Updated 8 October 2026 · facts checked against each tool’s own site, app listing or GitHub
The closest Snapdrop alternative is PairDrop. It is an open-source fork of Snapdrop that runs in any browser with no sign-up, and it adds pairing and internet transfers [2]. For an installed app that works with no internet, pick LocalSend [3]. To send far away from a browser, try FilePizza, which streams big files live from your open tab [6], or Wormhole, which keeps files up to 5 GB for you to collect [7].
What happened to Snapdrop?
Snapdrop was bought by LimeWire: the project’s GitHub page says “Snapdrop has been acquired by LimeWire” [1].
On 8 October 2026, snapdrop.net still carried the Snapdrop name, but its logo file was named snapdrop_by_lw and its X link went to x.com/limewire [16]. The page opened on “Upload Files” and “Upload Folder” buttons, loaded an MGID ad widget, and linked to a blog and a “Write for Us” page [16].
Is Snapdrop safe and still working?
We cannot call today’s Snapdrop safe: snapdrop.net still loads, but it now asks you to upload files first and does not say where they are stored [16]. The classic FAQ says “None of your files are ever sent to any server” and that WebRTC encrypts files in transit [35]. The LimeWire notice on GitHub lists “up to 40GB storage for free users” [1]. We could not confirm that today’s site sends files only device to device.
Snapdrop alternatives, ranked by readers
Readers rank these 16 tools: each starts in the order we would try it, and you can like a tool once a day to move it up. PairDrop and LocalSend fit most Snapdrop users, FilePizza and Wormhole cover internet sends, and Croc and Magic Wormhole suit the command line [2] [3] [22] [32]. “Not stated” means the maker does not publish that fact.
- 0likes
PairDrop
- Free
- Open source · GPL-3.0
- Browser
- Self-host
Replaces Snapdrop for: the same drag-and-drop screen, plus devices off your Wi-Fi.
PairDrop is a “Fork of Snapdrop” that runs in the browser [2]. Devices paired once with a 6-digit code find each other on any network, and public rooms use a 5-letter code [2]. On the same network no file reaches a server, and paired devices behind a NAT use PairDrop’s TURN server [34].
- 0likes
LocalSend
- Free
- Open source · Apache-2.0
- Desktop + mobile app
- Offline
Replaces Snapdrop for: fast same-Wi-Fi transfers when you can install an app.
LocalSend runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, “does not require any account or login” and “Works completely offline” over local Wi-Fi [3]. It is “100% free and open source” with “no ads, no tracking”, and transfers use HTTPS [3].
- 0likes
FilePizza
- Free
- Open source · BSD-3-Clause
- Browser
- Self-host
Replaces Snapdrop for: one big file to someone anywhere, from your browser.
FilePizza sends files browser to browser, and they “never pass through our servers” [6]. Files can be “As big as your browser can handle” [6]. WebRTC encrypts each transfer, passwords are optional, and version 2 works in mobile browsers, Mobile Safari included [6].
- 0likes
Wormhole
- Free
- Browser
- End-to-end encrypted
Replaces Snapdrop for: a link that still works after you close the tab (up to 5 GB).
Wormhole lets you “Send up to 10 GB” with a link that expires on its own [7]. Files up to 5 GB stay on its servers for 24 hours; larger files go peer-to-peer, so your page must stay open [7]. Files get “128-bit AES-GCM encryption before they leave the browser” [7].
- 0likes
Croc
- Free
- Open source · MIT
- Command line
- Self-host relay
Replaces Snapdrop for: files and folders between any two computers, from a terminal.
Croc lets “any two computers” transfer files, peer-to-peer “with relay fallback” [22]. A code phrase sets up PAKE end-to-end encryption, and broken transfers resume [22]. It runs on Windows, Linux and Mac, and getcroc.com offers a browser version that works with the command line [22].
- 0likes
KDE Connect
- Free
- Open source
- Desktop + mobile app
Replaces Snapdrop for: daily phone-to-computer sharing, plus clipboard and notifications.
KDE Connect pairs your phone and computer to share files, links and the clipboard and to sync notifications, with TLS encryption [25]. Official downloads cover Linux, Windows, macOS, Android and iOS [23].
- 0likes
Warpinator
- Free
- Open source · GPL-3.0
- Linux app
- Local network
Replaces Snapdrop for: Linux computers on one network.
Warpinator is Linux Mint’s tool to “send and receive files across a local network” [26]. Its README lists unofficial Android and Windows ports, and warns that warpinator[.]com, warpinator[.]net and warpinator.technab[.]com are fake sites that may push malware [26].
- 0likes
ToffeeShare
- Free
- Browser
- No size limit
Replaces Snapdrop for: one-off sends with no size cap and nothing stored.
ToffeeShare is a “free and independent peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing service from the Netherlands” [8]. It promises “No file size limit”, encrypts end to end with DTLS 1.3 and stores nothing online, so closing the browser stops the send [8]. Its Android app “may not be stable on every device” [8].
- 0likes
Transfer.zip
- Free + paid
- Open source · AGPL-3.0
- Browser
- Self-host
Replaces Snapdrop for: a live browser-to-browser send with no size cap.
Transfer.zip’s free Quick Transfer is “end-to-end encrypted, no size limit” [28]. Files stream between browsers and are not stored, so both people must be online; files over 10 MB go through its relay [27]. Paid plans store files: Starter costs $72 a year for 200 GB files kept 14 days [28].
- 0likes
Send Anywhere
- Free with ads
- Mobile app + web
- 6-digit key
Replaces Snapdrop for: phone-to-phone sends with a short code, no shared Wi-Fi.
Send Anywhere uses a 6-digit key or a 48-hour share link, and its App Store listing says “No login or registration required” [9]. The free app shows ads; removing them costs $14.99 (US) [9]. The paid Plus plan allows 50 GB uploads and links that do not expire [9].
- 0likes
SwissTransfer
- Free
- Browser + mobile app
- Cloud link
Replaces Snapdrop for: a large file someone will download later.
SwissTransfer, from Infomaniak, sends up to 50 GB per transfer for free with no account for sender or recipient, though you verify your email once per new device [29]. Links last 1 to 30 days with up to 250 free downloads, and files are stored encrypted in Switzerland [29].
- 0likes
Quick Share for Windows
- Windows + Android
- Nearby only
Replaces Snapdrop for: Android phone to Windows PC, no cable.
Google’s Quick Share for Windows sends files between Android devices and 64-bit Windows 10 or later PCs, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and devices within 16 feet (5 m) [30]. The page contradicts itself on ARM PCs [30]. On a Mac, the unofficial NearDrop receives Quick Share files over the same Wi-Fi [31].
- 0likes
Magic Wormhole
- Free
- Open source · MIT
- Command line
- Self-host
Replaces Snapdrop for: a one-time code to move a file between two computers.
Magic Wormhole moves “arbitrary-sized files and directories” between computers with short, single-use codes such as 7-crossover-clockwork [32]. It uses SPAKE2 end-to-end encryption and tries a direct connection before a relay [32]. GNOME Warp is a Linux app that works with the same command-line client [33].
- 0likes
Blip
- Free for personal use
- Desktop + mobile app
- No size limit
Replaces Snapdrop for: huge folders between your own devices, with resume.
Blip runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad, and says “No size limits. None.” [11]. It connects directly on a LAN, resumes broken transfers and uses “mTLS over TLS 1.3” [11]. Community is free for non-commercial use; Business costs $25 per user a month, billed yearly [17].
- 0likes
AirDroid Personal
- Freemium
- Desktop + mobile app
- Account
Replaces Snapdrop for: your own phone and computer, at home or away.
AirDroid works on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and the web, and you sign in to link up to ten devices [10]. Local transfers are unlimited on both plans [10]. Remotely, the free plan caps files at 30 MB and data at 200 MB; Premium allows 1 GB per file for $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year [10].
- 0likes
ShareDrop (classic)
- Free
- Open source · MIT
- Browser
- Self-host
Replaces Snapdrop for: running your own AirDrop-style page.
Like Snapdrop, ShareDrop now belongs to LimeWire: its README reads “ShareDrop has been acquired by LimeWire”, but the classic MIT code stays on GitHub [5]. It finds devices that share a public IP address, a “+” button makes a room link for other networks, and self-hosting needs a Firebase project [5].
Feature parity with Snapdrop
Only PairDrop keeps every Snapdrop feature and adds internet transfers [2]. Each cell cites the tool’s own page or README.
| Tool | In a browser | Same Wi-Fi, no upload | Across networks | No account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdrop (classic) [1] | Yes [1] | Yes [1] | No [1] | Yes [1] |
| PairDrop [2] | Yes [2] | Yes [2] | Yes [2] | Yes [2] |
| LocalSend [3] | No [3] | Yes [3] | No [3] | Yes [3] |
| FilePizza [6] | Yes [6] | Yes [6] | Yes [6] | Not stated [6] |
| Wormhole [7] | Yes [7] | No [7] | Yes [7] | Not stated [7] |
| Croc [22] | Yes [22] | Relay fallback [22] | Yes [22] | Code only [22] |
| KDE Connect [23] | No [23] | Not stated [23] | Not stated [23] | Not stated [23] |
| Warpinator [26] | No [26] | Yes [26] | Not stated [26] | Not stated [26] |
| ToffeeShare [8] | Yes [8] | Yes [8] | Yes [8] | Not stated [8] |
| Transfer.zip [27] | Yes [27] | Relay over 10 MB [27] | Yes [27] | Not stated [27] |
| Send Anywhere [9] | Yes [9] | No [9] | Yes [9] | Yes [9] |
| SwissTransfer [29] | Yes [29] | No [29] | Yes [29] | Yes [29] |
| Quick Share for Windows [30] | No [30] | Yes [30] | No [30] | Not stated [30] |
| Magic Wormhole [32] | No [32] | Direct first [32] | Yes [32] | Code only [32] |
| Blip [11] | No [11] | Yes [11] | Yes [11] | Not stated [11] |
| AirDroid [10] | Yes [10] | Yes [10] | Yes [10] | No [10] |
| ShareDrop (classic) [5] | Yes [5] | Yes [5] | Room link [5] | Yes [5] |
Snapdrop vs PairDrop vs LocalSend
PairDrop is the better Snapdrop in a browser, and LocalSend is better when you can install an app and have no internet [2] [3].
| Snapdrop (classic) [1] | PairDrop [2] | LocalSend [4] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs as | Web page [1] | Web page [2] | Installed app [4] |
| Other networks | No [1] | Pairing or rooms [2] | No [4] |
| Licence | GPL-3.0 [1] | GPL-3.0 [2] | Apache-2.0 [4] |
| Last release | None; code Feb 2025 [1] | v1.11.2, Feb 2025 [2] | v1.18.2, Aug 2026 [4] |
How to send a file with PairDrop
Open PairDrop on both devices, pick the other device, and accept on the receiving side [38].
- Open pairdrop.net in a browser on both devices [38].
- If the other device does not appear, pair with the 6-digit code or join a public room with the 5-letter code [2].
- Click or tap the device to send files; right-click or long-tap to send a message [38].
- Accept on the receiving device (Enter accepts, Esc declines); several files arrive as one ZIP [34] [2].
iPhone to Windows without AirDrop
PairDrop and LocalSend are the simplest ways to send from an iPhone to a Windows PC, because both run on iOS and Windows [2] [3]. Open pairdrop.net in Safari and on the PC [34]. LocalSend needs its app on both devices, on the same Wi-Fi [3]. KDE Connect has an iOS port and a Microsoft Store app [23]. Google’s Quick Share for Windows page covers Android only [30].
Command-line options
Croc and Magic Wormhole both send with a short code typed on the other computer [22] [32]. PairDrop can also send from the command line to a PairDrop page, which its README documents [2]. These are the send and receive commands from each project’s own docs [22] [32]:
# Croc
croc send [file(s)-or-folder]
croc code-phrase
# Magic Wormhole
wormhole send README.md
wormhole receiveSelf-hosted options
Seven tools here can run on your own server: classic Snapdrop, PairDrop, FilePizza, Transfer.zip, classic ShareDrop, and the Croc and Magic Wormhole relays [1] [2] [6] [27] [5] [22] [32]. PairDrop is the easiest, with Docker or Node.js and your own TURN server [2]. This suits a school or office that already runs open-source tools such as BigBlueButton, the virtual classroom software [21].
Moving off Snapdrop
Pick the replacement by how you used Snapdrop [2] [3].
- Same Wi-Fi, in a browser: pairdrop.net [2].
- The same devices every day: pair them in PairDrop, or install LocalSend [2] [3].
- Someone far away: FilePizza live, or Wormhole for files up to 5 GB downloaded later [6] [7].
- Huge folders: Blip, which resumes transfers [11].
- Staying with LimeWire: it runs in a browser but uploads your files, and sharing needs an account [12].
Tools we left out
We left out NitroShare, rDrop, SHAREit and ShareMe, four tools common on other Snapdrop lists:
- NitroShare: no release since 0.3.4 in October 2017 [13].
- rDrop: no version history, public code or named developer that we could find [15].
- SHAREit: Trend Micro reported remote code execution flaws in February 2021; its 23 February update says “SHAREit has fixed the vulnerabilities” [14].
- ShareMe: Xiaomi’s Android app (1 billion+ downloads) has no official iPhone version we could find [18].
Questions people ask
What happened to Snapdrop?
LimeWire acquired it, according to the project’s GitHub README [1].
Is Snapdrop still working in 2026?
Yes, snapdrop.net loaded on 8 October 2026, and the classic code can still be self-hosted [16] [1].
Is Snapdrop safe to use?
Classic Snapdrop sent files only between devices, encrypted by WebRTC [35]. Today’s site does not say where uploads are stored [16].
Does Snapdrop need the same Wi-Fi network?
Classic Snapdrop does: its README calls it “local file sharing in your browser” [1]. PairDrop adds pairing and public rooms for other networks [2].
Is Snapdrop the same as AirDrop?
No. Snapdrop is browser file sharing “Inspired by Apple’s Airdrop”, not an Apple product [1].
What is the difference between PairDrop and Snapdrop?
PairDrop is built on Snapdrop and adds pairing, public rooms, share-menu sending and a command-line option [2].
More software alternatives are on the AlternativesTimes home page.
Sources (38)
These are the pages we used for the facts in this article, checked on 8 October 2026.
- Snapdrop README, GitHub (SnapDrop/snapdrop), read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/SnapDrop/snapdrop
- PairDrop README and repository data, GitHub, read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop
- LocalSend official site and FAQ: localsend.org
- LocalSend repository data, GitHub, read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/localsend/localsend
- ShareDrop README, GitHub: github.com/ShareDropio/sharedrop
- FilePizza README, GitHub: github.com/kern/filepizza
- Wormhole home page and FAQ: wormhole.app/faq
- ToffeeShare home and download pages: toffeeshare.com
- Send Anywhere, Apple App Store listing (US): apps.apple.com
- AirDroid Personal pricing: airdroid.com/pricing/airdroid-personal
- Blip official site: blip.net
- LimeWire home page: limewire.com
- NitroShare desktop README and releases, GitHub: github.com/nitroshare/nitroshare-desktop
- Trend Micro research, “SHAREit Flaw Could Lead to Remote Code Execution”, 15 Feb 2021, updated 23 Feb 2021: trendmicro.com
- rDrop site: rdrop.link
- snapdrop.net, page and page source read 8 Oct 2026: snapdrop.net
- Blip pricing: blip.net/pricing
- ShareMe, Google Play listing: play.google.com
- Blip, Apple App Store listing (US): apps.apple.com
- AirDroid, Apple App Store listing (US): apps.apple.com
- BigBlueButton official site: bigbluebutton.org
- Croc README, repository data and latest release, GitHub, read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/schollz/croc
- KDE Connect official site and download page: kdeconnect.kde.org
- KDE Connect, Apple App Store listing (US): apps.apple.com
- KDE Connect desktop README and repository data, GitHub mirror, read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/KDE/kdeconnect-kde
- Warpinator README, tags and repository data, GitHub (Linux Mint), read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/linuxmint/warpinator
- Transfer.zip README and repository data, GitHub, read 8 Oct 2026: github.com/robinkarlberg/transfer.zip-web
- Transfer.zip home and pricing pages: transfer.zip/pricing
- Infomaniak, SwissTransfer product page and FAQ: infomaniak.com/en/swisstransfer
- Google, Quick Share for Windows page and FAQ: android.com
- NearDrop README, GitHub: github.com/grishka/NearDrop
- Magic Wormhole documentation and GitHub repository data, read 8 Oct 2026: magic-wormhole.readthedocs.io, github.com/magic-wormhole/magic-wormhole
- Warp, Apps for GNOME: apps.gnome.org/Warp
- PairDrop FAQ, GitHub: github.com/schlagmichdoch/PairDrop/docs/faq.md
- Snapdrop (classic) FAQ, GitHub: github.com/SnapDrop/snapdrop/docs/faq.md
- magic-wormhole on PyPI: pypi.org/project/magic-wormhole
- Infomaniak SwissTransfer, Apple App Store listing (US): apps.apple.com
- pairdrop.net interface text, read 8 Oct 2026: pairdrop.net
