LocalSend
Open-source cross-platform app for sending files between nearby devices over local network.
Liked for reliable file transfers across phones and computers12345, including moving SSH keys and other secrets, even without internet.67 The most common complaint is that the phone app must stay open and sometimes needs restarting89, with others citing slow transfers, a heavy CPU-hungry desktop app, and weak resume support.101112
Why people recommend it
Cross-platform · 3
Commenters run it on all their devices, including Mac, Windows and phones.
“I love this app, it's on all my devices”
“It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it”
Show 1 more
“LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish”
Reliability · 3
Several users say it works consistently where other tools failed.
“I love this software for its reliability”
“Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.”
Show 1 more
“I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.”
Replaces alternatives · 3
Users switched to it from Snapdrop, KDE Connect and Syncthing.
“Switched to localsend and never looked back.”
“I love this software for its reliability”
Show 1 more
“I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.”
Sharing secrets · 2
Used to move keyfiles, VPN configs and SSH keys locally.
“Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend.”
“Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.”
Caveats and dissent
App must run · 2
The phone app has to stay open, and connections sometimes need a restart.
“I use localsend right now and although I really love it”
“I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.”
Resource usage · 1
One user says it launches slowly and uses 20% of a CPU core while running.
“I love this software for its reliability”
Transfer speed · 1
One user found it consistently slow compared with AirDrop.
“I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time.”
Resume and LAN · 1
Resume support is weak, and it reportedly fails over a direct LAN cable.
“LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish”
Setup friction · 2
Users mention setup time on both devices and rough edges in the interface.
“I use local send when KDE connect isn’t working for me.”
“I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Localsend: An open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop 6 mentions
- Show HN: Snapdrop: Instantly share files between devices. No setup, no signup 2 mentions
- Tether: iMessage, SMS, etc. on Linux 2 mentions
- Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026) 1 mention
- Get your passwords out of Bitwarden while you still can 1 mention
- Show HN: I built a universal clipboard that syncs realtime on multiple devices 1 mention
Data: localsend.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 14
“Switched to localsend and never looked back.”
“I have used localsend.”
“I use LocalSend and every now and then the connection does not work and I have to restart it on the phone.”
“I use localsend right now and although I really love it”
“LocalSend: pretty good cross platform support, but does not work when connecting 2 devices using a LAN cable, and resume support is poorish”
“Transferring keyfiles over LocalSend.”
“I use local send when KDE connect isn’t working for me.”
“I love this software for its reliability”
“Localsend is awesome! My team and I use it all the time for safely transmitting vpn configs, ssh keys, etc... It works flawlessly.”
“I love this app, it's on all my devices”
“I tried it multiple times but it's slow every time.”
“I use it on all my devices and tbh it's the absolute best option I found.”
“For files or images, I use LocalSend now for everything.”
“It's genuinely a godsend, and I hope whoever reads it tries it”