SHAREit for PC still does the one thing it was famous for, which is moving big files between devices on the same Wi-Fi without burning mobile data. The complaint that drives most desktop users away is everything else the installer brings with it. The Windows client has crept into a content portal with games, video feeds, and update prompts that have little to do with file transfer, and the bundled offers in the installer have a long history of slipping past inattentive clicks. We tested 7 SHAREit alternatives on Windows, macOS, and Linux, focused on the swap most people actually make: keep the speed and reach, drop the noise.
The picks below cover open-source tools that match SHAREit’s LAN transfer trick with none of the bundleware, encrypted cross-internet senders for when devices are not on the same network, and a couple of built-in options on Windows that most people forget exist. Each is judged on transfer speed, cross-platform reach, encryption, and how much of the install footprint is actually file transfer.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Cross-platform | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LocalSend | Open-source LAN transfer | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Yes |
| Send Anywhere | Encrypted internet transfer | Yes (up to 10 GB) | Windows, macOS, Linux, web | No |
| PairDrop | Browser-only AirDrop clone | Yes | Any device with a browser | Yes |
| Syncthing | Continuous folder sync | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Yes |
| Feem | Friction-free Wi-Fi sharing | Yes | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | No |
| Quick Share for Windows | Phone-to-PC for Android users | Yes | Windows + Android | No |
| Microsoft Phone Link | Built-in Windows + Android bridge | Yes | Windows + Android | No |
Why people leave SHAREit
The installer is the first reason. Reviews on Reddit, Softonic, and the Microsoft Store all surface the same pattern: the SHAREit for Windows installer ships with optional offers that are easy to accept by accident, and the program’s home tab pulls in feeds and promotional cards that feel out of place in a file-transfer tool. People who tried it for one ad hoc transfer often discover they have a content recommender open on Monday morning.
The second is privacy. SHAREit’s parent company has been the subject of repeated security write-ups, and the app was on India’s restricted list in 2020 alongside other apps tied to Chinese parent companies. Users in regulated environments or corporate networks tend to be told not to install it, regardless of the actual transfer features.
The third is platform pruning. SHAREit for PC supports Windows and recent macOS, but Linux users have to use the web client, and the Mac build sees fewer updates than the Windows one. People who want a single tool that runs the same on every machine in the house end up looking at open-source options that ship for all three.
The 7 best SHAREit alternatives for desktop
LocalSend, best open-source replacement
LocalSend is the option to try first for almost everyone leaving SHAREit. The client is small, runs natively on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and discovers other devices on the local network without an account or an internet connection. Transfers are encrypted in flight, the project is fully open source, and there are no ads, no content feeds, and no installer offers.
Where it falls short: Transfers only work device-to-device on the same network. There is no internet-relay fallback when two devices are on different networks.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature
- Paid: none
- vs SHAREit: free, lighter, and quieter
Download: localsend.org
Bottom line: Pick LocalSend if you mostly transfer files inside your home or office and want a clean install.
Send Anywhere, best for cross-internet transfer
Send Anywhere is the right pick when sender and receiver are on different networks. A six-digit one-time key sets up a direct, encrypted transfer for files up to 10 GB on the free plan, with no account required. The desktop client runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, the mobile apps cover both Android and iOS, and the web client handles the browsers in between.
Where it falls short: Larger transfers and link history sit behind the Plus subscription. The free transfer caps are generous but they are caps.
Pricing:
- Free: 10 GB per transfer, no account needed
- Paid: Plus plan covers longer link expiry and larger transfers
- vs SHAREit: easier across the open internet, with stricter encryption
Download: send-anywhere.com
Bottom line: Pick Send Anywhere when you need to move a file to someone who is not on your Wi-Fi.
PairDrop, best zero-install option
PairDrop is the modern PairDrop-fork-of-Snapdrop everyone needs in a bookmark. Open the site on two devices that share a network, and the page handles the rest with WebRTC. There is no app to install, no account to make, and the code is open source. Phones, laptops, Linux thin clients, and old tablets all join the same room because all they need is a browser.
Where it falls short: Browser tabs go to sleep on mobile, which can break long transfers. Some corporate networks block the WebRTC discovery used to pair devices.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature
- Paid: none
- vs SHAREit: nothing to install or maintain
Download: pairdrop.net
Bottom line: Pick PairDrop for the laptop in the meeting room, the friend’s iPad, or any one-off transfer where installing software is overkill.
Syncthing, best for ongoing folder sync
Syncthing swaps the one-shot transfer model for continuous, encrypted sync between folders on devices you trust. Drop a file into the synced folder on a desktop and it appears on the laptop and the home server within seconds. The app is open source, runs on every desktop OS plus Android, and never routes data through a third-party server.
Where it falls short: It is a sync tool, not a transfer tool. Setup takes a few minutes per device, and there is no quick “send to a stranger” mode.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature
- Paid: none
- vs SHAREit: heavier setup, much more useful long term
Download: syncthing.net
Bottom line: Pick Syncthing if the files you keep moving with SHAREit really live in one folder that should always be in sync.
Feem, best friction-free LAN transfer
Feem keeps the SHAREit spirit alive without the cruft. The app shows every device on the Wi-Fi network in a chat-style sidebar, and transfers start by dragging a file onto the recipient. The same client runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and the free version handles unlimited file size on the local network.
Where it falls short: Cross-internet transfer and folder send sit behind the Pro plan. The free tier shows occasional upsell prompts.
Pricing:
- Free: unlimited LAN transfer
- Paid: Pro plan unlocks cross-internet transfer and group send
- vs SHAREit: a closer feature match without the content portal
Download: feem.io
Bottom line: Pick Feem when you want SHAREit’s drag-and-drop feel and a quieter app.
Quick Share for Windows, best for Android households
Quick Share for Windows is Google’s native Windows app for moving files between Android phones and PCs. It pairs with the Android Quick Share that ships on every recent Pixel, Samsung, and OnePlus, and transfers happen over Wi-Fi Direct without needing a cloud round-trip. Anyone whose phone is on modern Android already has half of this installed.
Where it falls short: Windows-only on the desktop side, with no macOS or Linux client. Discovery only works with Android phones, not iPhones.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature
- Paid: none
- vs SHAREit: tighter integration with Android and no extra account
Download: android.com/better-together/quick-share-app
Bottom line: Pick Quick Share for Windows if your phones are Android and your desktop is Windows.
Microsoft Phone Link, best built-in option
Microsoft Phone Link sits in the Start menu of every recent Windows installation and pairs with a companion app on Android. Once linked, the PC can browse the phone’s photos, send and receive SMS, and drag files between the two devices over a managed connection. Most people leaving SHAREit on Windows have not opened it yet.
Where it falls short: The Android partner app is required on the phone, and the file transfer pane works best with Samsung phones. iPhone support is limited to messaging and calls.
Pricing:
- Free: every feature, bundled with Windows
- Paid: none
- vs SHAREit: nothing extra to install, no installer offers
Download: microsoft.com/windows/sync-across-your-devices
Bottom line: Pick Phone Link first if you are on Windows and Android and just want photos and one-off files to land on the PC.
