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Magic Wormhole alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

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

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1croc logocrocOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux3 of 366.5
2LocalSend logoLocalSendOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 562.6
3WinSCP logoWinSCPOpen sourceYesWindows3 of 357.2
  1. croc logo

    1. crocTop pick

    Best for: Developers and sysadmins sending files between machines from the command line

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Magic Wormhole

    Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency.

    Pros

    • Single binary with no dependencies
    • Resumes interrupted transfers
    • Can run your own relay

    Cons

    • Command-line only
    • Recipient must install croc too
    • Default public relay is run by the author
    Visit croc Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 croc a good Magic Wormhole alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Purpose
    Send files between two computers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Maintenance
    Active
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. LocalSend logo

    2. LocalSend

    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 Magic Wormhole

    Graphical app for nearby devices, easier for non-technical people.

    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 Magic Wormhole 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)
  3. WinSCP logo

    3. WinSCP

    Best for: Windows admins and developers who move files to Linux servers and want to script it

    Open sourceWindows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Magic Wormhole

    GUI transfers to servers you already have SSH access to.

    Pros

    • SFTP, SCP, FTP, WebDAV and S3 in one free client
    • Scripting, command line and .NET library for automation
    • Portable version and folder sync

    Cons

    • Windows only
    • Interface is utilitarian
    • No consumer cloud drives like Google Drive or Dropbox
    Visit WinSCP Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    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 WinSCP a good Magic Wormhole alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    GPL v3 or later
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Protocols
    SFTP, SCP, S3, FTP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Automation
    Scripting and task automation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026winscp.net(opens source in a new tab)

The best Magic Wormhole alternative for…

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

croc logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for most people

croc

Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency.

LocalSend logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for a free option

LocalSend

Graphical app for nearby devices, easier for non-technical people.

WinSCP logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for open source

WinSCP

GUI transfers to servers you already have SSH access to.

croc logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for self-hosting

croc

Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency.

croc logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for Mac

croc

Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency.

croc logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for Windows

croc

Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency.

croc logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for Linux

croc

Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency.

LocalSend logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for iPhone and Android

LocalSend

Graphical app for nearby devices, easier for non-technical people.

Wormhole logo

Best Magic Wormhole alternative for working in the browser

Wormhole

Browser-based encrypted sharing for recipients who won't use a terminal.

Magic Wormhole alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Magic Wormhole?

croc ranks first right now. Single binary with resumable transfers and no Python dependency. LocalSend and Wormhole follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Magic Wormhole?

Yes. croc (open source), LocalSend (open source), Wormhole (free) 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 Magic Wormhole?

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

Which Magic Wormhole alternatives work on Linux?

croc and LocalSend run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Magic Wormhole?

The complaints we hear most: command-line only in the reference version; recipient needs the tool installed; relies on project-run servers unless you host your own.

How is this list ranked?

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