ShareDrop is a web application inspired by Apple AirDrop service. It allows you to transfer files directly between devices, without having to upload them to any server first. It uses WebRTC for secure peer-to-peer file transfer and Firebase for presence management and WebRTC signaling.
ShareDrop is no longer under active development. The project was acquired by LimeWire in 2025. The original open source code remains available for self-hosting, but the ShareDrop repository is effectively frozen. The sharedrop.io service is now operated as part of LimeWire.
ShareDrop allows you to send files to other devices in the same local network (i.e. devices with the same public IP address) without any configuration – simply open https://www.sharedrop.io on all devices and they will see each other. It also allows you to send files between networks – just click the + button in the top right corner of the page to create a room with a unique URL and share this URL with other people you want to send a file to. Once they open this page in a browser on their devices, you’ll see each other’s avatars.
The main difference between ShareDrop and AirDrop is that ShareDrop requires Internet connection to discover other devices, while AirDrop doesn’t need one, as it creates ad-hoc wireless network between them. On the other hand, ShareDrop allows you to share files between mobile (Android and iOS) and desktop devices and even between networks.
This is free and open source software.
Website: github.com/ShareDropio/sharedrop
Support:
Developer: Szymon Nowak
License: MIT License
ShareDrop is written in JavaScript. Learn JavaScript with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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| FolderHost | Self-hosted cloud platform in a single binary |
| FileSender | Transfers very large files with expiry and download limits |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |
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Maybe of interest to you. From sharedrop github page:
Dear ShareDrop community, ShareDrop has been acquired by LimeWire, a leading file sharing platform with integrated AI tools
Thanks Jack, I’ve updated the article.