LocalSend vs PrivyDrop

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
FeatureLocalSendPrivyDrop
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageDartTypeScript
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM128 MB512 MB
Deploymentbinarydocker
GitHub stars★ 87,025★ 136
First released20222026
ReplacesAirDrop

Why pick each one

Choose LocalSend if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
  • Mature project with 87k GitHub stars
  • Written in Dart
LocalSend details

Choose PrivyDrop if…

  • Released under the MIT license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in TypeScript
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
PrivyDrop details

Frequently asked questions

Is LocalSend or PrivyDrop better?

LocalSend is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider PrivyDrop if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are LocalSend and PrivyDrop free and open-source?

Yes. LocalSend is licensed under MIT and PrivyDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run LocalSend and PrivyDrop with Docker?

LocalSend: check the project docs for container support. PrivyDrop: yes.

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