LocalSend vs ShareDrop
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
ShareDrop
Peer-to-peer file transfer in the browser
| Feature | LocalSend | ShareDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 30 · At risk |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Dart | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 92,563 | ★ 10,753 |
| First released | 2022 | 2014 |
| Replaces | AirDrop | AirDrop, WeTransfer |
What are LocalSend and ShareDrop?
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
ShareDrop
ShareDrop is a browser-based peer-to-peer file sharing app using WebRTC. It lets devices on the same network exchange files directly without uploading to a server.
- WebRTC peer-to-peer transfer
- No server-side storage
- Works across local networks
LocalSend vs ShareDrop: key differences
LocalSend is written in Dart, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. ShareDrop is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for LocalSend. ShareDrop is the more established project (first released 2014), while LocalSend arrived in 2022. LocalSend has the considerably larger community, at 92,563 GitHub stars versus 10,753. ShareDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; LocalSend does not.
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 ShareDrop if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 10.8k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is LocalSend or ShareDrop 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 ShareDrop free and open-source?
Yes. LocalSend is licensed under MIT and ShareDrop under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LocalSend and ShareDrop with Docker?
LocalSend: check the project docs for container support. ShareDrop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, LocalSend or ShareDrop?
ShareDrop 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.