Top 13 Open-Source AirDrop Alternatives for Effortless Cross-Platform File Sharing in 2024
In today’s digital landscape, seamless file sharing across different devices and operating systems is essential. Whether you're a photographer transferring high-resolution images, an enterprise managing large data files, or a creative professional collaborating with a remote team, the ability to quickly and securely share files over a network is crucial.
Traditional methods, like USB drives or email attachments, are becoming obsolete as the need for real-time, efficient, and wireless solutions grows.
This is where open-source AirDrop alternatives come into play. These tools offer the same convenience and speed as Apple's AirDrop but extend their functionality across various platforms, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS. They allow users to transfer files directly over a local network, without relying on the internet or cloud services, ensuring both speed and security.
Whether you're working in a mixed-device environment or simply want a reliable method to transfer files within your network, these open-source solutions are designed to meet the diverse needs of modern users.
From creative professionals to IT administrators and remote teams, these tools provide a versatile, cost-effective way to enhance productivity and streamline workflows across multiple devices.
Here is our collection.
1. Waterdrop
Waterdrop is a free self-hosted platform independent, peer-to-peer, browser based alternative to AirDrop. transfer texts, links and files across devices in the same network. you just need a browser ;)
You can check the demo here.
Features
- Easy to use
- Uses WebRTC for file sharing and file transfer
- no sign-ups required
- totally platform independent
- supports clipboard access for text transfer
- clean, minimal interface
- Typescript <3
- Easy to deploy to Vercel
stravo12. Snapdrop
Snapdrop is a free and open-source Progressive Web App for local file sharing. It uses WebRTC and WebSockets for file transfer.
You can try the demo here.
Snapdrop
3. OpenDrop
OpenDrop is a command-line tool that allows sharing files between devices directly over Wi-Fi. Its unique feature is that it is protocol-compatible with Apple AirDrop which allows to share files with Apple devices running iOS and macOS.
seemoo-lab4. WarpShare
WarpShare is an Android app that enables file transfer using AirDrop-like functionality from your Android device to Mac.
Features
- Utilizes the AWDL protocol, the same technology found in AirDrop, for faster file transfers between Mac and non-Apple devices.
- Easily transfer files by setting the AirDrop visibility to "Everyone" on your Mac.
- Sends files from Android devices to Mac with a maximum size of approximately 4.2 GB.
- Open-source and released under the Apache 2.0 License.
moseoridev5. LocalSend
LocalSend is a free, open-source app that allows you to securely share files and messages with nearby devices over your local network without needing an internet connection.
It is available for Windows, Linux and macOS.
Hazem Abbas
6. fairdrop
'fairdrop' is an Apple Airdrop clone. fairdrop, name still in progress, is meant to be a substitute for Airdrop.
andymina7. ShareDrop
ShareDrop is a web application inspired by Apple AirDrop service. It allows you to transfer files directly between devices, without having to upload them to any server first. It uses WebRTC for secure peer-to-peer file transfer and Firebase for presence management and WebRTC signaling.
ShareDrop allows you to send files to other devices in the same local network (i.e. devices with the same public IP address) without any configuration
szimek8. X:/LANDrop
An AirDrop-like web application that runs on Node.js, and is wrapped with Electron JS to allow for cross-platform functionality.
It works on Windows, Linux and macOS.
9. FileDrop
FileDrop is an application that allows for encrypted file sharing between two users through the use of web sockets.
Xtrendence10. Drop
A free minimalistic cross platform airdrop alternative built with Avalonia UI and c#. You can drop files to others on your LAN.
It can be build for Windows, Linux and macOS.
PreyK11. Airwave
Airwave is a simple electron app to transfer files between iOS and Windows. It is made as simple as I could. It uses node.js, electron, express and multer to handle all this.
thurasw12. GoOpenDrop
GoOpenDrop is an open-source project that aims to replicate the functionality of Apple's AirDrop on non-Apple devices, allowing seamless file sharing across different platforms. Written in Go, this tool facilitates quick and easy transfer of files between devices over a local network, without the need for internet access or third-party services.
GoOpenDrop is designed to be lightweight and efficient, providing a straightforward solution for users who need cross-platform file sharing capabilities. Its simplicity and versatility make it a valuable tool for anyone looking to enhance their file-sharing experience across various devices.
bodaay13. NearDrop
NearDrop is an open-source tool designed to enable AirDrop-like file sharing between Android devices and nearby computers. It allows users to easily and quickly transfer files over Wi-Fi without the need for cloud services or internet connectivity.
NearDrop is a lightweight, straightforward solution for seamless file sharing, offering an easy-to-use interface and cross-platform compatibility, making it ideal for users looking for a simple and efficient way to share files across devices.
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