ShareMe sits on more than two billion installs, and on a MIUI phone it works the way you expect a file-transfer app to work. The friction shows up when you step outside the Xiaomi ecosystem. The app still pushes a Mi Account for sync features, Wi-Fi Direct setup demands Location permission that has nothing to do with sending a PDF, and the iOS build trails the Android version by a long way. There is no desktop or web client at all, and the legacy of the 2020 India ban still affects which markets get the latest build through the Play Store. If any of that is biting, these seven ShareMe alternatives cover the same fast offline transfer with cleaner permissions, real desktop support, or open-source code you can audit.
Why people leave ShareMe
- Mi Account or Xiaomi ID prompts during onboarding pull users into the Xiaomi ecosystem even though file transfer does not need an account at all.
- Wi-Fi Direct requires Location permission on modern Android, which feels excessive given that ShareMe never asks for your coordinates and does not need them to move bytes between two phones in the same room.
- The iOS app has had long stretches without meaningful updates. Sending from an Android phone to a friend's iPhone often falls back to the slow browser-relay mode.
- No desktop or web client. Moving files between your phone and a laptop means a USB cable, a cloud round-trip, or a third app.
- The June 2020 India ban under Section 69A left the Play Store distribution patchy in several regions. Some markets still receive older builds with bigger ad surfaces.
- The home screen surfaces Mi Browser and Mi Cloud upsells alongside the transfer button. The app does the file-sharing job well, but the surrounding UI sells other Xiaomi products.
- The "Phone Clone" migration feature is buried under several menus and is meaningfully slower than the official migration tools shipped by Samsung, Google, and OPPO.
The seven ShareMe alternatives below cover the same offline transfer job with cleaner permissions, real cross-platform support, or open-source builds.
Which app should you choose?
- Files by Google if you want the cleanest, ad-free option with Nearby Share already wired up. Free, no account, no Xiaomi prompts.
- LocalSend if open-source matters. Free, no accounts, no telemetry, works across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Send Anywhere if the receiver is on a different network. Six-digit key, peer-to-peer with encrypted relay fallback.
- AirDroid if phone-to-PC management is what you actually need. Browser-based remote access plus file transfer.
- KDE Connect if you live on Linux or KDE Plasma. Clipboard sync, notification mirroring, and file transfer in one open-source bundle.
- Zapya if group transfer to four or more devices is the use case. Strong cross-platform desktop and iOS clients.
- Xender if you want the closest like-for-like swap. Same UX pattern, different vendor, same offline speed.
Stay on ShareMe if you only transfer between MIUI phones and you do not mind the Xiaomi account prompts. The app still does its core job at full speed inside the ecosystem.
1. Files by Google — cleanest free pick
Files by Google is the closest to a "just works" replacement for ShareMe on stock Android. It bundles a clean file manager, Smart Storage that flags junk for deletion, and Nearby Share for offline phone-to-phone transfer using the same Wi-Fi Direct path ShareMe uses, but without the Mi Account layer on top. No ads, no upsells, no third-party trackers visible in the manifest.
For Android-to-Android transfers, Nearby Share is now built into every device on Android 6.0 and newer, so the receiver does not need to install Files by Google at all. The transfer happens through the OS-level Quick Share surface. This is a meaningful win over ShareMe, which requires both sides to have the same app installed.
The limitations show up the moment you leave Android. There is no desktop client, no iOS app, and no web interface. If you regularly move files to a laptop or to friends on iPhone, you will need a second tool.
Advantages:
- Free, no ads, no in-app purchases, no account required
- Nearby Share works receiver-side without installing the app
- Smart Storage flags cached junk and duplicates without nagware
- Google-signed and shipped through Play Protect, which most reviewers trust by default
Disadvantages:
- No desktop, web, or iOS client
- Nearby Share to iPhone is not supported, so cross-platform transfer needs a different tool
- The file manager itself is more basic than what ShareMe ships
Pricing: Free.
2. LocalSend — best open-source pick
LocalSend is the open-source answer to file-transfer apps that quietly phone home. The code lives on GitHub, the build is reproducible, and there is no account, no analytics SDK, and no telemetry. The app discovers peers on the local network through mDNS and transfers over HTTPS with a per-session certificate.
The single feature that makes LocalSend stand out is the platform coverage: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux all from the same Flutter codebase. ShareMe's iOS support has been thin for years, and LocalSend is one of the few options where a Pixel can send to a MacBook and an iPhone in the same flow without a relay server.
It is offline-first by design. There is no cloud fallback and no relay server, so two devices on different networks cannot transfer through LocalSend. That is by choice, not a bug, but it does mean Send Anywhere is the better pick if your receiver is on cellular and you are on Wi-Fi.
Advantages:
- Open-source under Apache 2.0, builds available on F-Droid
- Real cross-platform support across all five major desktop and mobile platforms
- No accounts, no telemetry, no ads, no in-app purchases
- Transfers are encrypted end-to-end with a fresh certificate per session
Disadvantages:
- Requires both devices on the same Wi-Fi network
- No relay or cloud fallback for cross-network transfer
- The UI is functional but plainer than ShareMe
Pricing: Free, forever.
3. Send Anywhere — best cross-network pick
Send Anywhere is built for the case ShareMe handles poorly: the receiver is not in the same room. The model is a six-digit key plus a one-time URL. Both peers enter the key, and the app picks the fastest path automatically, peer-to-peer on a shared network, or an encrypted relay through the company's servers when the network blocks direct connections. The relay path is what makes Send Anywhere usable for international transfers and for receivers on mobile data.
The clients cover Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and the web. Browser-based receive works without installing anything, which is the single most useful feature when sending to a colleague who does not want another app on their phone.
The free tier transfers files up to 10 GB at full speed, with ads. The Plus subscription removes ads and raises the link expiry to indefinite. ShareMe is free with no ads, so this is a step down on monetization, but the cross-network capability is worth the trade-off for users who actually need it.
Advantages:
- Six-digit key model works across any network, not just shared Wi-Fi
- Web receive runs in a browser with no install required
- Full client coverage across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
- End-to-end encryption on direct and relay paths
Disadvantages:
- Free tier shows ads
- Direct-link expiry is short on the free tier
- Relay paths are slower than peer-to-peer for large transfers
Pricing: Free tier covers most casual use. A Plus subscription removes ads and extends link lifetime.
4. AirDroid — best phone-to-PC pick
AirDroid takes the same offline-transfer foundation and stretches it into a full remote-management surface for your phone. Connect a browser at web.airdroid.com or the desktop client, sign in once, and you can drag files in either direction, mirror notifications, read SMS from your laptop, and trigger remote camera or file-finding actions. ShareMe does none of that.
For pure file transfer between two phones on the same network, AirDroid uses the Nearby Share-style flow ShareMe ships. The differentiator is the desktop story. If you regularly drop a folder of photos from your phone to a Windows or macOS machine, AirDroid is the cleanest way to do it without a USB cable or a cloud round-trip.
The free tier caps remote data at 200 MB per month over the cloud relay. Same-network transfer is unlimited. The Premium plan removes the cap and unlocks the more advanced remote controls. The free tier is more than enough for occasional phone-to-PC file moves.
Advantages:
- Browser-based file transfer to any computer without installing anything on the PC
- Notification mirroring and SMS-from-desktop on top of file moves
- Same-network transfer is unlimited on the free tier
- Cross-platform desktop clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Disadvantages:
- Remote (cloud-relay) data is capped on the free tier
- Full-feature access pushes hard toward the Premium subscription
- Requires an AirDroid account, unlike ShareMe
Pricing: Free tier covers same-network transfer with a small monthly cap on cloud-relay data. Premium subscription lifts the cap and adds advanced remote features.
5. KDE Connect — best Linux integration
KDE Connect is the answer for anyone whose primary computer runs Linux, or for KDE Plasma users on any platform. The Android app pairs with a desktop daemon and brings clipboard sync, notification mirroring, remote input, media controls, and file transfer into one open-source package. The desktop side ships in most Linux distributions out of the box.
For file transfer specifically, KDE Connect is fast within a local network and supports both push-to-device and pull-from-device flows. The Windows and macOS builds are catching up but still trail the Linux experience. If you are not on KDE Plasma or another Linux desktop, you will get more out of LocalSend.
It is fully open-source under GPL, distributed through F-Droid, and has no analytics, no accounts, and no ads. The trade-off is the setup curve: pairing requires running the desktop daemon, and discovery sometimes needs a firewall tweak. ShareMe just works on first launch; KDE Connect rewards five minutes of setup with deeper integration.
Advantages:
- Fully open-source under GPL, available on F-Droid
- Tight integration with Linux desktops, especially KDE Plasma
- Clipboard, notifications, and remote input on top of file transfer
- No accounts, no telemetry, no ads
Disadvantages:
- Setup involves installing and configuring the desktop daemon
- Windows and macOS support trails the Linux experience
- Phone-to-phone transfer is supported but is not the main use case
Pricing: Free, forever.
6. Zapya — best group transfer
Zapya's pitch is group transfer. Up to five devices can join the same transfer session, and a single file can fan out to all of them at the same speed as a one-to-one transfer. ShareMe handles one sender to one receiver well; Zapya is what you reach for when the group chat just realised it has not seen the wedding photos yet.
The cross-platform story is solid. Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, web, and Wear OS clients all share the same transfer protocol. The iOS app receives regular updates, which puts Zapya ahead of ShareMe on the cross-platform front. There is also a built-in chat layer that lets group members message during the transfer.
The free tier ships ads and pushes the user toward a Premium subscription. Same-network transfer is full-speed on the free tier; the relay-server option for cross-network transfer is gated. For pure group transfer in a local meeting room, the free tier is enough.
Advantages:
- Group transfer to four devices at once, all at full speed
- Full cross-platform client coverage including iOS and web
- Built-in group chat for coordinating transfers
- Wear OS companion for triggering transfers from a smartwatch
Disadvantages:
- Free tier shows ads
- Cross-network relay is gated behind the Premium plan
- Bundles a content-discovery surface alongside the transfer flow
Pricing: Free tier with ads for same-network transfer. Premium subscription removes ads and unlocks cross-network relay.
7. Xender — closest like-for-like
Xender uses almost the same Wi-Fi Direct group-transfer model ShareMe ships, with a comparable speed profile. If the only reason you are leaving ShareMe is the Mi Account prompts and the Xiaomi-ecosystem nudges, Xender is the swap that asks for the least relearning.
It supports group transfer to four devices, has a Web Share mode that runs in a browser without installing anything, and ships iOS and PC clients alongside the Android build. Like ShareMe, it was caught in the June 2020 India ban under Section 69A, which means Play Store availability has been patchy in India ever since. Aptoide carries the current build for users in affected markets.
The trade-off is ads. The free tier has a heavier ad surface than ShareMe, especially in the content-discovery sections of the app. If you only use Xender for the transfer pane, the impact is manageable.
Advantages:
- Closest UX match to ShareMe with the smallest relearning cost
- Group transfer to four devices with same-network speed
- Web Share runs in a browser without installing on the receiver
- Aptoide build stays current in markets where Play Store distribution is restricted
Disadvantages:
- Heavier ad surface than ShareMe
- Bundles content-discovery sections alongside the transfer flow
- Affected by the same India Section 69A ban as the original SHAREit
Pricing: Free with ads. Premium subscription removes ads and unlocks higher-tier cloud features.
FAQ
Is ShareMe available outside of Xiaomi phones?
Yes. ShareMe is published as a standalone app on the Play Store and Aptoide, and it runs on any Android 5.0 or newer phone, not just MIUI devices. The Mi Account prompts still appear during onboarding even on non-Xiaomi hardware.
Why does ShareMe need Location permission?
Android requires Location permission to scan for Wi-Fi networks, including the ad-hoc Wi-Fi Direct networks ShareMe creates for transfers. The permission is a platform-level requirement, not a sign the app is tracking your coordinates, but it is one of the friction points that pushes users toward alternatives like LocalSend that handle discovery through mDNS instead.
What is the fastest ShareMe alternative?
On shared Wi-Fi, LocalSend, Send Anywhere, Xender, and Files by Google all hit comparable peak speeds since they all use Wi-Fi Direct under the hood. The differences show up at the long tail: how the apps recover from interrupted transfers, how they handle ten-thousand-photo batch moves, and how they perform on older 2.4 GHz routers. Send Anywhere is the most reliable for transfers that need to survive network changes.
Is there a ShareMe alternative for iPhone and Android together?
Yes. LocalSend, Send Anywhere, and Zapya all ship iOS apps that interoperate with their Android builds. LocalSend is the cleanest option if both sides are on the same Wi-Fi network; Send Anywhere is the better pick when the receiver is on cellular.
Can I transfer files without an account?
Yes. Files by Google, LocalSend, KDE Connect, and Xender all work without registering an account. Send Anywhere requires an account only for advanced link management; the six-digit key flow works without signing in.
What is the best open-source ShareMe alternative?
LocalSend for cross-platform offline transfer, and KDE Connect for tight Linux desktop integration. Both ship on F-Droid, both are free, and both have public source code under permissive licenses.
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