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The current LinuxLinks roundup behind this topic lists seven free and open-source terminal-based file-sharing tools, not eight. The best fit depends on whether you are sending files across the internet or over a local network, and whether the recipient can use a terminal, browser, or phone. This is a practical comparison of the seven listed projects, with OnionShare noted separately as another documented command-line option—not as a confirmed missing entry.
Which tool fits your transfer?
| Tool | Best fit | Recipient workflow | Network model |
|---|---|---|---|
| croc | Cross-platform transfers between computers, including multiple files and folders | Enter a generated code phrase | Attempts peer-to-peer transfer and can fall back to a relay |
| Magic Wormhole | Sending files, directories, or short text between computers | Use a short, single-use code | Attempts a direct connection and uses a transit relay if needed |
| qrcp | Sending files from a computer to a phone on the same reachable Wi-Fi network | Scan a QR code and use a mobile browser | Local web server bound to the computer’s Wi-Fi interface |
| FTS | Transfers and communication within a local network | Use its CLI or TUI | Designed for LAN use; its profile warns against public networks without permission |
| ffsend | Sharing from the command line; the roundup labels it “securely share files from the command line” | Not stated in the roundup profile | Not stated in the roundup profile |
| JocalSend | Local sharing through a terminal interface; the roundup calls it a “TUI LocalSend implementation” | Not stated in the roundup profile | Not stated in the roundup profile |
| e2ecp | A cross-platform command-line file-sharing option, according to the roundup label | Not stated in the roundup profile | Not stated in the roundup profile |
The roundup identifies free and open-source software as its eligibility criterion, but does not describe a comparative test method. The table is therefore a workflow guide, not a performance ranking; no comparative speed results are established.
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Remote transfers between computers
croc: code phrase, encrypted transfer, and relay fallback
croc’s project README describes transfers of files and folders between computers. The sender shares a generated code phrase, which the README says establishes a PAKE exchange and produces a shared secret for end-to-end encryption. The tool attempts peer-to-peer transfer but can fall back to a relay, so a transfer is not guaranteed to travel directly between devices. The project also documents multiple-file transfers, resuming interrupted transfers, IPv6-first behavior with IPv4 fallback, proxy use, and browser compatibility. Supported platforms listed include Windows, Linux, and macOS.
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For the code’s relay role, croc can use a public relay or a self-hosted relay. The README also says it does not require a local server or port forwarding. Check the project’s current README and release instructions for installation options rather than relying on an old package command.
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Magic Wormhole: a short-lived code for files, directories, or text
Magic Wormhole’s documentation describes a wormhole CLI for sending arbitrary-sized files and directories, as well as short text, between computers. The sender and recipient use a generated, short, human-pronounceable, single-use code. The tool tries a direct connection and falls back to a transit relay when that fails.
The documentation says transfer data uses an encrypted record-pipe with a key derived during the PAKE phase and libsodium secretbox. This describes the project’s documented design, not an independent security audit. Its installation page covers package options for Linux, macOS, and Windows, but availability varies by distribution; follow the current installation guidance for your system. A separate protocol document discusses SHA-256 in the transfer acknowledgment and labels a command mode for exchanging files in both directions as a future extension, so do not assume that extension is available.
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Sending files to a phone on the same Wi-Fi
qrcp: scan a code instead of typing a transfer address
qrcp is a CLI for transferring files over Wi-Fi from a computer to a mobile device. It starts a web server bound to the computer’s Wi-Fi interface and prints a QR code containing a local URL. The recipient scans it and downloads through a mobile browser. This is a local-network workflow: it is useful when the phone can reach that local address, not a general rendezvous method for sending to someone on a remote network.
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Local-network transfers and communication
FTS: transfers, chat, and history on a LAN
FTS is described as a lightweight CLI and TUI for local-network transfers and communication. Its listed features include LAN chat, contacts and online users, transfer progress, history, and encrypted transfers. Its profile explicitly warns that it is designed for local networks and should never be used on public networks without permission. Treat that scope warning as central to the choice, not as a minor setup note. The profile identifies the license as MIT and the developer as Terabase-Studios.
JocalSend: a terminal interface for local sharing
The roundup lists JocalSend as a “TUI LocalSend implementation.” That description establishes its terminal-interface and local-sharing framing, but does not establish supported platforms, encryption details, transfer behavior, or current maintenance status. Consult the project’s own current documentation before choosing it for a specific network or security requirement.
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Other listed command-line options
ffsend
The roundup describes ffsend as a way to “securely share files from the command line.” That short label does not establish its current recipient workflow, network model, supported platforms, or the details behind its security claim. Verify those points in current project documentation before relying on it.
e2ecp
The roundup labels e2ecp a “cross-platform tool.” The profile available for this listing does not substantiate more detailed claims about its transfer workflow, encryption, or platforms. Check its current official project documentation for those specifics.
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Is OnionShare the missing eighth tool?
No evidence establishes that OnionShare was intended as the eighth entry. Its documentation describes an open-source tool for sharing files, hosting websites, and chatting using Tor, and includes command-line-only installation and CLI documentation. It is a relevant separate option for readers specifically seeking Tor-based sharing, but it should not be silently inserted into the seven-item roundup or presented as the confirmed missing selection.
How to choose without assuming every transfer works the same way
- For a remote computer-to-computer transfer: consider croc or Magic Wormhole. Both use a code to connect sender and recipient and document relay fallback when a direct connection cannot be made.
- For a phone on your Wi-Fi: qrcp avoids requiring the recipient to use a terminal; the phone scans a QR code and opens a local URL in its browser.
- For a LAN-focused tool with communication features: FTS includes chat and transfer history, but its public-network warning rules out treating it as a general internet-sharing service.
- For a terminal-based local-sharing interface: JocalSend is listed as a TUI LocalSend implementation, but check its project documentation for details not established by that label.
- For less-documented entries: the roundup’s labels for ffsend and e2ecp are not enough to determine whether their connection model or security properties fit your needs.
- For Tor-based sharing: assess OnionShare separately and confirm that its current CLI workflow suits the recipient and task.
Before transferring sensitive files, verify that you are using the intended recipient’s code or local address, keep the transfer within the network scope the tool supports, and consult the project documentation for current security and installation guidance. Relay use, local-network reachability, and the recipient’s available device can matter as much as the command-line interface.
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