LocalSend vs ownCloud Core
LocalSend and ownCloud Core are both file transfer software. LocalSend is open source under Apache-2.0, with 97k GitHub stars. OwnCloud Core is open source under AGPL-3.0, with 8.8k GitHub stars.
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 ownCloud Core when
- You already run ownCloud Classic and need to keep it patched; new deployments should look at ownCloud Infinite Scale or Nextcloud instead.
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.
The PHP server of ownCloud Classic, providing file sync and sharing, WebDAV, CalDAV and CardDAV, user management, encryption and external storage.
Devices must be on the same network, and some corporate or guest Wi-Fi blocks the discovery it relies on.
ownCloud (now under Kiteworks) points new users to Infinite Scale, so Classic is in maintenance mode.
Production-ready (both)
Desktop app and mobile app
Self-hosted server
Dart, Flutter and Rust
PHP, JavaScript, MySQL and PostgreSQL
Open source, Apache-2.0 (permissive)
Open source, AGPL-3.0 (network copyleft)
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
Use inside your business is unrestricted. If you change it and let customers use it over the internet, you must publish your changes.
97k GitHub stars
8.8k GitHub stars
Established: started 3 years ago, latest release v1.18.2.
Established: started 14 years ago, latest release v10.16.6.
Other comparisons
More file transfer and sharing tools
Both sides were judged on 2026-11-03 from each project's README and GitHub data. License, age and popularity lines are worked out directly.