head to head · open source
LocalSend vs Files
LocalSend has 97,058 GitHub stars, 5,516 forks, 1,113 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Files has 46,461 stars, 3,012 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped yesterday. LocalSend leads on adoption by 109% (97,058 vs 46,461 stars). LocalSend is written in Dart under Apache-2.0; Files is written in C# under MIT. LocalSend has attracted 6% as many forks as stars, Files 6%. Files was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| LocalSend | Files | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 97K | ★ 46K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Dart | C# |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-11-02 |
| Forks | ⑂ 5.5K | ⑂ 3.0K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick LocalSend if
- You weight community size — 97K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Dart
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Files if
- You want the Files feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches C#
- You evaluated both and Files fits your workflow better
About LocalSend
LocalSend [![CI status][ci badge]][ci workflow] [![Translations][translate badge]][translate link] [![Packaging status][packaging badge]][packaging link] [ci badge]: [ci workflow]: [translate badge]: [translate link]: [packaging badge]: [packaging link]: [Homepage][homepage] • [Discord][discord] • [GitHub][github] • [Codeberg][codeberg] English (Default) • 中文 [homepage]: [discord]: [github]: [codeberg]: LocalSend is a free, open source app that allows you to securely share files and messages with nearby devices over your local network without needing an internet connection. About Sponsors Screenshots Download…
read the full LocalSend overview →
About Files
Files is a modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders. Our mission with Files is to build the best file manager for Windows, and we’re proud to be building it out in the open so everyone can participate. User feedback helps shape the features we work on, & the bug reports on GitHub help to make Files more reliable. Built and maintained by the open source community, Files features robust multitasking experiences, file tags, deep integrations, and an intuitive design. Installing and running Files Files is a community driven project that depends on your support to grow and improve. Please…
read the full Files overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is LocalSend or Files more popular?
LocalSend has 97,058 GitHub stars and Files has 46,461. LocalSend has the larger community by that measure.
Are LocalSend and Files free?
Both are open source. LocalSend is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Files under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between LocalSend and Files?
LocalSend is written in Dart and Files in C#. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, LocalSend or Files?
Choose LocalSend if you want the larger community (97,058 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Files if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.