croc vs Magic Wormhole
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Sends files and folders between two computers, encrypted, using a shared code phrase.
Open source · MIT
Send files, folders, or short text between two computers using a one-time code.
The short answer
Choose croc if you need…
- People who need to send a file to someone without setting up a server, accounts, or port forwarding
- Developers and sysadmins who prefer working in a terminal
- Users moving files between machines on different operating systems
- People who want to send files to a computer where they cannot easily install software by using the browser version
Choose Magic Wormhole if you need…
- People who want to send a file to someone without setting up an account or shared service
- Users comfortable with a terminal who want a quick one-off transfer
- Developers who want to script file transfers using the provided library
- Sharing files with someone who can read a code aloud or type it in
Side-by-side
| croc | Magic Wormhole | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI | CLI |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 40.8k | 23.1k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Go | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 6 days ago |
What each one is
croc
croc is a command-line tool for copying files and folders from one computer to another. The sender gets a short code phrase and the receiver types it in, and the two machines connect and transfer the data encrypted end to end. It can connect directly or through a relay when a direct connection is not possible, and it also has a browser version at getcroc.com.
Magic Wormhole
Magic Wormhole is a library and a command-line tool called `wormhole` for sending files, directories, or short text from one computer to another. The sending machine shows a short code, and you type that code on the receiving machine to connect the two ends. The codes are short, pronounceable, single-use, and do not need to be memorized.
Best for
croc
- People who need to send a file to someone without setting up a server, accounts, or port forwarding
- Developers and sysadmins who prefer working in a terminal
- Users moving files between machines on different operating systems
- People who want to send files to a computer where they cannot easily install software by using the browser version
Magic Wormhole
- People who want to send a file to someone without setting up an account or shared service
- Users comfortable with a terminal who want a quick one-off transfer
- Developers who want to script file transfers using the provided library
- Sharing files with someone who can read a code aloud or type it in
Strengths
croc
- End-to-end encryption uses PAKE, so the code phrase sets up the secret key for both sides
- Works without a local server or port forwarding, with a relay fallback when direct connection fails
- Cross-platform, with install options for macOS, Windows, Linux, BSD, Android and a browser version
Magic Wormhole
- Codes are short and human-pronounceable, with tab-completion on the receiving side
- Works for arbitrary-sized files and directories, per the README
- Released under the MIT license and has a large community (23k+ stars)
Not ideal for
croc
- Users who need to store or share files long term, since croc is for direct one-time transfers between two parties (the README does not describe hosted storage)
- People who need a graphical app only, unless they use one of the community desktop or Android GUIs listed in the README
- Teams needing managed, audited file transfer, since the README describes no administration or logging features
Magic Wormhole
- People who need a graphical app, since the README describes a command-line tool and library only
- Users who need to send files to many recipients at once, since each code is single-use
- Anyone needing hosted, long-term file storage, since this is a direct transfer tool
Trade-offs
croc
- Both sender and receiver must be online at the same time to complete a transfer
- The README's feature claims are the author's own description and were not independently verified here
- The README describes a newer croc ssh feature that depends on the Tailcat network and is less thoroughly explained
Magic Wormhole
- The README is truncated and gives little detail on the security model or how the relay servers are used
- Requires a working Python install (3.10 or higher) unless installed from an OS package
- Relies on two separate servers (mailbox and transit relay) whose operation is described only briefly here
Getting started
croc
Install on macOS with Homebrew
brew install crocInstall on Windows with Scoop
scoop install crocMagic Wormhole
Install from PyPI
pip install magic-wormholeFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between croc and Magic Wormhole?
croc: Sends files and folders between two computers, encrypted, using a shared code phrase. Magic Wormhole: Send files, folders, or short text between two computers using a one-time code. croc suits people who need to send a file to someone without setting up a server, accounts, or port forwarding, while Magic Wormhole suits people who want to send a file to someone without setting up an account or shared service.
Are croc and Magic Wormhole free?
croc: Free and open source. Magic Wormhole: Free and open source.
Is croc or Magic Wormhole more popular?
croc has more GitHub stars (40.8k) than Magic Wormhole (23.1k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to croc and Magic Wormhole?
Other options people compare them with include bore.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.