PairDrop
Open-source browser tool for sending files between nearby or paired devices, with no app or sign-up.
- Verified facts
- 3 of 3
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
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About PairDrop
PairDrop is an open-source web app, forked from Snapdrop, for moving files between devices without installing anything. Open pairdrop.net in a browser on two devices on the same network and they appear to each other; tap one to send files or text. Beyond the local network, you can pair devices permanently with a code so they find each other from anywhere, or join temporary public rooms to share with someone elsewhere. Files travel peer to peer over WebRTC, with a relay used only when a direct connection fails, and nothing is stored on the server. It can be installed as a progressive web app, added to the Android share menu, and self-hosted with Docker or Node.js if you'd rather run your own instance. It is licensed under the GPL-3.0 and free. Being browser-based, very large transfers are less robust than a native app, and both devices need the page open during the transfer.
Best for: Quick device-to-device sends where installing an app isn't an option.
Pros and cons
What works
- Works in any modern browser with nothing to install
- Pair devices to share across networks
- Self-hostable and open-source
Why people leave
- Both devices must keep the page open
- Large transfers can stall in some browsers
- Smaller team than commercial tools
Top PairDrop alternatives
See all 5- 1
LocalSend66.5Native apps that handle large transfers more reliably.
- 2
FilePizza62.6Browser-based peer-to-peer link sharing for sending to someone far away.
- 3
ToffeeShare59.6Browser P2P sharing with no file size limit and no installation.
- 4
AirDrop57.2Native nearby sharing if all devices are Apple.
- 5
Wormhole55.3Encrypted link sharing that works even when the sender goes offline.
Why people left PairDrop
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Reviews
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PairDrop: common questions
Is PairDrop free?
Yes. PairDrop is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is PairDrop open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at schlagmichdoch/PairDrop. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does PairDrop run on?
PairDrop is available for Web and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to PairDrop?
The highest-ranked PairDrop alternatives right now are LocalSend, FilePizza and ToffeeShare. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.