LocalSend vs qrcp
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
qrcp
Transfer files to and from phones by scanning a QR code
| Feature | LocalSend | qrcp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 70 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Dart | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 92,563 | ★ 10,512 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | AirDrop | AirDrop, Snapdrop |
What are LocalSend and qrcp?
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
qrcp
qrcp is a command-line tool that transfers files over WiFi by generating a QR code that points to a temporary local web server. Scanning the code with a phone downloads or uploads files without any app or cable.
- QR-code based transfers
- Send and receive files
- Single static binary
- No mobile app required
LocalSend vs qrcp: key differences
LocalSend is written in Dart, while qrcp is built with Go. Qrcp is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for LocalSend. Qrcp is the more established project (first released 2018), while LocalSend arrived in 2022. LocalSend has the considerably larger community, at 92,563 GitHub stars versus 10,512.
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 qrcp if…
- Instant phone transfers
- Zero configuration
Watch out for
- Same-network requirement
- CLI only
Frequently asked questions
Is LocalSend or qrcp 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 qrcp free and open-source?
Yes. LocalSend is licensed under MIT and qrcp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LocalSend and qrcp with Docker?
LocalSend: check the project docs for container support. qrcp: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, LocalSend or qrcp?
qrcp has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for LocalSend. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.