AirDrop Alternatives for Linux

AirDrop is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is LocalSend, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to AirDrop and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to AirDrop are Syncthing, KDE Connect, OnionShare and RetroShare.

AirDrop iconAirDrop
  14
  • Free • Proprietary
  • ...

With AirDrop, you can wirelessly send documents, photos, videos, websites, map locations, and more to a nearby iPhone,...

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AirDrop alternatives page was last updated Feb 24, 2025
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  1. LocalSend icon

    LocalSend

     263 likes
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    LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file-sharing tool designed to securely share files and messages with nearby devices over your local network without needing an internet connection. Here are some of its key features:

    93 LocalSend alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Chocolatey
    LocalSend screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Secure File Sharing
    3.  Large File Transfer
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  LAN
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Decentralized
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Portable

    LocalSend VS AirDrop

     
    Comments about LocalSend as an Alternative to AirDrop
    Shaz Shah
    Positive Jun 6, 2024
    0

    I did try SnapDrop, but that was a hit and miss. Probably because it's a PWA (Progressive Web App).

    Found this in F-Droid and I have to say this is the best FOSS alternative to AirDrop. I do use it to share files with family as well as between my devices.

    One bit I really like is that you have to go into the app and be ready to receive a file, so that no-one can randomly send something to you.

    AdrienVR
    Positive Oct 23, 2023
    0

    Very easy to use, very fast

    AirDrop Icon
    LocalSend icon

    • Almost everyone thinks LocalSend is a great AirDrop alternative.

    • LocalSend is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to AirDrop.

    • LocalSend is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to AirDrop.

    • LocalSend is Free and Open SourceAirDrop is Free and Proprietary
    • LocalSend is Lightweight, Privacy focused and DecentralizedAirDrop is not according to our users
  2. Syncthing icon

    Syncthing

     817 likes
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    Open-source, peer-to-peer service offering encrypted file synchronization, ensuring data privacy and user-autonomy without relying on cloud storage or central servers, suitable for various uses.

    130 Syncthing alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    • Termux
    • Terminal
    Syncthing screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Peer-To-Peer
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Folder Sync
    4.  File Sync
    5.  Real-time sync
    6.  End-to-End Encryption
    7.  Synchronization
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Large File Transfer
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Portable

    Syncthing VS AirDrop

     

    • Syncthing is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to AirDrop.

    • Syncthing is Free and Open SourceAirDrop is Free and Proprietary
    • Syncthing is Decentralized and LightweightAirDrop is not according to our users
  4. KDE Connect icon

    KDE Connect

     339 likes
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    Empowers seamless interaction between devices, offering notifications, SMS replies, music control, file sharing, volume control, secure connections, and cross-platform compatibility.

    73 KDE Connect alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • KDE Plasma
    • F-Droid
    • Sailfish OS
    • Plasma Mobile
    • Chocolatey
    KDE Connect screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Share Clipboard
    2.  Remote media control
    3.  Send & Receive SMS
    4.  Real-time sync
    5.  Integrated File Sharing
    6.  Large File Transfer
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Remote File Access
    9.  Battery level report
    10.  Live Push Notifications
    11.  Remote music control
    12.  No Tracking

    KDE Connect VS AirDrop

     
    Comments about KDE Connect as an Alternative to AirDrop
    Shaz Shah
    Positive Jun 6, 2024
    0

    KDE Connect is a brilliant application, but I wouldn't consider this a direct AirDrop alternative. The use case for this is to register a device to get a Apple-like experience between your computer and smartphone (see messages, share clipboard, share documents). You cannot share files with other people's devices (with a different OS).

    AirDrop Icon
    KDE Connect icon
    • KDE Connect is Free and Open SourceAirDrop is Free and Proprietary
    • KDE Connect is Privacy focusedAirDrop is not according to our users
  5. OnionShare icon

    OnionShare

     98 likes
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    OnionShare is an open source tool that lets you securely and anonymously share files, host websites, and chat with friends using the Tor network.

    58 OnionShare alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    OnionShare screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Tor
    2.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing
    3.  No Coding Required
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Receive files

    OnionShare VS AirDrop

     
  6. RetroShare icon

    RetroShare

     159 likes
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    RetroShare is a open source cross-platform, private and secure decentralized communication system. It lets you to securely chat, share photos, videos, and more, using OpenPGP to authenticate peers and .

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • OpenSSL
    • OpenPGP
    Network tab with contact list and broadcast subtab open. The subtab shows text and image sent by one contact to all connected contacts.

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Serverless
    3.  End-to-End Encryption
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  Anonymous Secure Filesharing
    6.  Secure File Sharing
    7.  Shared Folders
    8.  GPG Encryption
    9.  Secure Chat
    10.  Tor
    11. I2P icon  i2P integration
    12.  Voice Chat

    RetroShare VS AirDrop

     
  7. Send Anywhere icon

    Send Anywhere

     109 likes
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    A cross-platform file sharing service which allows users to easily share digital content peer-to-peer, in real-time, without cloud storage.

    204 Send Anywhere alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Kindle Fire
    Web (https://send-anywhere.com)

    Send Anywhere Features

    1.  Peer-To-Peer
    2.  File Sending
    3.  Personal-assistant

    Send Anywhere VS AirDrop

     
  9. Warpinator icon

    Warpinator

     17 likes
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    Warpinator is a free, open-source tool for sending and receiving files between computers that are on the same network. All you need do is install Warpinator on the computers, choose a group code, edit your firewalls if necessary, and that’s all.

    74 Warpinator alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • IE flagIreland
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Android
    • Windows
    Warpinator screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  LAN
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Cross-Platform

    Warpinator VS AirDrop

     
  10. Valent icon

    Valent

     12 likes
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    Securely connect your devices to open files and links where you need them, get notifications when you need them, stay in control of your media and more.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • GNOME
    • Flatpak
    • KDE Connect
    Valent screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Decentralized
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  No Tracking
    8.  Live Push Notifications
    9.  Gtk
    10.  Share Clipboard
    11.  Remote File Access
    12.  Integrated File Sharing

    Valent VS AirDrop

     
  11. Croc icon

    Croc

     20 likes
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    croc is a tool I built to easily and securely transfer stuff from one computer to another.

    The only tool that is easily installed and used on any platform, and has secure peer-to-peer transferring, and has the capability to resume broken transfers.

    95 Croc alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Termux
    Croc screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Secure File Sharing
    2.  Data transfer
    3.  File Sending
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  Multi Platform
    6.  Local network sharing
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Portable
    11.  Password protection

    Croc VS AirDrop

     
  12. Dukto R6 icon

    Dukto R6

     80 likes
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    Dukto is an easy file transfer tool designed for LAN use. Use it in everyday work to transfer files from one PC to another, without worrying about users, permissions, operating systems, protocols, clients, servers and so on… Just start dukto on the two PCs and transfer files and...

    43 Dukto R6 alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Windows Mobile
    • Android
    • Symbian S60
    • Android Tablet
    Dukto R6 screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The project is no longer maintained. Last version, released in 2013 can be still downloaded on the official website

    Dukto R6 Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Drag and Drop

    Dukto R6 VS AirDrop

     
  13. GNOME Warp icon

    GNOME Warp

     11 likes
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    Fast and secure file transfer via Magic Wormhole protocol.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    GNOME Warp screenshot 1

    GNOME Warp Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Secure File Sharing
    3.  Image Sharing
    4.  Integrated File Sharing
    5.  Document Sharing

    GNOME Warp VS AirDrop

     
  14. Magic Wormhole icon

    Magic Wormhole

     23 likes
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    This package provides a library and a command-line tool named wormhole, which makes it possible to get arbitrary-sized files and directories (or short pieces of text) from one computer to another.

    70 Magic Wormhole alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Python

    Magic Wormhole Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  Peer-To-Peer

    Magic Wormhole VS AirDrop

     
12 of 39 AirDrop alternatives