Snapdrop vs LocalSend vs Oxolan — Which Local File Transfer Tool?
Snapdrop, LocalSend, and Oxolan all move files over the local network, but they are built for very different situations. An honest comparison of all three.
Snapdrop (and its active fork PairDrop), LocalSend and Oxolan all move files over the local network without the cloud, but for different situations. Snapdrop is a browser page with nothing to install — best for a one-off transfer to any device, including phones. LocalSend is a free, open-source installed app for reliable cross-platform sends (incl. Linux and mobile). Oxolan is the paid Windows/macOS option for offices sharing files daily: persistent discovery, file locking, resumable large transfers, and support.
The Short Answer
All three move files between devices on the same local network without the cloud, but they sit at different points on a line from "zero-setup one-off" to "daily office workflow":
- Snapdrop (and its active fork PairDrop) — a website, nothing to install. Open it on two devices on the same network and drag a file across. Perfect for a quick, occasional transfer, especially to a phone or a machine you do not control.
- LocalSend — a free, open-source installed app for one-off "send this to that device" transfers, cross-platform including Linux and mobile. A step up from Snapdrop in reliability and reach, still send-to-device by nature.
- Oxolan — a paid app for offices that share files all day: machines stay permanently discoverable, files lock while being edited, large transfers resume, and there is support. Windows and macOS.
Snapdrop / PairDrop: Zero Setup, Zero Install
Snapdrop runs entirely in the browser using WebRTC, so there is nothing to install and it works across any OS with a modern browser. Devices on the same network see each other on the page and you drag files between them.
- Best for: a one-off transfer to a device you do not want to install anything on — a colleague's laptop, a phone, a kiosk.
- Limits: it is a per-visit tool with no persistent device list, no file locking, and no resume; large transfers and flaky networks are where the browser-based approach struggles. The original Snapdrop is lightly maintained — PairDrop is the actively developed fork most people use now.
LocalSend: Free, Cross-Platform, Send-to-Device
LocalSend is an open-source installed app that does the AirDrop-style job well across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It discovers devices on the network per session and you send files to them.
- Best for: anyone who wants a free, reliable, cross-platform way to send files occasionally — including to and from phones and Linux, which Oxolan does not cover.
- Limits: it is send-to-device, so there is no persistent sidebar of machines, no file locking, no remote browsing of another machine, and an interrupted large transfer restarts. See the deeper Oxolan vs LocalSend comparison.
Oxolan: For Offices That Share All Day
Oxolan is the paid, office-workflow option. It is not trying to be the free one-off tool — it is built for a team that moves files between the same machines every day.
- Every PC and Mac appears automatically (~300 ms) and stays visible, even when Windows network discovery breaks.
- Transfers run at 60–115 MB/s on gigabit and resume after a drop instead of restarting — the big-file case Snapdrop and LocalSend do not cover.
- File locking stops two people overwriting the same file; you can browse and search another machine remotely; transfers are TLS 1.3 encrypted and never leave the LAN.
- Best for: studios and offices sharing large files daily. Not for: phones, Linux, or one-off transfers to a stranger's laptop — that is LocalSend or PairDrop territory.
Quick Comparison
| Snapdrop / PairDrop | LocalSend | Oxolan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install needed | No (browser) | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Free | Free, open source | Paid, 14-day trial |
| Platforms | Any browser | Win/mac/Linux/iOS/Android | Windows, macOS |
| Persistent device list | No | Per-session | Yes (~300 ms) |
| Large-file resume | No | No | Yes |
| File locking | No | No | Yes |
| Remote browse another device | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | One-off, any device | Free cross-platform sends | Daily office workflow |
How to Choose
- Occasional transfer, nothing installed, any device (incl. phones): Snapdrop/PairDrop.
- Free, reliable, cross-platform sending you use now and then: LocalSend.
- A team sharing large files every day on Windows/Mac, wanting persistent discovery, locking and support: Oxolan.
They are not mutually exclusive — plenty of people keep PairDrop bookmarked for phone transfers and run Oxolan for office work.
Related Guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Snapdrop, LocalSend and Oxolan?
Snapdrop/PairDrop runs in a browser with no install — ideal for an occasional transfer to any device. LocalSend is a free installed app for reliable send-to-device transfers across Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile. Oxolan is a paid Windows/macOS app for daily office use, adding persistent device discovery, file locking, remote browse and resumable large transfers.
Is Snapdrop or LocalSend better?
LocalSend is more reliable for anything beyond a quick one-off: it is an installed app with better handling of large files and flaky networks, while Snapdrop's browser approach is best for a no-install transfer to a device you do not control. Note the original Snapdrop is lightly maintained; PairDrop is the actively developed fork most people use now.
Which should an office use to share files?
For occasional transfers, LocalSend (free, cross-platform) or PairDrop (no install). For a team sharing large files every day on Windows and Mac that wants machines to stay discoverable, file locking so nobody overwrites anyone, and resumable transfers, Oxolan is the office-workflow option. Many people use both — PairDrop for phones, Oxolan for office work.
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