ToffeeShare and StrongFolder are close cousins: both open in a browser, both send files directly from one device to another over WebRTC, and neither keeps a copy on a server. This StrongFolder vs ToffeeShare comparison looks at where they differ — folders, apps, relays and browser limits — and says plainly when ToffeeShare is the better fit.
How do StrongFolder and ToffeeShare compare?
ToffeeShare facts as of 5 November 2026, from its home page, FAQ, download page and nearby-devices page (sources at the end). "Not stated" means ToffeeShare's own pages don't say.
| StrongFolder | ToffeeShare | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | WebRTC, browser to browser | WebRTC, browser to browser |
| Upload before sharing | None | None |
| Files kept on a server | Never stored | "We store nothing online" |
| Size limit | None set by the service | None in Chrome, Firefox, Edge; about 4 GB tested in Safari |
| Whole folders with structure | Yes, no ZIP | No — zip the folder first (FAQ) |
| Sender keeps the tab open | Yes | Yes |
| Several recipients from one link | Yes | Not stated |
| QR code | For every link | In the nearby-devices flow (same network) |
| Relay when direct connection fails | Encrypted TURN relay, no storage | Not stated (FAQ mentions STUN) |
| Encryption | DTLS in transit (WebRTC) | Described as end-to-end, "an implementation of DTLS 1.3" |
| Apps and extensions | Web app + Chrome extension | Web + Android app (in development) + Windows app; iOS "coming soon" |
| Account | Not needed (Google sign-in optional) | Not stated |
| Price | Free | Free, donations welcome |
How are StrongFolder and ToffeeShare the same?
Both are true peer-to-peer tools. You choose a file, get a link and send it to the recipient; when they open it, their browser connects to yours over WebRTC and the bytes travel straight between the two devices. There is no upload step, so the download starts at once.
Both also share the honest trade-off of P2P. ToffeeShare's FAQ says files stay available as long as you keep your browser tab open and don't shut down your PC. For 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. If that doesn't suit you, a cloud service is the better tool — see why the sender stays online.
Can ToffeeShare send a whole folder?
Not directly. ToffeeShare's FAQ says you cannot send folders and explains that it would have to build a ZIP archive in transit, which would slow the transfer down. Its advice is to zip the folder yourself before sending.
That works for a few documents. For a video project, a RAW photo shoot or a codebase, zipping costs time and disk space on both sides, and the recipient has to extract the archive afterwards.
StrongFolder sends folders as folders. The recipient chooses a destination, and StrongFolder writes the same subfolders and file names there, file by file — no archive at any point. 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.
Free · in your browser · no sign-up
Is there a file size limit in ToffeeShare or StrongFolder?
Neither service sets a storage-based cap, because neither stores your files. ToffeeShare's FAQ lists "No file size limit" for Chrome, Firefox and Edge, and notes that in Safari the limit was tested to be around 4 GB, because the browser misses a required implementation.
No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online. In practice, a desktop Chromium browser on both ends is the most reliable choice for very large transfers with either tool. More in StrongFolder limits and how to send large files.
What happens when a direct connection isn't possible?
Some networks — strict corporate firewalls, some mobile carriers — block direct peer-to-peer connections. 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. We run this TURN relay for you, so a transfer can still go through behind difficult NAT.
ToffeeShare's FAQ explains that WebRTC uses a protocol called STUN to find the shortest path between the two devices. Its pages don't say whether a relay is used when a direct path is blocked.
Which one works better on phones and nearby devices?
ToffeeShare goes further on apps. Its download page offers an Android app on Google Play, with the note that it is still in active development, and a Windows app in the Microsoft Store; iOS is listed as coming soon. Its Nearby devices feature connects a phone and a computer on the same network with a QR code or a 4-digit local code.
StrongFolder needs no app on either side: the recipient opens a link in a modern browser, on a computer or a phone. The sender can add a Chrome extension for one-click sharing from the toolbar — see the Chrome extension. Every link also has a QR code, handy for sending from a computer to a phone. The QR code opens the same internet link, so the phone doesn't have to be on the sender's network. See PC to phone file transfer.
Can several people download from one link?
One link can be opened by several recipients; each downloads directly from the sender. That is handy when a shoot or a project goes to a client and a colleague at the same time. ToffeeShare's own pages don't say whether one link can serve several receivers at once (as of 5 November 2026).
When is ToffeeShare the better choice?
Choose ToffeeShare when:
- you send single files and a ZIP for the occasional folder is fine;
- you want a native app on Android or Windows;
- both devices are on the same network and a 4-digit nearby code is quicker than a link;
- you prefer a small independent service — ToffeeShare describes itself as free, independent and based in the Netherlands.
When is StrongFolder the better ToffeeShare alternative?
Choose StrongFolder when:
- you're sending a folder and it should arrive with its subfolders and file names, without a ZIP;
- several people need the same files from one link;
- the network is difficult — the encrypted relay fallback is already there;
- you work in Chrome and want one-click sharing from the extension.
If you can't keep your device online until the download ends, neither tool fits; use a cloud transfer service instead — see WeTransfer alternatives.
How do I send with StrongFolder?
- Open strongfolder.com or click the StrongFolder Chrome extension.
- Choose files or a whole folder. Nothing is uploaded — the browser only reads the files so it can share them.
- Copy the link or show the QR code and send it by chat or e-mail.
- Keep the tab open while recipients download, and click Stop Sharing when they're done.
The recipient needs only the link and a modern browser, with no account and no app. See how it works.
Summary
ToffeeShare and StrongFolder both stream files directly between browsers over encrypted WebRTC, store nothing online and need the sender's tab to stay open. ToffeeShare is the files-only option with native apps and a nearby-devices code. StrongFolder is built around folders — sent as folders — plus several recipients per link, a managed relay and a Chrome extension. Compare more tools in best P2P file transfer tools.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026: ToffeeShare · ToffeeShare FAQ · ToffeeShare download page · ToffeeShare Nearby devices