{"slug": "localsend", "name": "LocalSend", "category": "files", "category_name": "Files, sync and backup", "description": "Open-source cross-platform app for sending files between nearby devices over local network.", "recommenders": 9, "commenters": 14, "warners": 1, "score": 8.169, "rising": -0.29, "first": "2025-11-21", "latest": "2026-09-18", "why": "Liked for reliable file transfers across phones and computers, including moving SSH keys and other secrets, even without internet.", "why_is_quote": false, "has_verdict": true, "sentiment": {"recommend": 9, "neutral": 3, "compare": 1, "warn": 1}, "spark": [1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 4, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0], "listed": true, "loved": ["Cross-platform", "Reliability"], "caveat": "App must run", "short_quote": "It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "icon": true, "domain": null, "github_repo": "github.com/localsend/localsend", "official_url": "https://localsend.org", "pricing": "open source", "aliases": ["LocalSend"], "verdict": [{"text": "Liked for reliable file transfers across phones and computers", "cites": [{"id": 766958720, "item_id": 47934920, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934920", "by": "dTal", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this software for its reliability", "excerpt": "I love this software for its reliability (as compared to, say, KDE Connect, which I gave up on after years of frustrated use after it became clear that the developers did not believe there was an issue and it would never improve). I do not love that it is a heavy electron app that takes many seconds to launch on my mid-spec machine and burns 20% of an entire CPU core the entire time it is running. Why can't we have a", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "KDE Connect", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766954672, "item_id": 47934667, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934667", "by": "jmarchello", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.", "excerpt": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly. The auto-generated names are pretty fun too.", "context": "uses it with their team", "use_case": "transferring configs and keys", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766941472, "item_id": 47933842, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47933842", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.", "excerpt": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found. Previously I was using syncthing or had to install ftp server, used wormhole after packing all my files into one, etc. Android QuickShare never worked for me (wouldn't help me much with sending to the pc either). It has some rough edges (ie: on multi-homed devices it's less that ideal to see the one octet that matters, when the list is very lon", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer between devices", "switched_from": "Syncthing", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 736049520, "item_id": 46003095, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46003095", "by": "ssenssei", "date": "2025-11-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "excerpt": "I use this app called LocalSend between my Mac, my phone, and my Windows. It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "context": "", "use_case": "file sharing between Mac, phone, Windows", "switched_from": "", "story": "Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10"}, {"id": 766951424, "item_id": 47934464, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934464", "by": "ifh-hn", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this app, it's on all my devices", "excerpt": "I love this app, it's on all my devices, it's also written in my favourite cross platform development framework (dart/flutter). Very useful app, with a massive advantage of airdrop, no need for apple. Irrespective of if it's a drop in replacement.", "context": "", "use_case": "cross-platform file sharing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}, {"text": ", including moving SSH keys and other secrets, even without internet.", "cites": [{"id": 771613938, "item_id": 48225871, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48225871", "by": "arikrahman", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend.", "excerpt": "Just switched to KeepassXC and syncthing. Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend. This has been a great local FOSS way to keep autonomy over secrets, without even needing internet.", "context": "", "use_case": "transferring keyfiles", "switched_from": "", "story": "Get your passwords out of Bitwarden while you still can"}, {"id": 766954672, "item_id": 47934667, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934667", "by": "jmarchello", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.", "excerpt": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly. The auto-generated names are pretty fun too.", "context": "uses it with their team", "use_case": "transferring configs and keys", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}, {"text": " The most common complaint is that the phone app must stay open and sometimes needs restarting", "cites": [{"id": 791873680, "item_id": 49492105, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49492105", "by": "lxe", "date": "2026-08-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use localsend right now and although I really love it", "excerpt": "Oh, fantastic, thank you. If this allows me to drop files onto an iPhone without me having to open an app, that would solve a lot of my issues. I use localsend right now and although I really love it, it still requires me to always keep the app open on the phone.", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files to phone", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux"}, {"id": 791907489, "item_id": 49494218, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49494218", "by": "starik36", "date": "2026-08-29", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.", "excerpt": "I am not sure that it is. From what I understand, Tether requires a companion app running on your iPhone. And as such, is subject to being shut down by the OS for various reasons (inactivity, etc...). So sometimes you would have to restart the app. I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.", "context": "", "use_case": "phone to computer transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux"}]}, {"text": ", with others citing slow transfers, a heavy CPU-hungry desktop app, and weak resume support.", "cites": [{"id": 766947344, "item_id": 47934209, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934209", "by": "worldsavior", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time.", "excerpt": "It's not even close to the speed AirDrop has. This is not an alternative to AirDrop. I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time. These alternatives don't use the same technology.", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766958720, "item_id": 47934920, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934920", "by": "dTal", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this software for its reliability", "excerpt": "I love this software for its reliability (as compared to, say, KDE Connect, which I gave up on after years of frustrated use after it became clear that the developers did not believe there was an issue and it would never improve). I do not love that it is a heavy electron app that takes many seconds to launch on my mid-spec machine and burns 20% of an entire CPU core the entire time it is running. Why can't we have a", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "KDE Connect", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 787766466, "item_id": 49235404, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49235404", "by": "kofta999", "date": "2026-08-09", "stance": "compare", "quote": "LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish", "excerpt": "Currently building Tensou in my free time https://github.com/kofta999/tensou I always get frustrated when using local file transfer tools like: Dukto: was my personal favorite, but is tiring to run cross platform, and most importantly does not support transfer resumes (so if copy got cancelled/disconnected at 99% you either have to copy again or search for the diff and copy it manually) LocalSend: pretty good cross p", "context": "", "use_case": "local file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)"}]}], "praise": [{"label": "Cross-platform", "summary": "Commenters run it on all their devices, including Mac, Windows and phones.", "quotes": [{"id": 766951424, "item_id": 47934464, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934464", "by": "ifh-hn", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this app, it's on all my devices", "excerpt": "I love this app, it's on all my devices, it's also written in my favourite cross platform development framework (dart/flutter). Very useful app, with a massive advantage of airdrop, no need for apple. Irrespective of if it's a drop in replacement.", "context": "", "use_case": "cross-platform file sharing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 736049520, "item_id": 46003095, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46003095", "by": "ssenssei", "date": "2025-11-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "excerpt": "I use this app called LocalSend between my Mac, my phone, and my Windows. It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "context": "", "use_case": "file sharing between Mac, phone, Windows", "switched_from": "", "story": "Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10"}, {"id": 787766466, "item_id": 49235404, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49235404", "by": "kofta999", "date": "2026-08-09", "stance": "compare", "quote": "LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish", "excerpt": "Currently building Tensou in my free time https://github.com/kofta999/tensou I always get frustrated when using local file transfer tools like: Dukto: was my personal favorite, but is tiring to run cross platform, and most importantly does not support transfer resumes (so if copy got cancelled/disconnected at 99% you either have to copy again or search for the diff and copy it manually) LocalSend: pretty good cross p", "context": "", "use_case": "local file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)"}]}, {"label": "Reliability", "summary": "Several users say it works consistently where other tools failed.", "quotes": [{"id": 766958720, "item_id": 47934920, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934920", "by": "dTal", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this software for its reliability", "excerpt": "I love this software for its reliability (as compared to, say, KDE Connect, which I gave up on after years of frustrated use after it became clear that the developers did not believe there was an issue and it would never improve). I do not love that it is a heavy electron app that takes many seconds to launch on my mid-spec machine and burns 20% of an entire CPU core the entire time it is running. Why can't we have a", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "KDE Connect", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766954672, "item_id": 47934667, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934667", "by": "jmarchello", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.", "excerpt": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly. The auto-generated names are pretty fun too.", "context": "uses it with their team", "use_case": "transferring configs and keys", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766941472, "item_id": 47933842, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47933842", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.", "excerpt": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found. Previously I was using syncthing or had to install ftp server, used wormhole after packing all my files into one, etc. Android QuickShare never worked for me (wouldn't help me much with sending to the pc either). It has some rough edges (ie: on multi-homed devices it's less that ideal to see the one octet that matters, when the list is very lon", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer between devices", "switched_from": "Syncthing", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}, {"label": "Replaces alternatives", "summary": "Users switched to it from Snapdrop, KDE Connect and Syncthing.", "quotes": [{"id": 795988417, "item_id": 49749276, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49749276", "by": "djfobbz", "date": "2026-09-18", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Switched to localsend and never looked back.", "excerpt": "Terrible service. I used to use it back in the days until it starting going down all of the time. Switched to localsend and never looked back.", "context": "", "use_case": "file sharing between devices", "switched_from": "Snapdrop", "story": "Show HN: Snapdrop: Instantly share files between devices. No setup, no signup"}, {"id": 766958720, "item_id": 47934920, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934920", "by": "dTal", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this software for its reliability", "excerpt": "I love this software for its reliability (as compared to, say, KDE Connect, which I gave up on after years of frustrated use after it became clear that the developers did not believe there was an issue and it would never improve). I do not love that it is a heavy electron app that takes many seconds to launch on my mid-spec machine and burns 20% of an entire CPU core the entire time it is running. Why can't we have a", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "KDE Connect", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766941472, "item_id": 47933842, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47933842", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.", "excerpt": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found. Previously I was using syncthing or had to install ftp server, used wormhole after packing all my files into one, etc. Android QuickShare never worked for me (wouldn't help me much with sending to the pc either). It has some rough edges (ie: on multi-homed devices it's less that ideal to see the one octet that matters, when the list is very lon", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer between devices", "switched_from": "Syncthing", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}, {"label": "Sharing secrets", "summary": "Used to move keyfiles, VPN configs and SSH keys locally.", "quotes": [{"id": 771613938, "item_id": 48225871, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48225871", "by": "arikrahman", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend.", "excerpt": "Just switched to KeepassXC and syncthing. Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend. This has been a great local FOSS way to keep autonomy over secrets, without even needing internet.", "context": "", "use_case": "transferring keyfiles", "switched_from": "", "story": "Get your passwords out of Bitwarden while you still can"}, {"id": 766954672, "item_id": 47934667, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934667", "by": "jmarchello", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.", "excerpt": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly. The auto-generated names are pretty fun too.", "context": "uses it with their team", "use_case": "transferring configs and keys", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}], "caveats": [{"label": "App must run", "summary": "The phone app has to stay open, and connections sometimes need a restart.", "quotes": [{"id": 791873680, "item_id": 49492105, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49492105", "by": "lxe", "date": "2026-08-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use localsend right now and although I really love it", "excerpt": "Oh, fantastic, thank you. If this allows me to drop files onto an iPhone without me having to open an app, that would solve a lot of my issues. I use localsend right now and although I really love it, it still requires me to always keep the app open on the phone.", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files to phone", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux"}, {"id": 791907489, "item_id": 49494218, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49494218", "by": "starik36", "date": "2026-08-29", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.", "excerpt": "I am not sure that it is. From what I understand, Tether requires a companion app running on your iPhone. And as such, is subject to being shut down by the OS for various reasons (inactivity, etc...). So sometimes you would have to restart the app. I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.", "context": "", "use_case": "phone to computer transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux"}]}, {"label": "Resource usage", "summary": "One user says it launches slowly and uses 20% of a CPU core while running.", "quotes": [{"id": 766958720, "item_id": 47934920, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934920", "by": "dTal", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this software for its reliability", "excerpt": "I love this software for its reliability (as compared to, say, KDE Connect, which I gave up on after years of frustrated use after it became clear that the developers did not believe there was an issue and it would never improve). I do not love that it is a heavy electron app that takes many seconds to launch on my mid-spec machine and burns 20% of an entire CPU core the entire time it is running. Why can't we have a", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "KDE Connect", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}, {"label": "Transfer speed", "summary": "One user found it consistently slow compared with AirDrop.", "quotes": [{"id": 766947344, "item_id": 47934209, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934209", "by": "worldsavior", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time.", "excerpt": "It's not even close to the speed AirDrop has. This is not an alternative to AirDrop. I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time. These alternatives don't use the same technology.", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}, {"label": "Resume and LAN", "summary": "Resume support is weak, and it reportedly fails over a direct LAN cable.", "quotes": [{"id": 787766466, "item_id": 49235404, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49235404", "by": "kofta999", "date": "2026-08-09", "stance": "compare", "quote": "LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish", "excerpt": "Currently building Tensou in my free time https://github.com/kofta999/tensou I always get frustrated when using local file transfer tools like: Dukto: was my personal favorite, but is tiring to run cross platform, and most importantly does not support transfer resumes (so if copy got cancelled/disconnected at 99% you either have to copy again or search for the diff and copy it manually) LocalSend: pretty good cross p", "context": "", "use_case": "local file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)"}]}, {"label": "Setup friction", "summary": "Users mention setup time on both devices and rough edges in the interface.", "quotes": [{"id": 766994320, "item_id": 47937145, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47937145", "by": "kouru225", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use local send when KDE connect isn\u2019t working for me.", "excerpt": "I use local send when KDE connect isn\u2019t working for me. The big problem with these is that you basically have to spend a minute or two setting up both devices to send.", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766941472, "item_id": 47933842, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47933842", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.", "excerpt": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found. Previously I was using syncthing or had to install ftp server, used wormhole after packing all my files into one, etc. Android QuickShare never worked for me (wouldn't help me much with sending to the pc either). It has some rough edges (ie: on multi-homed devices it's less that ideal to see the one octet that matters, when the list is very lon", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer between devices", "switched_from": "Syncthing", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}]}], "who": [{"by": "jmarchello", "context": "uses it with their team", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934667", "date": "2026-04-28"}], "tags": ["for teams", "works offline", "for mixed-OS households", "AirDrop alternative"], "use_cases": ["sending files between devices", "file sharing between devices", "sharing files between devices", "phone to computer transfer", "sending files to phone", "local file transfer"], "compared": [{"slug": "syncthing", "name": "Syncthing", "co": 3, "switched_from": 1, "switched_to": 0}, {"slug": "kde-connect", "name": "KDE Connect", "co": 2, "switched_from": 1, "switched_to": 0}], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47933208", "title": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop", "mentions": 6}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49746346", "title": "Show HN: Snapdrop: Instantly share files between devices. No setup, no signup", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49415386", "title": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux", "mentions": 2}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49233423", "title": "Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48223258", "title": "Get your passwords out of Bitwarden while you still can", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46443077", "title": "Show HN: I built a universal clipboard that syncs realtime on multiple devices", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {"recommend": 1}, "2025-12": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {"recommend": 4, "warn": 1, "neutral": 1}, "2026-05": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-06": {}, "2026-07": {}, "2026-08": {"compare": 1, "recommend": 1, "neutral": 1}, "2026-09": {"neutral": 1, "recommend": 1}, "2026-10": {}}, "quotes": [{"id": 795988417, "item_id": 49749276, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49749276", "by": "djfobbz", "date": "2026-09-18", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Switched to localsend and never looked back.", "excerpt": "Terrible service. I used to use it back in the days until it starting going down all of the time. Switched to localsend and never looked back.", "context": "", "use_case": "file sharing between devices", "switched_from": "Snapdrop", "story": "Show HN: Snapdrop: Instantly share files between devices. No setup, no signup"}, {"id": 795984688, "item_id": 49749043, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49749043", "by": "nitin7", "date": "2026-09-18", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I have used localsend.", "excerpt": "I have used localsend. How is snapdrop this different from https://github.com/localsend/localsend?", "context": "", "use_case": "sharing files between devices", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: Snapdrop: Instantly share files between devices. No setup, no signup"}, {"id": 791907489, "item_id": 49494218, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49494218", "by": "starik36", "date": "2026-08-29", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.", "excerpt": "I am not sure that it is. From what I understand, Tether requires a companion app running on your iPhone. And as such, is subject to being shut down by the OS for various reasons (inactivity, etc...). So sometimes you would have to restart the app. I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.", "context": "", "use_case": "phone to computer transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux"}, {"id": 791873680, "item_id": 49492105, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49492105", "by": "lxe", "date": "2026-08-29", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use localsend right now and although I really love it", "excerpt": "Oh, fantastic, thank you. If this allows me to drop files onto an iPhone without me having to open an app, that would solve a lot of my issues. I use localsend right now and although I really love it, it still requires me to always keep the app open on the phone.", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files to phone", "switched_from": "", "story": "Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux"}, {"id": 787766466, "item_id": 49235404, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49235404", "by": "kofta999", "date": "2026-08-09", "stance": "compare", "quote": "LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish", "excerpt": "Currently building Tensou in my free time https://github.com/kofta999/tensou I always get frustrated when using local file transfer tools like: Dukto: was my personal favorite, but is tiring to run cross platform, and most importantly does not support transfer resumes (so if copy got cancelled/disconnected at 99% you either have to copy again or search for the diff and copy it manually) LocalSend: pretty good cross p", "context": "", "use_case": "local file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)"}, {"id": 771613938, "item_id": 48225871, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48225871", "by": "arikrahman", "date": "2026-05-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend.", "excerpt": "Just switched to KeepassXC and syncthing. Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend. This has been a great local FOSS way to keep autonomy over secrets, without even needing internet.", "context": "", "use_case": "transferring keyfiles", "switched_from": "", "story": "Get your passwords out of Bitwarden while you still can"}, {"id": 766994320, "item_id": 47937145, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47937145", "by": "kouru225", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I use local send when KDE connect isn\u2019t working for me.", "excerpt": "I use local send when KDE connect isn\u2019t working for me. The big problem with these is that you basically have to spend a minute or two setting up both devices to send.", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766958720, "item_id": 47934920, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934920", "by": "dTal", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this software for its reliability", "excerpt": "I love this software for its reliability (as compared to, say, KDE Connect, which I gave up on after years of frustrated use after it became clear that the developers did not believe there was an issue and it would never improve). I do not love that it is a heavy electron app that takes many seconds to launch on my mid-spec machine and burns 20% of an entire CPU core the entire time it is running. Why can't we have a", "context": "", "use_case": "sending files between devices", "switched_from": "KDE Connect", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766954672, "item_id": 47934667, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934667", "by": "jmarchello", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.", "excerpt": "Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly. The auto-generated names are pretty fun too.", "context": "uses it with their team", "use_case": "transferring configs and keys", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766951424, "item_id": 47934464, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934464", "by": "ifh-hn", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I love this app, it's on all my devices", "excerpt": "I love this app, it's on all my devices, it's also written in my favourite cross platform development framework (dart/flutter). Very useful app, with a massive advantage of airdrop, no need for apple. Irrespective of if it's a drop in replacement.", "context": "", "use_case": "cross-platform file sharing", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766947344, "item_id": 47934209, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47934209", "by": "worldsavior", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "warn", "quote": "I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time.", "excerpt": "It's not even close to the speed AirDrop has. This is not an alternative to AirDrop. I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time. These alternatives don't use the same technology.", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer", "switched_from": "", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 766941472, "item_id": 47933842, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47933842", "by": "subscribed", "date": "2026-04-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.", "excerpt": "I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found. Previously I was using syncthing or had to install ftp server, used wormhole after packing all my files into one, etc. Android QuickShare never worked for me (wouldn't help me much with sending to the pc either). It has some rough edges (ie: on multi-homed devices it's less that ideal to see the one octet that matters, when the list is very lon", "context": "", "use_case": "file transfer between devices", "switched_from": "Syncthing", "story": "Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop"}, {"id": 743114689, "item_id": 46444668, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46444668", "by": "jzellis", "date": "2025-12-31", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "For files or images, I use LocalSend now for everything.", "excerpt": "I sync my history between Fire/Waterfox on my phone and laptops, and since almost anything I wanna copy and paste is in the browser, I just open whatever it is from Other Devices. For files or images, I use LocalSend now for everything. Which is not to say there's not a big use case for this, but speaking only for myself, it's not a pain point. But it looks cool!", "context": "", "use_case": "transferring files between devices", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: I built a universal clipboard that syncs realtime on multiple devices"}, {"id": 736049520, "item_id": 46003095, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46003095", "by": "ssenssei", "date": "2025-11-21", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "excerpt": "I use this app called LocalSend between my Mac, my phone, and my Windows. It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it", "context": "", "use_case": "file sharing between Mac, phone, Windows", "switched_from": "", "story": "Android and iPhone users can now share files, starting with the Pixel 10"}]}