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PairDrop
$9.00 / month with a 7-day free trial and a $1.00 sign-up fee
AirDrop for everyone — browser-based file sharing across iOS / Android / Mac / Windows / Linux, peer-to-peer, no app install, on your private subdomain.
A managed instance of PairDrop on ElfHosted — the cross-platform, browser-only file-sharing tool that does what AirDrop does but works between any two devices, regardless of OS. WebRTC peer-to-peer for transfers; the server only coordinates the handshake. Hosting on your own subdomain means a private namespace (no chance of bumping into strangers using the same temporary device name). GPL-3.
AirDrop is great if you live entirely inside Apple's ecosystem. PairDrop works between an iPhone and a Linux desktop, or an Android tablet and a Windows laptop, or any combination — in any modern browser, no install.
What is PairDrop?
PairDrop is a cross-platform local file-sharing tool that runs entirely in the browser. Open the URL on two devices on the same network; they see each other; drop a file from one to the other. Files transfer peer-to-peer via WebRTC — the server only brokers the initial handshake, never sees the file content.
It's a fork of Snapdrop with active development, better UX, and a few important added features: cross-network pairing via shared codes, persistent device pairing (so your phone and laptop remember each other), folder upload, encrypted text snippets, dark mode. PairDrop's public instance at pairdrop.net works fine; hosting your own instance means a private namespace (only people on your subdomain can see each other), no chance of collision with strangers using "Cool iPhone" as their device name on the same public server.
Features
- 📲 Cross-platform — any browser, any OS. iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, ChromeOS — all work, all see each other if they're on the same network or paired across networks.
- 🌐 No install — open the URL; the browser is the app. No App Store gating, no Play Protect, no admin install on locked-down work laptops.
- 🔒 End-to-end encrypted via WebRTC. File data flows directly between devices over a DTLS-encrypted peer connection; the server only handles the WebSocket-based signaling.
- 🔗 Cross-network pairing via codes — for devices not on the same LAN, generate a 5-letter code on one and enter it on the other; transfer works across the internet, still peer-to-peer.
- 💾 Persistent pairing — opt in to remember a paired device; it shows up automatically on future visits without re-pairing.
- 📁 Folder upload — drop a whole folder; PairDrop preserves structure on the receiving side.
- 📝 Encrypted text snippets — paste text, share a quick snippet between devices without making a file.
- 🌗 Dark mode — auto / manual.
- 📲 Add to Home Screen (PWA) — works as an installable PWA on iOS / Android for app-like behaviour without an actual app.
- 🔓 FOSS & GPL-3 — no premium tier, no telemetry, no account required.
PairDrop vs Other Local File-Sharing Options
- vs. AirDrop — AirDrop is excellent and Apple-only. PairDrop is the cross-platform answer for households with mixed devices (Mac + Android, iPhone + Linux desktop, etc.). PairDrop also works to send files to a non-Apple device that AirDrop refuses to discover.
- vs. Quick Share / Nearby Share — Google's cross-device share. Android-friendly; falls apart at the edges (cross-OS works inconsistently, requires Google account on Windows).
- vs. Snapdrop (the original) — Snapdrop was the original "AirDrop in a browser" project. PairDrop is the actively-maintained fork; everything Snapdrop does plus cross-network pairing, persistent pairing, folder upload, dark mode.
- vs. Syncthing — Syncthing is for ongoing sync of folders between devices. PairDrop is for ad-hoc one-shot file sends. Different use cases; many users run both.
- vs. uploading to a chat app and sending a link — works, but routes the file through a third-party service and (for big files) hits attachment size limits. PairDrop is direct device-to-device.
- vs. running a local LocalSend / Warp / Magic Wormhole instance — those are CLI / native-app local file-share tools. PairDrop's "open a URL" is friendlier for non-technical household members.
Why Run PairDrop on ElfHosted?
The public pairdrop.net instance works for occasional use; running your own has real benefits:
- 🔒 Private namespace — only devices you've sent the URL to can see each other. On the public instance, anyone on the same public network using PairDrop at the same moment can see your device's auto-generated name.
- 🌐 Stable URL — your-pairdrop.elfhosted.com doesn't change; bookmark it on every device, save as a PWA. Public instances are subject to capacity / region routing.
- 🔐 HTTPS everywhere — required for WebRTC and for the camera/clipboard APIs PairDrop uses. ElfHosted handles cert renewal.
- 📡 Cross-network pairing reliability — your own STUN/TURN config (where needed for tricky NATs) is more reliable than the public default.
- 🔄 Updates handled — PairDrop ships features regularly.
- Single subscription: $9/month all-in.
Technical Specifications
- 🛠️ Software: PairDrop (FOSS, GPL-3)
- 🌐 Transport: WebRTC peer-to-peer (DTLS-encrypted) for file data; WebSocket for signaling
- 📲 Clients: any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, mobile Safari, mobile Chrome)
- 📦 File size: no application-level limit (transfer is direct peer-to-peer; bandwidth is the only real constraint)
- 📁 Transfer types: single file, multiple files, folder upload (preserved structure), text snippets
- 🔗 Pairing modes: same-network auto-discovery; cross-network 5-letter code; persistent paired devices
- 🔑 Subscription: $9/month — PairDrop itself is fully free
- 🌐 Access: HTTPS on your own ElfHosted subdomain
- 🔄 Updates: handled by ElfHosted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run PairDrop without self-hosting it?
Add it to your ElfHosted subscription — managed PairDrop instance with HTTPS, persistent settings, automatic updates. Open the URL on two devices, drop files. No PHP/Node setup, no STUN/TURN config to debug.
Can it transfer files between devices on different networks?
Yes — PairDrop's cross-network pairing uses a 5-letter code generated on one device and entered on the other. The transfer still goes peer-to-peer via WebRTC (with TURN relay if direct P2P can't be established due to symmetric NATs). No file-content goes through your server.
Is the public pairdrop.net not good enough?
For occasional use, fine. For regular use the private-namespace argument matters: on the public server, anyone on the same public network using PairDrop simultaneously can see your device. Your own instance puts you in a namespace shared only with people you've sent the URL to.
What's the maximum file size?
There's no application-level limit. Transfer is direct peer-to-peer, so the constraint is your network bandwidth and any browser memory limits. Multi-gigabyte transfers work; some browsers may pause at 4GB+ chunks for memory reasons.
Does it work between iPhone and Android?
Yes — that's the canonical use case. PairDrop is platform-agnostic in a way that AirDrop and Quick Share aren't.
Can I use it on a corporate locked-down laptop?
Usually yes — it runs in the browser, no install. The only blocker is corporate firewalls that block outbound WebRTC; if your laptop can't establish UDP connections, PairDrop's TURN-relay fallback over TCP usually works.
Is there an iOS app?
No — and that's the point. The browser is the app. Add to Home Screen makes it behave like a PWA / installed app without going through the App Store.
PairDrop is the AirDrop-for-everyone tool — browser-based, peer-to-peer, cross-platform, no install. The actively-maintained Snapdrop fork. Hosted on ElfHosted with HTTPS, a private device namespace, and managed updates for $9/month.
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