LocalSend is a free, open-source Flutter app that transfers files and messages between nearby devices over LAN using HTTPS and a self-generated TLS certificate, no internet required.
Key Takeaways
Works on Android 5.0+, iOS 12+, macOS 11+, Windows 10+, and Linux; available via App Store, Play Store, F-Droid, Flathub, Winget, Homebrew, and more.
Communication uses a REST API over HTTPS; each device generates its own TLS/SSL certificate on the fly, no central server or account needed.
Port 53317 (TCP+UDP inbound) must be open and AP isolation must be disabled on the router; guest networks commonly break discovery.
Portable mode (v1.13.0+) stores settings next to the executable via a local settings.json; --hidden flag enables system-tray-only startup.
Built with Flutter and Rust; requires a specific pinned Flutter version managed via fvm to avoid build mismatches.
Hacker News Comment Review
The core gap commenters keep surfacing: LocalSend requires both devices on the same LAN, while AirDrop creates its own peer-to-peer Wi-Fi link automatically, making it usable without any shared network infrastructure.
Alternatives with WAN capability got significant attention: PairDrop (browser-based, supports public rooms beyond LAN) and Sendme/AltSendme (built on Iroh, an encrypted p2p relay with no central server) were cited as options that clear the same-network constraint.
Commenters who switched from AirDrop to LocalSend report it is actually more reliable day-to-day, though the UX needs polish; AirDrop’s device-disambiguation and discovery failures are a known pain point that LocalSend avoids.
Notable Comments
@eigenspace: Tethering one device to another creates a LAN LocalSend can use, but notes this is a clunky workaround for the no-shared-network case.
@lxgr: “we need a spamsolutions.txt for purported AirDrop replacements” – flags same-network dependency as a disqualifying criterion for many use cases.
@newhotelowner: Points out a browser-based interface exists at web.localsend.org, removing the install barrier for Windows-to-Android-to-iOS transfers.
