LocalSend and StrongFolder both send files straight from one device to another, with no cloud in between. The difference is the setting: LocalSend is an app for devices on the same Wi-Fi, and StrongFolder is a browser tool for sending a link to anyone, on any network. This StrongFolder vs LocalSend comparison helps you pick — and LocalSend wins more often than you might expect.
How do StrongFolder and LocalSend compare?
LocalSend facts as of 5 November 2026, from localsend.org, its README and its protocol document (sources at the end). "Not stated" means LocalSend's own pages don't say.
| StrongFolder | LocalSend | |
|---|---|---|
| Works over | The internet, any network | Your local Wi-Fi network only |
| Without internet | No — needs a connection | Yes, "works completely offline" |
| What you install | Nothing (optional Chrome extension) | The app on every device |
| Platforms | Any modern browser; best on Chromium on a computer | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
| How to reach the recipient | A link or QR code | Pick a nearby device in the app |
| Whole folders | Yes, structure kept, no ZIP | Yes via CLI (nested paths kept, empty folders skipped) |
| Size limit | None set by the service | Not stated |
| Encryption | DTLS in transit (WebRTC) | HTTPS, per-device certificate; optional PIN |
| Relay when direct fails | Encrypted TURN relay, no storage | No servers — local network only |
| Several recipients from one link | Yes | Not stated |
| Account | Not needed (Google sign-in optional) | "No account, no login" |
| Price | Free | Free; open source (Apache 2.0) |
What is the main difference between StrongFolder and LocalSend?
Local network versus internet. LocalSend's site says it uses your local Wi-Fi network and that your data never leaves it. Devices find each other on the network, and the app sends files over HTTPS on port 53317. If the other person is at home and you're at the office, LocalSend can't reach them.
StrongFolder is built for exactly that case. You choose files or a folder, copy the link and send it by chat or e-mail. The recipient's browser connects to yours over WebRTC, wherever they are. 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.
Do I need an app?
With LocalSend, yes. Its site says to download LocalSend on all your devices, and the README lists app stores and package managers such as Winget, Flathub, Homebrew and F-Droid. Its protocol also describes a share-via-link mode in which the sender runs a small HTTP server and the receiver downloads in a browser — on the same local network.
With StrongFolder, no. The sender uses the web app or the Chrome extension; the recipient needs only a link and a modern browser. That matters when the recipient is a client, a relative or anyone you can't ask to install software.
Free · in your browser · no sign-up
Which one can send a whole folder?
Both can. LocalSend's README, in its command-line section, says directories are collected recursively, their root names and nested paths are preserved on the receiver, and empty directories are not sent because LocalSend transfers file entries.
StrongFolder does this from the browser. Folders are sent as folders: subfolders and file names are kept, nothing is zipped. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API: Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers on a computer. Other browsers can download the files one by one or as a ZIP. More in how to send a folder without zipping.
Does LocalSend work without internet?
Yes — and that is its biggest strength. LocalSend says it works completely offline, with no account, no login and no servers. On a plane with a hotspot, in a lab without internet access, or on a home network with a slow uplink, LocalSend can move files between your devices at local-network speed.
StrongFolder needs an internet connection on both sides, because the two browsers are introduced through our service and, when needed, the stream goes through our relay.
How secure is each one?
LocalSend says all transfers are encrypted using HTTPS, with a TLS certificate generated on each device at runtime, and you can enable PIN verification for extra security. Because no server is involved, nothing leaves your network.
For StrongFolder, WebRTC encrypts every data channel with DTLS, so the file stream is encrypted in transit on every connection. Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. To create the link, the service keeps transfer metadata: file and folder names, sizes and the number of files. We describe this as encryption in transit — see security and the DTLS glossary entry.
When is LocalSend the better choice?
Choose LocalSend when:
- all devices are yours and on the same Wi-Fi — phone to laptop, laptop to desktop;
- there is no internet, or you don't want any data to leave the local network;
- you transfer often and an installed app on each device is worth it;
- you want open source — LocalSend is published under Apache 2.0.
If devices can't see each other, LocalSend's README points to router AP isolation, a "public" network profile on Windows, missing Local Network permission on macOS or iOS, or a VPN.
When is StrongFolder the better LocalSend alternative?
Choose StrongFolder when:
- the recipient is on another network — another office, city or country;
- the recipient can't install an app and should just open a link;
- you're sending a folder from the browser and it must arrive with its structure;
- several people need the same files: One link can be opened by several recipients; each downloads directly from the sender.
- you send from a computer to a phone — Every link also has a QR code, handy for sending from a computer to a phone.
The trade-off is the same as for every direct tool: 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.
How do I send with StrongFolder?
- Open strongfolder.com or click the StrongFolder Chrome extension.
- Choose files or a whole folder. Nothing is uploaded first.
- Copy the link or show the QR code and send it.
- Keep the tab open while recipients download, and click Stop Sharing when they're done.
See how it works and PC to phone file transfer.
Summary
LocalSend is the open-source, offline-capable app for moving files between your own devices on one Wi-Fi network. StrongFolder is the browser option for sending files and whole folders to anyone with a link, across the internet, with nothing to install. Many people use both: LocalSend at home, StrongFolder for everyone else. More AirDrop-style options in AirDrop alternatives for Windows and Android and StrongFolder vs PairDrop & Snapdrop.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026: LocalSend · LocalSend README · LocalSend protocol