A Snapdrop alternative that works across networks
Snapdrop is excellent at one thing: moving a file between two devices on the same Wi-Fi, straight from the browser. PairDrop and LocalSend do the same job well.
They all share one limitation. The devices have to see each other on the network. On a guest network, an office network with client isolation, or when one device is on mobile data, the other device simply never appears.
BuddySend takes the opposite approach: the transfer goes through the internet, so the devices never need to meet on a network.
How it compares
| Snapdrop / PairDrop / LocalSend | BuddySend | |
|---|---|---|
| How it finds the other device | Same Wi-Fi network | A 6-digit code you share |
| Works across networks | No | Yes |
| Works on mobile data | No | Yes |
| File size | Very large files | Up to 100MB per transfer |
| Speed on one network | Faster, stays local | Slower, goes via the internet |
| Install needed | None (LocalSend needs an app) | None |
Which to use: if both devices are on your home Wi-Fi and the file is big, Snapdrop-style tools win on speed. If the devices are on different networks, or the other person is somewhere else entirely, a code is the one that actually works.
How to send
- Open buddysend.com on the sending device. Up to 5 files, 100MB in total.
- You get a 6-digit code and a share link.
- The other side opens buddysend.com/receive and types the code.
No pairing, no device list, nothing to install on either side.
When Snapdrop doesn't work
- Guest or café Wi-Fi that isolates clients from each other
- Office networks where devices can't see each other by policy
- One device on mobile data, the other on Wi-Fi
- The other person isn't with you — they're in another city
- Locked-down work laptops where you can't install anything
FAQ
Why can't Snapdrop see my other device?
Usually because the two devices aren't on the same network, or the network blocks devices from seeing each other, which is common on guest and office Wi-Fi. A code-based transfer avoids the problem by going over the internet instead.
Is there a Snapdrop that works over the internet?
Yes, that is what a code-based transfer does. You upload on one device, share a 6-digit code, and the other device downloads it, regardless of which network either one is on.
Is it still peer-to-peer?
No. Snapdrop sends directly between devices; BuddySend stores the file briefly on a server so the second device can collect it later, and deletes it after download or within about an hour.
Which is faster?
On one network, Snapdrop-style tools are faster, since the file never leaves the network. Across networks they don't work at all, so a code is the faster option in practice.
Is it free?
Yes. Sending and receiving are free and need no account.
Comparing with AirDrop instead? Read AirDrop alternatives for Windows and Android.
Try it with your own file
Free, no sign-up. You'll have a 6-digit code in seconds.