Networking stack
- AltSendmeQUIC via Iroh
- BlipUnknown
- LocalSendHTTPS/REST over TCP
- Magic Wormholeencrypted TCP
- PairDropWebRTC/DTLS (SCTP)
AltSendme is an open-source file transfer app powered by Iroh, bringing AirDrop-like sharing to any device and any network. With native apps, CLI, no file size limits, and gigabit-class transfer speeds, it outperforms browser WebRTC tools on large files.
Connectivity
Features and limits
The catch
| AltSendme | Blip | LocalSend | Magic Wormhole | PairDrop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | |||||
| Networking stack | QUIC via Iroh | Unknown | HTTPS/REST over TCP | encrypted TCP | WebRTC/DTLS (SCTP) |
| Works over the internet | Yes | Yes | LAN only | Yes | Yes |
| Saturates gigabit connections | Yes | Yes | Yes (LAN only) | Yes | No (SCTP/browser ceiling) |
| Features and limits | |||||
| Open source | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No account required | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Send folders | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (CLI only, not in browser) |
| Resumable transfers | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Unlimited file size | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited by browser memory |
| Platforms | CLI + desktop + mobile + web | Desktop + mobile (no web/CLI) | Desktop + mobile (no web/CLI) | CLI only | Web/PWA + Android app + CLI |
| The catch | |||||
| WIP | Closed source; data handling cannot be audited | Same-network only, no resume | CLI-only; GUI front-ends are separate, community-maintained | WebRTC/SCTP throughput ceiling; browser memory limits | |
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Outgrow browser WebRTC limits with native apps, resumable folders, and gigabit Iroh speeds.