LocalSend vs Magic Wormhole
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
LocalSend
Share files to nearby devices without the internet
VS
Magic Wormhole
Get things from one computer to another, safely
| Feature | LocalSend | Magic Wormhole |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Dart | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 92,563 | ★ 22,946 |
| First released | 2022 | 2016 |
| Replaces | AirDrop | WeTransfer, AirDrop |
What are LocalSend and Magic Wormhole?
LocalSend
LocalSend is a cross-platform app to share files and messages between devices on a local network. It uses a secure REST API and works without an internet connection or central server.
- No internet required
- Encrypted local transfer
- Available on all major platforms
Magic Wormhole
Magic Wormhole is a library and CLI tool for securely transferring files and directories between computers. It uses short human-pronounceable codes and PAKE encryption for safe transfers.
- PAKE-based encryption
- Human-readable transfer codes
- Self-hostable relay and mailbox
LocalSend vs Magic Wormhole: key differences
LocalSend is written in Dart, while Magic Wormhole is built with Python. Magic Wormhole is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for LocalSend. Magic Wormhole is the more established project (first released 2016), while LocalSend arrived in 2022. LocalSend has the considerably larger community, at 92,563 GitHub stars versus 22,946.
Why pick each one
Choose LocalSend if…
- No internet required
- Cross-platform with mobile apps
- AirDrop-like simplicity
Watch out for
- Devices must share network
- No remote transfers
Choose Magic Wormhole if…
- Dead-simple pairing codes
- End-to-end encrypted
- No account needed
Watch out for
- Terminal-based workflow
- Both ends online simultaneously
Frequently asked questions
Is LocalSend or Magic Wormhole better?
Neither is universally better. LocalSend has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are LocalSend and Magic Wormhole free and open-source?
Yes. LocalSend is licensed under MIT and Magic Wormhole under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LocalSend and Magic Wormhole with Docker?
LocalSend: check the project docs for container support. Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, LocalSend or Magic Wormhole?
Magic Wormhole has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for LocalSend. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.