Magic Wormhole vs transfer.sh
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
Send files, folders, or short text between two computers using a one-time code.
Open source · MIT
Command-line file sharing: upload a file with curl and get a download link, self-hosted.
The short answer
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
Choose transfer.sh if you need…
- Developers who want to share files from a terminal without a web browser
- Teams that want to host their own file-sharing service on their own servers
- People who want to use a server-side or client-side encryption step with curl and gpg
- Operators who need to add upload limits such as max downloads or max days
Side-by-side
| Magic Wormhole | transfer.sh | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 23.1k | 15.9k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | Python | Go |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
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.
transfer.sh
transfer.sh is a server you run yourself that lets you upload a file from the terminal with a single curl command and receive a shareable link. Files can be stored on local disk or cloud providers such as Amazon S3, Google Drive, or Storj. The README says it is meant for creating your own instance rather than relying on someone else's.
Best for
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
transfer.sh
- Developers who want to share files from a terminal without a web browser
- Teams that want to host their own file-sharing service on their own servers
- People who want to use a server-side or client-side encryption step with curl and gpg
- Operators who need to add upload limits such as max downloads or max days
Strengths
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)
transfer.sh
- Simple workflow: a single curl command uploads and returns a link
- Supports several storage backends, including local disk, S3, Google Drive, and Storj
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community (about 15,900 stars)
Not ideal for
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
transfer.sh
- People who want a ready-made public service with no setup, since the README says to host your own instance
- Anyone who cannot secure a server, because the README has an open security warning about IP filter and HTTP auth bypass via X-Forwarded-For spoofing
- Non-technical users who are uncomfortable with terminal commands and server configuration
Trade-offs
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
transfer.sh
- The README displays an active security warning about an authentication bypass, so check the linked issue before deploying
- Running a file server requires managing storage, TLS, and access controls yourself
- The README is truncated, so some configuration details are not fully visible here
Getting started
Magic Wormhole
Install from PyPI
pip install magic-wormholetransfer.sh
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/dutchcoders/transfer.shFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Magic Wormhole and transfer.sh?
Magic Wormhole: Send files, folders, or short text between two computers using a one-time code. transfer.sh: Command-line file sharing: upload a file with curl and get a download link, self-hosted. Magic Wormhole suits people who want to send a file to someone without setting up an account or shared service, while transfer.sh suits developers who want to share files from a terminal without a web browser.
Are Magic Wormhole and transfer.sh free?
Magic Wormhole: Free and open source. transfer.sh: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Magic Wormhole or transfer.sh?
Magic Wormhole is easier to get started with (rated beginner); transfer.sh is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Magic Wormhole or transfer.sh more popular?
Magic Wormhole has more GitHub stars (23.1k) than transfer.sh (15.9k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Magic Wormhole and transfer.sh?
Other options people compare them with include croc.
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.