I built a free, zero-install alternative to AirDrop that works on any browser (Mac, PC, Android, iOS, Smart TVs)
Hey r/software,
I got tired of the daily friction of moving files, code blocks, and text strings between my Mac, Windows PC, and mobile devices. Using cloud storage or emailing myself links just to pass data across the room felt clumsy.
So I built a lightweight, friction-free web utility to fix it: https://anydrop.org
It is 100% free, ad-free, with no logins, sign-ups, or installations required. You just open the site and use it.
What it does:
- Instant Auto-Discovery: Open the site on any devices (mac, windows, linux, android, ios, anything that has a modern browser) on the same Wi-Fi network, and they instantly detect each other. Drag-and-drop files or chat in real time.
- No Device Limits: You can connect as many devices as you want simultaneously.
- Real-time Note Sync: It has a built-in text workspace. You can drop a text snippet or URL, and it syncs instantly across your devices, even if some devices aren't actively connected at the exact same moment.
- Clipboard Staging Point: You can just paste text anywhere on the site to stage it. It acts as a clipboard where you can dump links, code blocks, or text snippets for later use.
- Remote Sharing: If you aren't on the same Wi-Fi network, you can generate a secure temporary link to share across the internet.
Under the hood: It uses WebRTC for direct peer-to-peer (P2P) data streaming. Your files are sent directly device-to-device without ever passing through or sitting on a server, and everything is fully encrypted in transit for maximum privacy. Because it bypasses the cloud entirely, your files move at maximum local network speed.
I designed it to be as simple and immediate as possible. I'd love to hear your thoughts or any feedback on the layout!