A LocalSend Alternative That Runs in the Browser

LocalSend is a solid open-source AirDrop-style tool, but it requires installing its app on every device that wants to send or receive. Nearsend takes a different approach: nothing to install anywhere.

The usual problem

Installing LocalSend on every device works, but it’s friction on a device you don’t own or don’t want to install anything on, a work laptop, a friend’s phone, a shared computer. It also needs to be kept up to date on each device separately, and both devices need to be discoverable on the same local network for LocalSend's own discovery to find them, which doesn't always hold up on guest Wi-Fi or a network with client isolation enabled.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend replaces the installed app with a browser tab. Open nearsend.app on both devices, pair with a QR code, PIN, or voice phrase, and send files, folders, text, or a link; no install, on either end, ever. Because pairing goes through nearsend.app itself rather than local network discovery, it also keeps working on networks where that kind of local discovery is blocked.

How to do it

Open Nearsend on both devices, Go to nearsend.app in any modern browser on the sending and receiving device; no app to install.
Pair them, Scan the animated QR code, enter the 6-digit PIN, or say the voice phrase to connect the two devices directly.
Send your files or folder, Drop files or a full folder onto the page, or pick them from the file browser. They stream straight to the other device.

Why it works well here

No app to install, runs in the browser on both devices
No account or sign-up required
Works across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, ChromeOS, and HarmonyOS
Files stream directly device-to-device; nothing is stored on a server
Nothing to install or keep updated on any device

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nearsend open source like LocalSend?

Nearsend’s focus is being install-free; you can use it on any device without setting anything up ahead of time.

Do both devices need LocalSend installed for this to work instead?

No, with Nearsend, neither device needs anything installed. Just open nearsend.app in a browser.

Does Nearsend require the same local Wi-Fi network?

No, devices pair through nearsend.app rather than local network discovery, so they don’t need to be on the same Wi-Fi.

Can I send folders, not just files?

Yes, whole folders are supported with their structure preserved.

Is it free?

Yes, Nearsend is free to use.

Is LocalSend open source, and does that matter for Nearsend?

LocalSend is open source, which is a real advantage for anyone who wants to inspect the code directly. Nearsend's advantage is different, being install-free on every device, so the two tools are worth choosing between based on which trade-off matters more for your situation.

Does LocalSend work without any internet connection at all?

On a genuinely offline local network, LocalSend can work purely over Wi-Fi. Nearsend does need each device to have an internet connection, even for two nearby devices, a real, different trade-off worth knowing about upfront.

Which one is easier to explain to someone unfamiliar with either tool?

Nearsend's pairing step, scan a code or read a PIN, tends to be simpler to walk someone through than installing and setting up a new app first, especially on a device that isn't theirs.