PairDrop 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.
PairDrop
Local and internet file sharing inspired by Snapdrop
VS
qrcp
Transfer files to and from phones by scanning a QR code
| Feature | PairDrop | qrcp |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 67 · Good | 70 · Good |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,459 | ★ 10,512 |
| First released | 2022 | 2018 |
| Replaces | AirDrop, WeTransfer | AirDrop, Snapdrop |
What are PairDrop and qrcp?
PairDrop
PairDrop is an enhanced fork of Snapdrop that adds device pairing across networks and the internet. It enables easy, encrypted peer-to-peer file transfer between paired devices.
- Cross-network device pairing
- Paste and share text
- WebRTC encrypted transfer
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
PairDrop vs qrcp: key differences
PairDrop is written in JavaScript, while qrcp is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for PairDrop versus MIT for qrcp. Qrcp is the more established project (first released 2018), while PairDrop arrived in 2022. PairDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; qrcp does not.
Why pick each one
Choose PairDrop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 11.5k GitHub stars
Choose qrcp if…
- Instant phone transfers
- Zero configuration
Watch out for
- Same-network requirement
- CLI only
Frequently asked questions
Is PairDrop or qrcp better?
Neither is universally better. PairDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are PairDrop and qrcp free and open-source?
Yes. PairDrop is licensed under GPL-3.0 and qrcp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PairDrop and qrcp with Docker?
PairDrop: yes. qrcp: check the project docs for container support.