Waiting for link…
This file is streamed directly from the sender's device over a peer-to-peer connection (WebRTC) — it is never stored on any server. The sender must be online for the transfer to work.
Thawdrop
Share files and folders straight from your computer with a link or QR code. No upload, no server storage, no size limit — the file goes directly from your device to theirs.
Received a Thawdrop link? Just open it in this browser — nothing to install.
The sender needs the desktop app; the receiver only needs a browser.
How it works
Four steps, and the file never sits on someone else's server.
1
Pick a file or folder
In the desktop app, drop it in, browse for it, or right-click it and choose “Share with Thawdrop”. Optionally add a password, an expiry time, or a download limit.
2
Get a link and QR code
The app starts sharing straight from your disk and turns it into a magnet link, shown as a link and a QR code. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
3
They open the link
The receiver opens it in any browser, sees the name and size (or a folder they can browse), and picks what to download.
4
Direct transfer
The browser connects to your computer peer-to-peer (WebRTC) and pulls only what was chosen. Keep the app open until they're done.
# never reaches it.
- The link is a magnet link. It's the same kind of link BitTorrent uses: it identifies what is being shared and how to find the sender, but contains no file data. Thawdrop wraps it as
thawdrop.com/#magnet:?…, so the address sits after the#, which browsers never send to a server. - The link is the key. Anyone who has it can download, so treat it (and the QR code) like a password — or add a real password on top.
- Folders are browsable. Receivers see the file tree and download individual files — unchosen files are never transferred.
- Password shares are encrypted in the sender's app (AES-GCM) before sharing. The password is never in the link, so send it separately.
- Sharing ends when you want. Stop it manually, let it expire, or cap the number of downloads.
How it compares
Grouped by type of tool, with well-known examples of each.
| Thawdrop | Cloud uploadWeTransfer, Google Drive | Nearby sharingAirDrop, Quick Share, PairDrop | Browser P2PFilePizza, Send Anywhere | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What the share link is | A magnet link (BitTorrent-style) that points to the sender's device | A URL to a file on the provider's server | No link: devices find each other nearby or by pairing code | A link or short code for a live session with the sender |
| Technology underneath | WebTorrent over WebRTC | Upload and download over HTTPS | Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, or WebRTC for PairDrop | WebRTC |
| File stored on a third-party server | No | Yes | No | Usually no |
| Size limit | None | Yes, especially on free plans | None | Varies |
| Receiver needs to install anything | No, a browser is enough | No | Depends on the app and device | Varies |
| Works between different networks | Yes | Yes | Mostly nearby devices | Yes |
| One link for many receivers | Yes | Yes | One device at a time | Limited |
| Receiver can pick single files from a folder | Yes | Usually as a zip | No | Generally no |
| Right-click “Share” on a file | Yes | No | Built into some systems | No |
| Sender can go offline after sending | No | Yes | No | Usually no |
Where Thawdrop is stronger
- Private: files never pass through or rest on a server.
- No size limit and no waiting for an upload to finish.
- Receivers only need a browser, and can pick just the files they want.
- Optional password encryption, expiry and download limits.
- Works across networks, not just between nearby devices.
Where others are better
- Cloud tools let the sender close their laptop — Thawdrop needs the sender online until the transfer ends.
- Built-in tools like AirDrop are faster to reach and need no setup for nearby devices.
- Strict corporate or campus networks can block direct connections unless a relay is available.
- Thawdrop is new, so it's less familiar than the big names.
Comparison is based on the general behaviour of each kind of tool and may differ by product, plan or version. Check a tool's own site for its current details.