relays. Discovery lists nearby peers; optional favourites speed up repeat transfers.
HTTPS-encrypted sessions
Sessions use HTTPS on the local network, which makes casual packet sniffing on open Wi-Fi harder. Optional PIN requirements for receive and for share-via-link modes add another gate on untrusted networks.
Cross-platform clients
Native apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS mean Mac users can push multi-gigabyte folders to Android cameras or Windows desktops without USB cables or third-party accounts.
macOS menu bar & share integration
Recent macOS work includes drag-and-drop to the menu-bar icon, share-menu target support, Dock progress/error states, sandboxed DMG installs, and fixes for minimise-to-tray command-key quirks.
Share via link & advanced network options
Generate a local link for devices that cannot run the app, optionally with auto-accept and PIN. Advanced settings filter network interfaces, tune discovery timeouts, and auto-receive only from favourites.
Open source & free forever
MIT-licensed development on GitHub, no ads, no tracker SDK, no paid unlock. Package managers (Homebrew, winget, and others) and official stores distribute builds.
Who Should Use LocalSend?
1The Mixed-OS Household
A family has a MacBook, a Windows gaming PC, an Android phone, and an iPad. AirDrop only covers the Mac and iPad. LocalSend covers all four. Dad shoots photos on Android, sends them to the Mac for editing, then pushes edits to the iPad for couch viewing. No cloud accounts, USB cables, or email attachments.
2The Developer Moving Files Between Machines
A developer keeps a MacBook Pro for personal work and a corporate Windows laptop without AirDrop. They open LocalSend on both machines, drag a config file, database dump, and screenshot, and finish in seconds. Previously this meant emailing themselves or bouncing through Google Drive.
3The Conference Presenter
A conference speaker needs to share a 200MB deck with a Linux presenter. Venue Wi-Fi has no internet, only a local network. AirDrop fails (wrong OS). Cloud upload fails (no uplink). Both open LocalSend and the file transfers over the LAN in about four seconds.
How to Install LocalSend on Mac
Install LocalSend on every device that should participate. On Mac: download from localsend.org, the Mac App Store, or `brew install --cask localsend`. Grant Local Network permission when macOS prompts. Without it, nearby devices will not appear.
Install on Mac via Homebrew
Run brew install --cask localsend in your terminal. This installs LocalSend to your Applications folder.
Install on Other Devices
Download LocalSend on your other devices: Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iOS, Microsoft Store for Windows, or Flathub/Snap for Linux. All versions use the same protocol.
Connect to the Same Network
Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If no Wi-Fi is available, one device can create a hotspot and the other can connect to it.
Start Sharing
Open LocalSend on both devices. They'll discover each other automatically. Select the target device, choose your files, and send. The receiver sees a notification and can accept the transfer.
Pro Tips
- • Set a recognizable device name in LocalSend settings so your devices are easy to identify on busy networks.
- • Enable 'Quick Save' to auto-accept files from trusted devices without confirmation prompts.
- • If devices don't discover each other, check that your network's 'client isolation' is turned off (common on coffee shop Wi-Fi).
Configuration Tips
Set a Custom Save Directory
By default LocalSend saves into Downloads. In Settings, point the save location at a dedicated folder such as ~/Received so transfers stay separate from browser downloads.
Use Quick Save for Trusted Devices
If you transfer often between the same machines, enable Quick Save so known devices skip the Accept tap. Especially useful for Mac-to-phone workflows where you send screenshots or build artifacts many times a day. Pin frequent peers in the device list on busy office networks.
Alternatives to LocalSend
LocalSend owns the simple LAN niche. These tools solve adjacent transfer problems.
AirDrop
Best Apple-to-Apple experience with continuity. Useless for Windows/Android peers. LocalSend fills that gap.
Snapdrop / PairDrop
Browser-based LAN transfer. Zero install, but generally slower and less reliable for huge folders than native LocalSend.
Syncthing
Continuous folder sync rather than ad-hoc send. Heavier setup, better for always-on backup meshes.
Tailscale Taildrop
Works across networks via WireGuard mesh. Requires Tailscale accounts; excellent for remote devices.
KDE Connect / GSConnect
Broader phone-desktop integration (notifications, input). File send is only one feature; LocalSend is more focused.
Wormhole / croc
CLI magic-wormhole style tools for encrypted transfers, including over the internet with codes.
Pricing
LocalSend is 100% free with no subscription, in-app purchases, or usage caps. Optional donations support the maintainer. All platforms use the same free feature set. There is no premium unlock for speed, encryption, or platform count.
Pros
- ✓Free and open source with no cloud account
- ✓Works across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android
- ✓Fast LAN transfers for large media folders
- ✓PIN and favourite controls for semi-public networks
- ✓Active maintenance and a transparent GitHub roadmap (WebRTC upcoming)
- ✓Simple enough for non-technical family members
Cons
- ✗Devices must share a local network (or carefully routed LAN)
- ✗Discovery can fail on client-isolated guest Wi-Fi or VLANs
- ✗Not a substitute for encrypted internet-wide sharing (use Syncthing or Tailscale)
- ✗1.17 is still pre-WebRTC; performance depends on the current HTTP path
- ✗Background receive on mobile may need battery and permission tweaks
Community & Support
LocalSend has a strong open-source community on GitHub with over 80,000 stars, among the most popular open-source file-sharing projects. The project accepts translations, bug fixes, and feature contributions. Discussion happens on GitHub Issues and Discussions. The app has been translated into 30+ languages. Maintainer Tien Do Nam responds to issues and ships updates across platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions about LocalSend
About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
Expert Tips for LocalSend
When discovery fails, entering the peer IP manually fixes most corporate Wi-Fi isolation issues faster than toggling every firewall checkbox.
For Mac-to-Android camera dumps, LocalSend beats cable adapters and messaging apps that recompress media.
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Aug 9, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- LocalSend is free, open-source, cross-platform LAN file sharing without cloud accounts.[cite-1, cite-2]
- Latest release tag v1.17.0 adds network interface filtering, multi-select media swipe, and macOS tray fixes; maintainers describe it as an interim release before WebRTC transport.[cite-3]
- v1.16 improved transfer speed via Rust HTTP client and expanded macOS share/menu-bar integration.[cite-3]
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Research queries: LocalSend 1.17 release; LocalSend AirDrop alternative 2026