Is there really no file size limit? How does this compare to WeTransfer?

Unlike WeTransfer which caps free transfers at 2GB and charges $12/month for larger files, ButterShare has zero file size limits. Files stream directly between your device and the recipient's device with 100% privacy. Because zero bytes are stored on a cloud server, you can send 10GB, 50GB, 100GB, or even larger folders without paying a dime.

Do my files ever get uploaded to your servers?

Never. There is no cloud storage, no database caching, and no file hosting. Our connection broker is only used for a split-second handshake to connect the two browsers. Once the direct connection is open, bytes stream strictly device to device. Zero bytes are ever retained anywhere.

How secure is the transfer? Can anyone intercept my files?

ButterShare uses an encrypted browser connection between the paired devices. File bytes do not sit on ButterShare cloud storage, and the room server only helps the two devices find each other.

Does the recipient need to install an app or sign up?

No. The recipient simply visits ButterShare and enters your 6-character room code (or clicks your share link). The transfer initiates immediately inside their standard web browser on any phone, tablet, or computer. No accounts, no passwords, no app installs.

Can I transfer files wirelessly between any device (Windows, Android, iPhone, Mac)?

Yes, exactly. ButterShare brings seamless, wireless device-to-device file transfer to every operating system. You can send files directly between iPhone, Android, Windows PC, Mac, and Linux with zero cables, app installs, or cloud middleman.

Can I transfer whole folders without zipping them first?

Yes. Drag and drop any folder into ButterShare. It is automatically packaged in your browser and transferred intact with its full folder directory structure preserved.

What happens if someone closes their browser tab during a transfer?

Because files stream directly between devices in real time, both browser tabs must stay open until the transfer completes. If a connection drops, ButterShare alerts you immediately with instant reconnection options. Your original files never leave your device.

Why is ButterShare completely free? What's the catch?

Because ButterShare does not host or store your files on expensive cloud servers (like AWS or Google Cloud), our operating costs are negligible. We don't have massive storage bills to pay, so we never need to charge you subscription fees or limit your file sizes.

Best LocalSend Alternatives (No App Installation)

In this article

Within the open-source and privacy communities, LocalSend has earned immense praise. It is cross-platform, requires no external servers, works without internet access, and transfers files securely across your local area network (LAN).

However, LocalSend has one fundamental barrier: adoption friction. Before you can send a single photo or PDF to a coworker, client, or friend, both of you must open your respective app stores, download the software, grant local network permissions, and configure discovery.

When you are on a restricted work computer where installing third-party executable software is blocked by IT policy, LocalSend simply cannot be used. Here are the best zero-install alternatives that bring the same peer-to-peer privacy directly into any web browser.

Direct P2P Browser Transfer

Transfer Files Direct & Private

Skip cloud uploads and third-party servers. ButterShare transfers files directly peer-to-peer between your devices in real time with zero limits.

No App Required•No Size Limits (100GB+)•Zero Cloud Storage

Start Transfer

The LocalSend Dilemma: Great Privacy, High Friction

LocalSend works brilliantly when you are transferring files exclusively between your own personal fleet of devices (e.g. your personal Android phone and your personal Linux desktop). You configure the app once, leave it running in the background, and enjoy seamless local transfers.

The friction begins the moment you interact with another human being. Asking a client at a meeting, a friend at a coffee shop, or a colleague in another department to 'please download this open-source utility from the app store and configure port permissions' rarely goes smoothly.

Where Native Apps Fall Short (Work PCs & Clients)

There are several common scenarios where installing an app like LocalSend is impossible or inconvenient:

• Enterprise & School Computers: Corporate laptops often enforce Group Policy or Mobile Device Management (MDM) that blocks installing unapproved executable files or apps from outside the company catalog.

• One-Off Quick Transfers: Downloading a 50MB installer just to transfer one 3MB PDF file introduces needless friction.

• Different Subnets & Remote Workers: LocalSend relies on local subnet multicast (UDP). If one worker is at home on a VPN, another is on mobile 5G, and a third is in an office, LocalSend cannot discover them.

Top Zero-Install Browser Alternatives

Browser-based P2P tools solve the friction barrier by executing entirely within the WebRTC sandbox inside any modern browser tab:

Zero-Install P2P Tools vs LocalSendSide-by-side benchmark

Tool	Install Required?	Works on Restricted PCs?	Cross-Network (Remote)?	File Size Ceiling
ButterShare	Zero (Runs in browser)	Yes (Any modern browser)	Yes (Automated TURN)	No limit (100GB+ tested)
PairDrop	Zero (Runs in browser)	Yes (Any modern browser)	Yes (Pairing code)	Moderate (~2GB)
Snapdrop	Zero (Runs in browser)	Yes (Any modern browser)	No (Same subnet only)	Low (Crashes >1GB)
LocalSend	Required on all devices	No (Blocked by enterprise IT)	No (Local LAN only)	No limit

LocalSend vs ButterShare: Detailed Comparison

Both tools share a commitment to user privacy and direct peer-to-peer data flow, but they optimize for different contexts:

When LocalSend Wins: If you are at home or in an isolated field environment with absolutely zero internet connectivity, LocalSend is unmatched. Because it uses local multicast without touching any external signaling server, it works even if your home router is disconnected from the wider web.

When ButterShare Wins: When you need to send files to someone else without making them install software, when working on corporate/university computers, or when transferring between devices on different networks (e.g. mobile 5G to desktop broadband), ButterShare is vastly more practical.

Direct P2P Browser Transfer

Move Gigabytes Instantly with ButterShare

No software setup, no size limit, and zero server storage. Open the transfer page on both devices and start your peer-to-peer transfer in seconds.

No App Required•No Size Limits (100GB+)•Zero Cloud Storage

Start Transfer

Answers & Clarifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified answers regarding localsend alternative without app install, security, speed, and cross-platform compatibility.

Is there an official web version of LocalSend?

No. LocalSend is currently built as a native Flutter application and does not offer an official hosted web application. ButterShare serves as the closest zero-install web equivalent.

Can ButterShare work on school or work computers?

Yes! Because ButterShare runs purely in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, or Firefox via standard HTTPS and WebSockets, it requires no administrator rights and works seamlessly on restricted enterprise computers.

Does ButterShare compromise privacy compared to LocalSend?

No. While ButterShare uses an ephemeral Cloudflare signaling server to negotiate the initial connection handshake, all file bytes travel directly peer-to-peer with DTLS 256-bit encryption. Zero file data is stored or logged on any server.

Related Guides & Articles

Explore more peer-to-peer transfer tutorials and cross-platform comparisons.

P2P & Privacy

8 min read

How to Send Large Files Without Uploading to the Cloud (Complete Guide)

Uploading multi-gigabyte files to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive exposes your data to third-party servers and burns double your bandwidth. Here is how direct peer-to-peer browser streaming works.

Mar 10, 2026

Read Guide

Cloud Alternatives

9 min read

7 Best Free WeTransfer Alternatives in 2026 (No 2GB File Limits)

WeTransfer pioneered large file sending, but its strict 2GB limit and aggressive subscription paywalls have driven users away. Here are the 7 best free alternatives compared by speed, file limits, and privacy.

Mar 8, 2026

Read Guide

iOS & Windows

8 min read

AirDrop for Windows: 5 Ways to Wirelessly Send Files to PC

Apple AirDrop is locked to the iOS and macOS ecosystem. Here is an in-depth breakdown of the 5 best wireless ways to transfer photos, 4K videos, and files between iPhone, Android, and Windows PC.

Mar 5, 2026

Read Guide