SHSelfHostIndex

qrcp 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.

Not the right match-up?
QR qrcp Transfer files to and from phones by scanning a QR code VS SH ShareDrop Peer-to-peer file transfer in the browser
FeatureqrcpShareDrop
Deploy effortRead-the-docs projectUnder-an-hour setup
Health score70 · Good30 · At risk
CategoryFile Sync & StorageFile Sync & Storage
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageGoJavaScript
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM64 MB64 MB
Deploymentbinary, bare-metaldocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 10,512★ 10,753
First released20182014
ReplacesAirDrop, SnapdropAirDrop, WeTransfer

What are qrcp and ShareDrop?

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

Read the full qrcp guide →

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

qrcp vs ShareDrop: key differences

Qrcp is written in Go, while ShareDrop is built with JavaScript. ShareDrop is the more established project (first released 2014), while qrcp arrived in 2018. ShareDrop lists first-class Docker deployment; qrcp does not.

Why pick each one

Choose qrcp if…

  • Instant phone transfers
  • Zero configuration

Watch out for

  • Same-network requirement
  • CLI only
qrcp details

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
ShareDrop details

Frequently asked questions

Is qrcp or ShareDrop better?

Neither is universally better. ShareDrop has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are qrcp and ShareDrop free and open-source?

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

Can I run qrcp and ShareDrop with Docker?

qrcp: check the project docs for container support. ShareDrop: yes.

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