Apple’s AirDrop is an Apple-specific feature, not a service you can self-host for Windows, Android, iPhone, and Linux. But you can get a similar nearby-device sharing workflow across those platforms with LocalSend; if you specifically want a browser-based service you can host yourself, PairDrop is another option. The choice comes down to app installation versus browser access, and strictly local transfers versus optional sharing across networks.
What “self-hosted AirDrop” means here
Neither project makes Apple’s AirDrop run on non-Apple devices. They are independent alternatives that let nearby devices exchange files. LocalSend is an app installed on the devices; it transfers over a shared local network without requiring a central server. PairDrop runs in a modern browser and can be hosted on a local network. Its documentation also covers optional ways to transfer between devices on different networks.
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That distinction matters: hosting PairDrop yourself does not mean every transfer stays on your LAN. A local transfer and an optional cross-network transfer can take different network routes.
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| Priority | LocalSend | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| No central server for the documented local workflow | Fits: it works over a local network without relying on third-party servers. | Can be self-hosted; its project also describes hosted mechanisms for internet transfers. |
| Avoid installing an app | Not a fit: install the app on each device. | Fits: works in a modern browser; the project also describes a PWA. |
| Share on the same LAN | Fits: local-network transfers do not require internet access. | Fits: peer-to-peer transfers on a local network are supported. |
| Share across networks | The reviewed project material describes local-network transfers, not a relay workflow. | Documents temporary public rooms and persistent pairing for internet transfers; TURN may be involved for some peers behind NAT. |
| Self-host the service | Not needed for its documented local-network operation. | Explicitly supported, including on a local network. |
| Main setup trade-off | Install on each device and make sure local discovery and connectivity work. | Browser access, with additional deployment and network decisions if you host it or configure cross-network connectivity. |
Choose LocalSend for a straightforward, app-based transfer between devices on the same network. Choose PairDrop if browser access or hosting the service yourself is important. Neither is a universal winner: the best fit depends on whether you want to install apps, whether transfers need to cross networks, and how much service setup you want to manage.
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How to share files with LocalSend on the same network
- Install the app on each device. LocalSend lists support for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, covering the device families in this article.
- Put the devices on a shared local path. The usual choice is the same Wi-Fi or LAN. If there is no shared Wi-Fi, LocalSend’s FAQ identifies a phone hotspot as one way to create a local network path.
- Open LocalSend on both devices. Select the receiving device from the sender’s available devices, then accept the incoming transfer on the receiving side.
- Check where the file was saved. The FAQ says Downloads is the default destination; the destination can be changed in settings.
If the other device does not appear or the transfer fails, first check that both devices are connected to the same local network and that the app is allowed to communicate on it. Firewall rules and permission prompts differ by operating system and app version, so use the current platform-specific guidance rather than assuming one set of steps applies everywhere.
What LocalSend’s privacy and security claims establish
The LocalSend maintainers describe it as an app for sharing files and messages with nearby devices over a local network without an internet connection. The project says its REST API communication uses HTTPS and that each device generates its own TLS certificate. Its FAQ describes confirmation before accepting a transfer and optional PIN verification.
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Those details describe the documented workflow; they are not a guarantee that every device or network configuration is secure. A local-network transfer avoids the project’s reliance on a third-party server for that workflow, but users should still check the recipient before accepting files and secure the network and devices they use.
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PairDrop is the browser-based choice: its project documents local-network hosting and peer-to-peer transfers on a LAN. The repository names a Raspberry Pi as an example host, not a requirement, and does not specify a mandatory model. A computer or server you already have may be suitable; the reviewed project information does not establish hardware requirements for a particular deployment.
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PairDrop also documents temporary public rooms and persistent pairing for transfers over the internet. When peers are outside the local network and behind NAT, the project says they may connect through its TURN server. Self-hosters can configure their own STUN/TURN servers. This adds network and deployment complexity, and it is different from a transfer that remains on the LAN.
The project information establishes the hosting option, but not a single complete deployment recipe for every setup. Do not assume a particular container, reverse-proxy configuration, TLS arrangement, or current version pin; follow the instructions for the deployment you intend to run.
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Which should you choose for Windows, Android, iPhone, and Linux?
- Pick LocalSend if you want an installed app on each device and primarily need direct sharing over the same Wi-Fi, LAN, or another local path. Its listed platform support includes all four device families.
- Pick PairDrop if opening a browser is preferable to installing an app, or if you specifically want to host a browser-based service. Its optional cross-network features are a separate choice from local-only transfers.
- Keep the network requirement in view. LocalSend does not need internet access for its documented workflow, but it does need a local network path. PairDrop’s local hosting does not by itself make its optional internet-transfer route local-only.
For sharing between a Windows PC, Linux computer, Android phone, and iPhone on the same network, LocalSend is the simpler starting point. If your priority is a self-hosted browser service, consider PairDrop and decide separately whether you need only LAN transfers or also want to configure cross-network connectivity.
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