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Wormhole alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Wormhole: links expire after 24 hours, and files over 5 GB require the sender to stay online. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Wormhole, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. SwissTransfer currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Magic Wormhole logoMagic WormholeOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows3 of 357.2
  1. Magic Wormhole logo

    1. Magic WormholeTop pick

    Best for: Developers and admins moving files between machines from the terminal

    Open sourceSelf-hostableLinux, macOS, Windows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Wormhole

    Similar idea on the command line, with short spoken codes.

    Pros

    • Strong end-to-end encryption from a short spoken code
    • Direct transfers with relay fallback
    • Protocol reused by other apps

    Cons

    • Command-line only in the reference version
    • Recipient needs the tool installed
    • Relies on project-run servers unless you host your own
    Visit Magic Wormhole 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 Magic Wormhole a good Wormhole alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    PAKE with human-sized codes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026magic-wormhole.readthedocs.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Connection
    Peer-to-peer with relay fallback
    Checked Oct 25, 2026magic-wormhole.readthedocs.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Wormhole alternative for…

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

SwissTransfer logo

Best Wormhole alternative for most people

SwissTransfer

Longer retention up to 30 days and transfers up to 50 GB.

FilePizza logo

Best Wormhole alternative for a free option

FilePizza

Pure peer-to-peer browser sharing with no server storage at all.

WeTransfer logo

Best Wormhole alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

WeTransfer

Familiar link sharing with paid plans for longer storage.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best Wormhole alternative for open source

Magic Wormhole

Similar idea on the command line, with short spoken codes.

FilePizza logo

Best Wormhole alternative for self-hosting

FilePizza

Pure peer-to-peer browser sharing with no server storage at all.

Proton Drive logo

Best Wormhole alternative for Mac

Proton Drive

Encrypted cloud storage with expiring share links for longer-term needs.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best Wormhole alternative for Windows

Magic Wormhole

Similar idea on the command line, with short spoken codes.

Magic Wormhole logo

Best Wormhole alternative for Linux

Magic Wormhole

Similar idea on the command line, with short spoken codes.

SwissTransfer logo

Best Wormhole alternative for iPhone and Android

SwissTransfer

Longer retention up to 30 days and transfers up to 50 GB.

SwissTransfer logo

Best Wormhole alternative for working in the browser

SwissTransfer

Longer retention up to 30 days and transfers up to 50 GB.

Wormhole alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Wormhole?

SwissTransfer ranks first right now. Longer retention up to 30 days and transfers up to 50 GB. WeTransfer and FilePizza follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Wormhole?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Wormhole?

Yes: FilePizza and Magic Wormhole. FilePizza and Magic Wormhole can also be self-hosted.

Which Wormhole alternatives work on Linux?

Magic Wormhole runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Wormhole?

The complaints we hear most: links expire after 24 hours; files over 5 GB require the sender to stay online; no mobile app yet.

How is this list ranked?

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