Open-source WeTransfer alternatives

LocalSend is an open-source app for sharing files and messages between devices on the same local network. It is described as a cross-platform alternative to AirDrop, so phones, tablets and computers running different operating systems can exchange data directly without routing it through a cloud service.

Devices talk to each other through a REST API protected by HTTPS encryption, so no external servers or internet access are needed, which keeps transfers quick and files inside your network. The app is built with Flutter and Dart, and builds are documented for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux. There is also a command line interface, and community members contribute translations through Weblate.

LocalSend is free under the Apache-2.0 license. The maintainers recommend installing it from an app store or a package manager, and the source is available on both GitHub and Codeberg. Because it needs no account or sign-in, it is a lightweight option for people who regularly move files between their own devices.

croc is a command line tool for transferring files and folders between any two computers. The sender gets a short code phrase, the receiver types it in, and the data moves directly between them where possible, falling back to a relay when a direct connection is not available. It is written in Go and runs on Windows, Linux and macOS.

Transfers are end-to-end encrypted using a password-authenticated key exchange, so the relay cannot read your files. Other capabilities include sending multiple files at once, resuming transfers that were interrupted, IPv6-first networking with IPv4 fallback, and routing through a proxy such as Tor. You do not need to set up a local server or forward ports. A browser version at getcroc.com is compatible with the command line client, so you can send and receive between them without installing anything.

croc is MIT licensed and can be installed from a release download or the command line. The maintainer notes that the project relies on community sponsorship. It suits anyone who regularly needs to move files between machines without cloud storage or accounts.

Magic Wormhole is a Python package that provides a library and a command-line tool named wormhole. It moves files and directories of any size, or brief snippets of text, between two computers. The two ends are matched by an identical wormhole code: the sending machine generates and shows it, and the receiving person types it in. It is released under the MIT license.

Codes are short, single-use and human-pronounceable, drawn from a phonetically distinct word list, and the receiving side offers tab completion so usually only a few characters are needed. Nothing has to be memorized. The program relies on two servers, a mailbox server and a transit relay, whose source code lives in separate repositories. The library works with Python 3.10 and newer, packages exist in many operating systems, and complete documentation is on Read the Docs along with a PyCon 2016 talk.

OnionShare is a tool, open source, for sharing files, hosting websites and chatting with others securely and anonymously through the Tor network. It works peer to peer: your computer starts a temporary onion service, and recipients use Tor Browser to reach it, so no third-party server holds the files.

Beyond file sharing, it can host an onion site, run a chat room and create a private drop box for receiving files. It is available as desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, and mobile apps for Android and iOS developed in collaboration with the Guardian Project and The Calyx Institute. It comes preinstalled in privacy-focused operating systems such as Qubes OS, Tails and Parrot OS.

OnionShare is written in Python and developed by the Lockdown Systems collective, released under GPLv3 according to its website, while the repository lists the license as Other. Like all software it may contain bugs or vulnerabilities. It suits journalists, activists and anyone needing private file transfer without relying on cloud services.

MicroBin is a small, self-contained and self-hosted paste bin web application written in Rust. It is quick to set up and needs only a few megabytes of memory and disk storage, and it ships as a single executable file.

An upload can be a pasted text, one or more attached files, or a URL redirection. Uploads can be private or public, editable or read-only, and set to expire automatically or never. Other features include server-side and client-side end-to-end encryption, QR code support, raw text serving, animal names as upload identifiers, automatic dark mode, and SQLite or JSON storage.

People use it to send long texts or large files, share sensitive documents, shorten URLs and serve configuration files or images through its raw endpoint. It can be installed through a Docker setup script or from Cargo, and is licensed under BSD-3-Clause. The project website offers screenshots, documentation and a roadmap.

Zipline is an open-source file upload server that you run yourself. It began as a destination for ShareX screenshot and file uploads and has grown into a general personal or team file host with a web interface, an API, and a gallery view for uploaded media. It is released under the MIT license.

Uploads can be organized into folders and tags, shortened into compact URLs, and shared with embeds that preview cleanly in chat apps. Access can be tightened with password-protected links, invite-only registration, per-user quotas, OAuth2 sign-in, two-factor authentication, and passkeys. Image compression, video thumbnails, and partial uploads help with larger files, and webhooks can notify Discord or any HTTP endpoint.

Deployment is Docker-based: you mount volumes for uploads, public assets, and custom themes, and set a secret value before the first start. The host CPU must support AVX instructions, because the project does not publish builds for older processors. Zipline suits individuals, communities, and small teams who want a private alternative to public image and file hosts.

Gokapi is a self-hosted tool for sharing files, presented as an alternative to Firefox Send. It is written in Go and runs on Linux, macOS and Windows or in a Docker container. Unlike many upload services, it does not allow public uploads: only registered users can add files, which keeps the instance under the owner's control.

Shares can expire automatically after a set number of downloads or days. A file request feature gives outside parties a link to upload files that only the link's creator can see. Other features include user management with roles, file deduplication so identical files use no extra space, built-in encryption including end-to-end encrypted uploads, a REST API for automation and a UI that can be customized with CSS and JavaScript.

Storage can be local or AWS S3, including S3-compatible services such as Backblaze B2. OpenID Connect support allows sign-in through providers like Authelia or Keycloak. The minimum requirements are modest, around one CPU core and a few hundred megabytes of memory, and a setup wizard runs on first launch. Gokapi is licensed under AGPL-3.0.

Chibisafe is a file uploader service written in TypeScript. You send it files, photos or documents and it gives back a shareable link. It is described as easy to use and deploy, and it can run in public mode, user accounts mode or invite-only mode, depending on how open you want your instance to be.

Large files are uploaded in chunks to reduce failures from network problems, and users can create API keys to use the service programmatically. An admin dashboard exposes most instance settings, including the name, rate limit, maximum file size and accepted extensions, so you rarely need to edit configuration files by hand.

Version 6 adds S3 storage support, a masonry layout for browsing media, albums and folders with direct links, snippets, file management and tagging, user management with quotas and a built-in URL shortener. ShareX support, an iOS shortcut and a browser extension help with uploading from desktops, phones and websites. It is open source under the MIT license, runs without ads, and logs IP addresses of requests.

AlterSend is an app for transferring files directly between your devices over the internet. Files go peer to peer with end-to-end encryption, with no cloud storage, no uploads, no accounts, and no size limit. The README frames it as a replacement for WeTransfer, Dropbox, or Google Drive links when you only want to move a file from one device to another. The input lists its license only as other.

It uses techniques such as hole punching to connect devices behind routers. Installers are provided, including Homebrew for macOS and Flatpak for Linux, and the repository has sections on how it works, development setup, internationalization, the tech stack, crash reporting, and security. It is written in TypeScript and was created in 2026.

AlterSend suits people who regularly share large files, such as video or backups, and want privacy without relying on a cloud intermediary. Both devices generally need to be online at the same time for a transfer.

PairDrop is a web app for local file sharing in the browser, inspired by Apple's AirDrop. It is a fork of Snapdrop and works on all platforms with a modern browser, which makes it useful for moving files between a phone and a laptop or between Android and iOS devices. It is released under the GPL-3.0 license.

You can send images, documents, or text through peer-to-peer connections to devices on the same local network. For transfers over the internet, you join temporary public rooms to pair devices. It runs as a progressive web app using WebRTC and WebSockets on a Node.js server, and the README lists the differences from the Snapdrop project it is based on.

A public instance is available at pairdrop.net, and the app can be self-hosted. PairDrop suits anyone who needs quick, no-account file transfers across mixed operating systems and wants to keep files off third-party cloud storage.