1
Also covers file sharing and open source · same kind of open-source project
Files can be shared over a network with QRServ, an application that uses its own HTTP server.
Alternatives
The Best Photon Alternatives in 2026
24 alternatives4 free · 10 open source
Looking for something like Photon? Here are 24 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 4 are free or have a free plan and 10 are open source.
Cross-platform file and folder transfers are handled by Photon, an application built with Flutter and HTTP.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionQrservFiles can be shared over a network with QRServ, an…Free or freemium optionSendmeSendme transfers files over the internet and is described…Another optionLocalSendLocalSend provides free, open-source, cross-platform file…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qrserv | — | Yes | Android |
| 2 | LocalSend | — | Yes | Android, iOS, Linux |
| 3 | Magic Wormhole | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | Webwormhole | — | Yes | — |
| 5 | croc | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | Sendme | — | Yes | — |
| 7 | Warpinator | — | Yes | — |
| 8 | DashBeam | — | Yes | macOS, Web, Windows |
| 9 | PairDrop | — | Yes | Web |
| 10 | qrcp | — | Yes | Linux, macOS, Windows |
All Photon alternatives
2
Also covers file sharing, linux, and open source
LocalSend provides free, open-source, cross-platform file sharing with nearby devices.
3
Also covers file sharing and open source · same kind of open-source project
Magic Wormhole safely transfers items from one computer to another through a software library and command-line tool.
4
Also covers file sharing and open source · same kind of open-source project
WebWormhole uses peer-authenticated WebRTC to transfer files between computers.
5
Also covers file sharing and open source · same kind of open-source project
Files and other items can be sent between computers with croc, a transfer utility.
6
Also covers file sharing and open source · same kind of open-source project
Sendme transfers files and directories between users using the iroh-blobs protocol.
7
Also covers file sharing and open source · same kind of open-source project
Warpinator shares files between devices connected to the same local network.
8
Also covers file sharing and open source
DashBeam provides open-source, encrypted peer-to-peer file transfer between devices without size limits.
9
Also covers file sharing and open source
PairDrop shares files and links with nearby devices using peer-to-peer transfer.
10
Also covers file sharing and linux
qrcp transfers files over Wi-Fi from a computer to a mobile device by displaying a QR code in the terminal.
11
Also covers file sharing
Catbox hosts files up to 200 MB and provides tools for uploading by file or URL.
12
Snapdrop
node-snapdrop.onrender.comAlso covers file sharing
Snapdrop shares images, videos, PDFs, and links with nearby devices through peer-to-peer transfer.
13
JustBeamIt
justbeamit.comAlso covers file sharing
JustBeamIt transfers files through a link that the recipient opens to download.
14
Also covers file sharing · free
Sendme transfers files over the internet and is described as free and open source, with no account required.
15
LANDrop
landrop.appAlso covers file sharing
LANDrop transfers files between devices connected to the same local network.
16
OnionShare
onionshare.orgAlso covers file sharing and linux
OnionShare enables anonymous peer-to-peer file sharing, chat, and web hosting with open-source software.
17
Also covers file sharing · free
Station307 lets users send and receive files directly through a file sharing page.
18
ToffeeShare
toffeeshare.comAlso covers file sharing
ToffeeShare sends files peer to peer with end-to-end encryption, without registration or a stated file size limit.
19
Horizon
horizon.picsAlso covers file sharing
Horizon uploads and shares photos, videos, documents, links, and clipboard content through an online file-sharing service.
20
Also covers file sharing · free plan
Blip sends files directly between people and devices, with no size limits stated by its site.
21
Also covers file sharing · free
Uguu temporarily hosts photos, documents, music, and videos for sharing, with a 128 MiB upload limit and three-hour expiration.
22
Wormhole
wormhole.appAlso covers file sharing
Wormhole shares files with end-to-end encryption and links that expire automatically.
23
NahrajSoubor
new.nahrajsoubor.czAlso covers file sharing
NahrajSoubor.cz lets users upload files up to 12 GB and send a link by email without registration.
24
aQRoss
aqross.appAlso covers file sharing
aQRoss shares files between devices through a QR code and room, with links for downloading files.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Catbox24 alternativesMagic Wormhole24 alternativesDashBeam24 alternativesSnapdrop24 alternativesQrserv24 alternativesWebwormhole24 alternatives
TopicFile Sharing & Transfer · 34 sites Best-of listBest Free File Transfer Tools for Phones and Computers ListingPhoton details
What is the best alternative to Photon?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Photon are Qrserv, LocalSend, and Magic Wormhole.
Is there a free alternative to Photon?
Yes. Sendme, Station307, and Blip are free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to Photon?
Yes: Qrserv, LocalSend, Magic Wormhole, and Webwormhole.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative