SnapDrop alternative: Nearby
Want the classic “open a tab on both devices and send a file” habit — without depending on SnapDrop’s current live site? Nearby is an independent open-source option for same-network peer-to-peer transfers in the browser.
Quick answer
- Nearby — browser P2P on the same Wi‑Fi, MIT-licensed, self-host on Cloudflare Workers + Pages.
- Not affiliated with SnapDrop or LimeWire. Nearby is a separate project.
- Files are not uploaded to a server; WebRTC carries bytes device-to-device.
- If you need cross-network pairing codes, look at PairDrop; Nearby is same-network by design.
Nearby vs classic SnapDrop
| Nearby | Classic SnapDrop idea | |
|---|---|---|
| Same Wi‑Fi auto-discovery | Yes | Yes |
| Transfer path | WebRTC P2P (signaling only on server) | WebRTC P2P (classic) |
| Accounts / installs | None | None |
| Cross-network / TURN | No (by design) | Typically same-network |
| Self-host | Cloudflare Workers + Pages (Bun) | Own Node / Docker instance |
| License / affiliation | MIT · independent | Separate project (live site later acquired by LimeWire) |
Who Nearby is for
- You want a SnapDrop alternative that stays auditable and self-hostable.
- Both devices are on the same network (home, office, hotspot).
- You prefer a small Cloudflare-native stack over running Node yourself.
Who should pick something else
- PairDrop — if you need pairing codes / rooms across networks.
- LocalSend — if you want native apps and are fine installing software.
- AirDrop / Quick Share — if you stay inside one vendor ecosystem.
Try it or self-host
Live demo: https://nearby.iamkunal9.in/
Deploy your own: github.com/iamkunal9/nearby
Trademark note: SnapDrop® / Snapdrop is a mark of its respective owners.
Nearby mentions SnapDrop only to describe category and alternatives. Nearby is not the
official SnapDrop product and is not endorsed by SnapDrop or LimeWire.