LocalSend vs Microsoft OneDrive
LocalSend and Microsoft OneDrive are both file sync and storage software. LocalSend is open source under Apache-2.0, with 97k GitHub stars. Microsoft OneDrive is a commercial product from Microsoft.
Which to pick
- Pick LocalSend when
- You need AirDrop-style transfers between mixed Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS devices on the same network.
- Pick Microsoft OneDrive when
- You already use Microsoft 365 or Windows and want file sync and Office co-editing included in what you pay for.
Side by side
A free cross-platform app that sends files and text between nearby devices over the local network using HTTPS, with no internet or account needed.
Microsoft's cloud file storage and sync, built into Windows and Microsoft 365, with Office co-authoring and files-on-demand.
Devices must be on the same network, and some corporate or guest Wi-Fi blocks the discovery it relies on.
Windows pushes folder backup by default, which confuses users, and sharing behaviour differs between personal and business accounts.
Production-ready (both)
Desktop app and mobile app
Cloud service, desktop app and mobile app
Dart, Flutter and Rust
Not published
Open source, Apache-2.0 (permissive)
Closed source, sold by Microsoft
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
Closed source: you use it under the maker's terms and cannot change or resell the code.
97k GitHub stars
7.4k Wikipedia readers a month on phones
Established: started 3 years ago, latest release v1.18.2.
Not known
Other comparisons
More file sync and cloud storage software
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from makers' descriptions, Wikipedia, READMEs and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.