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croc alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave croc: command-line only, and recipient must install croc too. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces croc, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Magic Wormhole currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1LocalSend logoLocalSendOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
  1. LocalSend logo

    1. LocalSendTop pick

    Best for: Households and offices mixing Apple, Android, Windows and Linux devices on one network

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from croc

    Graphical app for devices on the same network.

    Pros

    • Works across every major desktop and mobile OS
    • No account, internet or cloud server needed
    • Open-source with no ads or trackers

    Cons

    • Both devices must be on the same network
    • No share links for remote recipients
    • Some routers and guest networks block device discovery
    Visit LocalSend Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LocalSend a good croc alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    Apache-2.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026localsend.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Internet required
    No
    Checked Oct 25, 2026localsend.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Account
    None needed
    Checked Oct 25, 2026localsend.org(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026localsend.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best croc alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best croc alternative for most people

Magic Wormhole

The original code-phrase transfer tool, with a published protocol.

LocalSend logo

Best croc alternative for a free option

LocalSend

Graphical app for devices on the same network.

Blip logo

Best croc alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Blip

Desktop and mobile app with unlimited sizes and resume, no terminal needed.

WinSCP logo

Best croc alternative for open source

WinSCP

Graphical SFTP for servers you can already log in to.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best croc alternative for self-hosting

Magic Wormhole

The original code-phrase transfer tool, with a published protocol.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best croc alternative for Mac

Magic Wormhole

The original code-phrase transfer tool, with a published protocol.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best croc alternative for Windows

Magic Wormhole

The original code-phrase transfer tool, with a published protocol.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best croc alternative for Linux

Magic Wormhole

The original code-phrase transfer tool, with a published protocol.

LocalSend logo

Best croc alternative for iPhone and Android

LocalSend

Graphical app for devices on the same network.

croc alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to croc?

Magic Wormhole ranks first right now. The original code-phrase transfer tool, with a published protocol. LocalSend and Blip follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to croc?

Yes. Magic Wormhole (open source), LocalSend (open source), Blip (free plan + paid) and WinSCP (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to croc?

Yes: Magic Wormhole, LocalSend and WinSCP. Magic Wormhole can also be self-hosted.

Which croc alternatives work on Linux?

Magic Wormhole and LocalSend run on Linux.

Why do people switch from croc?

The complaints we hear most: command-line only; recipient must install croc too; default public relay is run by the author.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces croc, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.