Snapdrop and ShareDrop alternatives after the LimeWire acquisition

Snapdrop and ShareDrop were the easy way to throw a file from a laptop to a phone: open the page on both, tap the other device, done — directly, with nothing stored. Both projects now say they were acquired by LimeWire, and the sites work differently. If you want a Snapdrop alternative that still sends files directly, here are the options, checked on each project's own pages.

What happened to Snapdrop and ShareDrop?

The Snapdrop and ShareDrop repositories on GitHub both say the projects were acquired by LimeWire and that the repositories stay as they are, so the classic version can still be self-hosted.

The public sites changed model. Snapdrop's page says transfers "run through LimeWire storage instead of a direct browser-to-browser connection". ShareDrop's page says the old version, with avatars on the same network, is gone. Without an account both state the same limits: up to 4 GB per transfer, up to 20 files and 4 GB of uploads a day, links that expire after 3 days. A free LimeWire account raises the daily limits.

That is a fair trade for some people — the devices no longer need the same network or to be online at once. If you want direct, local transfer back, read on.

Which Snapdrop alternatives still send files directly?

As of 5 November 2026, from each project's own pages (sources at the end). "Not stated" means the project's own pages don't say.

What is the closest Snapdrop alternative?

PairDrop. Its README calls it a fork of Snapdrop inspired by AirDrop. Devices on the same network see each other just as before, and PairDrop adds:

• permanent pairing of devices by a 6-digit code or a QR code;
• temporary public rooms to send over the internet;
• a TURN server for devices behind NAT;
• text and paste sharing;
• self-hosting with Docker or Node.js, under GPL-3.0.

Several files arrive as a ZIP. The PairDrop README doesn't state a size limit.

Which Snapdrop alternative works offline as an app?

LocalSend. Its site says it runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, that your data never leaves your local network, that it works completely offline, and that there is "no account, no login, no servers". Transfers are encrypted over HTTPS.

This is the best pick for regular phone-to-computer transfers at home or in the office, as long as both devices can install the app. More in AirDrop alternatives for Windows and Android.

What about Quick Share and AirDrop?

Quick Share is Google's built-in nearby sharing. Google's pages say devices must be within Bluetooth distance with Wi-Fi on, and that Quick Share for Windows needs a 64-bit Windows 10 or later, with files and folders sent by drag and drop. Google also says Quick Share now supports AirDrop for sharing between Android devices and iPhones — check Google's page for which phones.

AirDrop works between nearby Apple devices with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, per Apple's guide. Neither tool sends over the internet.

Which Snapdrop alternative works across the internet?

Snapdrop was built for one network. When the recipient is in another city, you need a link:

• StrongFolder sends files and whole folders directly from your browser. Folders are sent as folders: subfolders and file names are kept, nothing is zipped. Every link also has a QR code, handy for sending from a computer to a phone. If a direct connection is impossible (strict corporate firewall, some mobile networks), the encrypted stream passes through a StrongFolder relay (TURN) server. The relay forwards the data and does not store it.
• PairDrop public rooms connect browsers on different networks.
• Cloud sites such as snapdrop.net today, SwissTransfer or Transfer.it upload first, so the recipient can download later. Compare them in free file transfer sites.

The P2P trade-off applies to StrongFolder: The sender's browser tab must stay open and online until the recipient finishes downloading — files come from the sender's device, not from a server. See why the sender stays online.

Can I self-host the classic Snapdrop or ShareDrop?

Yes. Both READMEs say the repositories stay as they are and you can run the classic version yourself: Snapdrop under GPL-3.0, ShareDrop under MIT. ShareDrop's classic version shows devices that share a public IP address and lets you create a room with a unique URL for others.

If you're going to self-host, PairDrop is usually the better starting point — it's a fork that adds pairing and public rooms, and its README covers hosting with Docker or Node.js.

When is the new LimeWire-based Snapdrop the better choice?

When you want to send and walk away. Upload once, share the link, close the laptop — the recipient downloads within three days, from any network. For small files that's simpler than any peer-to-peer tool. Mind the limits: 4 GB per transfer and 4 GB a day without an account.

Which Snapdrop alternative should I pick?

Wider comparisons: best P2P file transfer tools and FilePizza alternatives.

Sources

Checked on 5 November 2026: Snapdrop README · snapdrop.net · ShareDrop README · sharedrop.io · PairDrop README · LocalSend · LocalSend README · Quick Share · Quick Share for Windows · Apple: use AirDrop