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ShareDrop

Browser-based peer-to-peer file transfer inspired by AirDrop, now part of LimeWire.

GitHub Download source
Stars
10.8k
Forks
861
Licence
MIT
Language
JavaScript
Last update
1.7 years ago
Type
App

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

ShareDrop is a web app that lets you send files directly between devices without uploading them to a server first, using WebRTC. Devices on the same network can see each other automatically, and you can also create a room link to share files across networks. The README notes the project has been acquired by LimeWire, and the classic open-source version remains available to run yourself.

  • Send photos from a phone to a laptop on the same Wi-Fi without emailing them
  • Create a room link and share files with someone on a different network
  • Run your own instance of the classic ShareDrop on your own infrastructure

Great for

  • People who want to move files between phones and computers in a browser
  • Anyone who wants to self-host a classic AirDrop-style sharing tool
  • Developers looking at a real-world WebRTC and Ember.js project
  • Users on mixed Android, iOS, and desktop devices

Not ideal for

  • Users who need offline transfer without internet: the README says ShareDrop requires an internet connection to discover devices, unlike AirDrop
  • Anyone wanting the hosted service with the newer LimeWire features: the README says those belong to LimeWire, not this repository
  • People who cannot set up a Firebase account, since local development depends on it
Step-by-step guide: how to use ShareDropInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

How to get it

  1. 1

    Clone and build from source

    You'll need: Node.js · Yarn · Ember CLI (installed via npm) · Firebase account

    Install Ember CLI

    npm install -g ember-cli

    Install app dependencies

    yarn

    Create environment file

    cp .env{.sample,}

    Start the app

    yarn develop
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Create a Firebase account and database, then load firebase_rules.json in the Security Rules tab
    • Copy your database URL and secret from the Secrets tab
    • Set the SECRET value in the .env file to any random string
    • Run yarn develop and open the local app in a browser
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Set a SECRET in .env, which is used to encrypt cookies and generate room names
    • Use the + button to create a room link for sharing with people on other networks
    • Deploy to Heroku using the steps in the README if you want a hosted instance
    • Only set the NEW_RELIC_* keys in production, as the README says they are not needed locally

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHubOfficial website & docswww.sharedrop.io

Strengths

  • Files go directly between devices rather than being uploaded to a server first, per the README
  • Works across Android, iOS, and desktop browsers
  • Open source under the MIT license

Trade-offs

  • Depends on Firebase for presence and signaling, so you need your own Firebase setup to self-host
  • The README states the project was acquired by LimeWire and no new release exists, so future maintenance is unclear
  • Requires an internet connection to discover other devices

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
sharedrop (this)10.8kAppintermediate1.7 years agoPeople who want to move files between phones and computers in a browser
croc40.8kCLIbeginner4 days agoPeople who need to send a file to someone without setting up a server, accounts, or port forwarding
copyparty47.2kAppbeginner16 days agoPeople who want to share files on a home network from an old computer or NAS
srs29.4kAppintermediate6 days agoDevelopers building live streaming backends that need several delivery protocols
ember.js22.6kLibraryintermediate4 days agoDevelopers building large, long-lived web applications
go2rtc14.6kAppintermediate11 days agoHome users connecting IP cameras to a browser or Home Assistant

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.