head to head · open source
LocalSend vs Files
LocalSend has 92,017 GitHub stars, 5,135 forks, 1,113 open issues and last shipped 5 days ago. Files has 45,518 stars, 2,918 forks, 458 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. LocalSend leads on adoption by 102% (92,017 vs 45,518 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 | ★ 92K | ★ 46K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Dart | C# |
| Last push | 2026-09-14 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 5.1K | ⑂ 2.9K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick LocalSend if
- You weight community size — 92K 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 is a free, open source, cross platform application that shares files and messages directly between nearby devices over the local network, and it is built for anyone who wants AirDrop style transfers without an internet connection or a third party server.
read the full LocalSend overview →
About Files
Files is a modern, MIT licensed file manager for Windows, written in C and maintained by an open source community, for Windows users who want a customizable, actively developed alternative for organising files and folders.
read the full Files overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is LocalSend or Files more popular?
LocalSend has 92,017 GitHub stars and Files has 45,518. 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 (92,017 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Files if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.