Send Files Without Cloud Storage

Cloud storage tools make you upload a file, wait for it to sync, then download it again on the other device, plus whatever storage quota you’re working with. Nearsend skips the cloud step entirely and sends the file straight to the other device.

The usual problem

Uploading to Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox just to move a file between two of your own devices means waiting twice, once to upload, once to download, and it counts against a storage quota the whole time it sits there. For anything private, it also means a copy of the file lives on a company’s servers, even briefly.

How Nearsend solves it

Nearsend connects two devices directly over an encrypted WebRTC connection. The file goes straight from the sending device to the receiving device in one pass; there’s no upload step, no intermediate storage, and no quota, because the file is never stored on a server in between.

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
No upload/download round trip and no storage quota, the file only ever exists on the sending and receiving device

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the file get uploaded to a server anywhere?

No. Files stream directly between the sending and receiving device. Nearsend’s server only helps the two devices find each other.

Is there a storage quota?

There’s nothing to run out of, since nothing is stored, the limit is just your two devices’ own network connection.

Is this faster than cloud storage for large files?

Often, yes, a direct transfer skips the upload-then-download round trip cloud storage requires.

Does the other device need a cloud account to receive the file?

No, just an open browser tab on nearsend.app.

Is it private?

Files pass directly between the two devices over an encrypted connection, without sitting on a server at any point.

What if I actually want the file backed up to the cloud too?

Nearsend doesn't do that automatically; it's built for the direct handoff itself. If you also want a persistent backup, uploading a copy to cloud storage afterward as a separate, deliberate step still works fine alongside it.

Does skipping cloud storage make the transfer faster?

Often, yes; there's no upload-then-download round trip to wait through, since the file goes straight from one device to the other in a single pass.

Can I still use this if I normally rely on cloud storage for everything?

Yes; it's not an all-or-nothing choice. Using a direct transfer for a one-off handoff and cloud storage for anything that needs to persist works fine side by side.

Is there anything to configure to turn cloud syncing off first?

No. Nearsend doesn't interact with any cloud-sync settings on your device at all; it's a separate, independent way of moving a file that doesn't need anything else changed first.