What is LocalSend used for?

LocalSend is a free cross-platform app for sending files and messages to nearby devices over your local network, with no internet connection or account required. It is a good fit for moving files between phone and laptop, sharing documents across mixed operating systems, and transferring files while offline.

Is LocalSend open source?

Yes. LocalSend is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at localsend/localsend and is written mainly in Dart.

Yes. LocalSend is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host LocalSend?

Yes. LocalSend can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is LocalSend an alternative to?

LocalSend is an open-source alternative to Send Anywhere and WeTransfer. Other open-source alternatives to Send Anywhere include AlterSend, PairDrop and AirDash.

Is LocalSend actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to LocalSend was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.18.2, published on 21 August 2026. The project has 93k stars on GitHub.

LocalSend: open-source alternative to Send Anywhere

About LocalSend

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.

Key features

Sends files and text between nearby devices
Works without internet or third-party servers
HTTPS-encrypted transfers over a REST API
Apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux
Command line interface
Translations contributed by the community

Good fit for

→Moving files between phone and laptop
→Sharing documents across mixed operating systems
→Transferring files while offline

Built with: Dart; Flutter
Tags: file-sharing; airdrop-alternative; cross-platform; flutter; local-network; privacy; offline

LocalSend: questions and answers

What is LocalSend used for?: LocalSend is a free cross-platform app for sending files and messages to nearby devices over your local network, with no internet connection or account required. It is a good fit for moving files between phone and laptop, sharing documents across mixed operating systems, and transferring files while offline.
Is LocalSend open source?: Yes. LocalSend is open source under the Apache-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at localsend/localsend and is written mainly in Dart.
Is LocalSend free?: Yes. LocalSend is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host LocalSend?: Yes. LocalSend can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is LocalSend an alternative to?: LocalSend is an open-source alternative to Send Anywhere and WeTransfer. Other open-source alternatives to Send Anywhere include AlterSend, PairDrop and AirDash.
Is LocalSend actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to LocalSend was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.18.2, published on 21 August 2026. The project has 93k stars on GitHub.