LocalSend vs Syncthing
LocalSend and Syncthing are both file sync and storage software. LocalSend is open source under Apache-2.0, with 97k GitHub stars. Syncthing is open source under MPL-2.0, with 90k 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 Syncthing when
- You want folders kept in sync across your computers and servers without a cloud provider.
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.
Continuous peer-to-peer file synchronisation between your own devices, encrypted, with no central server.
Devices must be on the same network, and some corporate or guest Wi-Fi blocks the discovery it relies on.
It is sync, not backup, so deletions and corruption propagate, and the official Android app has been discontinued in favour of community forks.
Production-ready (both)
Desktop app and mobile app
Desktop app and self-hosted server
Dart, Flutter and Rust
Go
Open source, Apache-2.0 (permissive)
Open source, MPL-2.0 (weak copyleft)
You can build it into a product you sell, as long as you keep its copyright notice.
You can use it inside a product you sell; changes you make to its own files must be shared.
97k GitHub stars
90k GitHub stars
Established: started 3 years ago, latest release v1.18.2.
Established: started 13 years ago, latest release v2.1.7.
Other comparisons
More file sync and cloud storage software
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.