These two are closer rivals than most — both are clean, capable and genuinely useful. The core difference is philosophical: LocalSend keeps everything on your local network for maximum privacy, while Send Anywhere adds the ability to beam files across the internet with a simple key. Which matters more depends entirely on how you share.
For a wider view, see how LocalSend stacks up against SHAREit and PairDrop too. Here we focus on the Send Anywhere matchup.
Here's the head-to-head across the features that separate them. Green marks a clean win or full support; orange flags a limitation or a catch.
| Feature | LocalSend | Send Anywhere |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free (with ads) |
| Ads | None | Yes |
| Open source | ✓ Apache-2.0 | ✕ Closed |
| Account required | No | No (optional) |
| Local transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Internet transfer | ✕ Local only | ✓ Six-digit key |
| Files stay off servers | ✓ Always | Internet uses servers |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ TLS | ✓ (in transit) |
| Tracking / analytics | None | Yes |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ Native | ✓ |
| macOS | ✓ Native | ✓ |
| Linux | ✓ | Limited |
| Web transfer | ✕ | ✓ |
| Shareable links | ✕ | ✓ (paid tiers larger) |
| File-size limit (local) | None | None |
| Send folders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clean, minimal interface | ✓ | Some ads/clutter |
| Auditable code | ✓ | ✕ |
| Best for privacy | ✓ | Weaker (server relay) |
| Best for long distance | ✕ | ✓ |
The features tell you what each does; here's what those differences mean in practice.
Both are free to start, but the way each makes money shapes the experience. Here's the breakdown.
| Cost factor | LocalSend | Send Anywhere |
|---|---|---|
| Download price | Free | Free |
| Ads | None | Yes |
| Paid tier | None | Yes (larger links, extras) |
| Privacy cost | Minimal | Server relay + analytics |
LocalSend has no paid tier because everything is already included and free. Send Anywhere is free for basic use but monetises through ads and paid plans for its bigger link-sharing features.
For local, private transfers, yes — it's open source, ad-free and keeps files off any server. Send Anywhere wins when you need to send across the internet to a device that isn't on your network.
Yes. It uses a six-digit key and can transfer over the internet as well as locally, something LocalSend can't do.
It's free with ads, and has paid plans for larger link transfers and extra features. LocalSend is fully free and open source with no ads.
LocalSend. Its local-only, open-source design keeps files on your network, whereas Send Anywhere's internet transfers pass through its servers.
We recommend choosing by use case. If you mostly move files between your own devices at home or work, LocalSend is the better pick — it's more private, ad-free, open source and available on every platform, and it does that everyday job flawlessly. That covers the majority of transfers for most people.
If a real part of your routine is sending files to people or devices in other locations, Send Anywhere earns its place thanks to its internet key and shareable links. Many people happily keep both: LocalSend as the private daily driver, Send Anywhere for the occasional long-distance send. Want the privacy-first option? Download it from the LocalSend page, or read our full Send Anywhere review.
Written and reviewed by Nadia Karim · July 2026