Need a good LocalSend alternative for file sharing

Mac
1

I’ve been using LocalSend to transfer files between my phone and laptop, but lately it’s been unreliable and sometimes won’t detect my devices on the same Wi-Fi. I need a simple LocalSend alternative for fast local file sharing that works across platforms without a complicated setup. Looking for recommendations because I use this almost every day for photos, documents, and videos.

2

I used LocalSend for a good while too. It held up fine most days, then I hit a few annoying cases and started trying other stuff. After bouncing between a bunch of tools, this is where I landed.

Browser options

If you want zero setup and no install, the browser route is the fastest start.

  1. Snapdrop
    Feels close to AirDrop, but in a tab. Open source. Works best when both devices sit on the same network.

  2. PairDrop
    This one grew out of Snapdrop and seems more actively maintained. A few extra touches, less abandoned-project energy.

  3. ShareDrop
    Same general idea. Peer-to-peer in the browser, no app install.

My take after using these for a bit, they are fine for quick stuff. A photo, a PDF, some random note. I stopped trusting them for large transfers. If Wi-Fi drops for a second, the transfer often dies with no recovery. I lost a 2 GB video once and got nothing back, no resume, no useful error, nada.

Installed apps

For normal day to day use, the app-based stuff felt steadier.

  1. KDEConnect
    Good fit if you already use Linux and Android. File transfer is only one part of it. Clipboard sync, notifications, remote controls, all sorts of extras.

  2. Warpinator
    More focused. Less fiddling. You open it, send files, move on. I found it easier than KDEConnect when I only cared about transfers. Works well across Linux and Windows.

  3. Sharedrop / Nearby Share / Quick Share
    Google’s option used to feel half-baked. Lately it’s been much better, at least from what I saw on Android and Windows.

  4. AirDrop
    Still useful, still fast, still only worth mentioning if all your gear is Apple.

Large files

For big transfers, especially Mac to Android, I ended up leaning toward MacDroid.

What changed things for me was using a USB cable instead of hoping the network behaves. Direct transfer solved a few dumb problems I kept hitting:

  1. Wi-Fi transfers dragging along
  2. Paying for cloud storage I didn’t need
  3. Files failing halfway through on unstable connections

That setup felt less elegant, sure, but it worked. When I needed a big folder moved and didn’t want drama, cable won.

There’s also SyncThing if you want folders to keep syncing in the background across devices. I liked the idea more than the setup process, if I’m honest. Once it’s running, it’s good for repeat workflows. Getting there took me a minute, and one typo in a folder path had me chasinng my tail.

So, for most people: Warpinator or KDEConnect if you’re on Linux, MacDroid if you’re on Mac and regularly dealing with Android files, and LocalSend itself is still hard to beat for cross-platform one-off transfers. The web tools are fine for sending a quick photo but I wouldn’t trust them with anything large or irreplaceable.

7 Likes
3

If you want simple and stable, I’d look at PlainApp or Syncthing before going back to browser tools.

PlainApp is underrated. Android app plus a web page on your laptop. No account. No cloud. It works well for drag-and-drop file moves, and it also gives you clipboard and file browsing. I found device detection less flaky than LocalSend on crowded Wi-Fi.

Syncthing is better if you move files often, not one-off stuff. It takes longer to set up, yeah, but after that your folders stay in sync and you stop babysitting transfers. For photos, docs, and project folders, it saves time.

I’ll disagree a bit with @mikeappsreviewer on browser-based options. They’re fine for tiny files, but I’d skip them even for medium stuff. Too many random failures, too little feedback.

If your laptop is a Mac and your phone is Android, MacDroid is worth a look. It avoids the whole local discovery mess by using USB, and for large files that’s often faster and less annoying. For me, local Wi-Fi transfer sounds nice until it flakes out agian. Cable wins more often than people admit.

4

I’d throw Feem into the mix, since @mikeappsreviewer and @vrijheidsvogel already covered most of the usual suspects.

Feem is basically the “just send the file and stop being weird about it” option. It works over local Wi-Fi, cross-platform, and in my experience device discovery is less flaky than LocalSend on mixed networks. It’s not as trendy, but it’s been weirdly dependable for phone-to-laptop transfers. Interface is kinda plain, but that also means less to break.

One small disagreement with the browser-tool suggestions: if LocalSend is already failing on your network, browser-based stuff usually won’t magically fix that. Same LAN quirks, same multicast nonsense, same “why is my device invisible today” headache.

If you want another route, ToffeeShare is decent for one-off transfers. Not my favorite for giant files, but for quick sends it’s simple.

If your setup is Mac + Android, then yeah, MacDroid is honestly worth a look. Different approach entirely. USB avoids the whole local discovery mess, and for big transfers it’s often faster and less annoying. Not as slick as wireless, but way more consistant.

My short version:

  • Feem for simple LocalSend alternative
  • ToffeeShare for quick one-offs
  • MacDroid if it’s Mac to Android and you want fewer Wi-Fi issues

LocalSend is great when it works. When it doesn’t, it gets real old real fast.

5

I’d add LANDrop to the shortlist. It gets overlooked, but it’s basically built for the exact “same Wi-Fi, just move the file” use case. Cross-platform, lightweight, and in my testing it handles discovery a bit more predictably than LocalSend on messy home networks. Not perfect, but less temperamental.

Small disagreement with some of the browser suggestions from @vrijheidsvogel, @chasseurdetoiles, and @mikeappsreviewer: if discovery on your LAN is already flaky, browser tools often inherit the same pain. They feel convenient, but they’re not automatically more reliable.

If you want tiers, I’d split it like this:

  • LANDrop: best direct LocalSend replacement
  • Syncthing: best for ongoing folder sync
  • Feem: decent if you want simple cross-platform sending
  • MacDroid: best if you’re on Mac + Android and care more about reliability than wireless convenience

MacDroid pros:

  • very stable for big files
  • USB is faster and avoids Wi-Fi discovery issues
  • good for drag-and-drop style transfers

MacDroid cons:

  • not wireless
  • really most useful for Mac + Android only
  • less convenient for quick casual sends than LAN tools

So if you still want wireless, I’d try LANDrop first. If you’re done fighting local network weirdness, MacDroid is the practical answer.