The PairDrop alternative that works across networks
PairDrop is a clean Snapdrop successor, but it's peer-to-peer: both devices must be online at the same moment, and crossing networks means running your own TURN server. WeScanTransfer relays the transfer instead — so different networks just work, and the other device can be offline when you send.
Send across networks free →Free · no sign-up · nothing installed · auto-deletes in 24h
In short
PairDrop uses peer-to-peer WebRTC, so both devices must be online simultaneously and transferring across different networks usually requires a self-hosted TURN server. WeScanTransfer relays the transfer instead: scan a QR to pair, send files up to 3 GB across any network with no TURN setup, and the recipient doesn't need to be online at the same time — everything auto-deletes after 24 hours.
What PairDrop does well
Genuinely peer-to-peer
Files travel directly device-to-device over WebRTC — on a single network, nothing is stored on any server, which is a strong privacy model.
Open source and self-hostable
You can read the code and run your own instance — even add your own TURN server — for complete control.
No account, browser-based
Like WeScanTransfer, you just open the page and pair — no install, no sign-up.
Fast on one network
When both devices are on the same Wi-Fi and online, it's direct, quick and simple — a worthy Snapdrop successor.
Where PairDrop hits limits
Cross-network needs a TURN server
PairDrop's peer-to-peer connection often can't traverse different networks or symmetric NAT without a TURN server you host yourself — a non-starter for most people.
Both devices must be live
It's synchronous P2P: if the other device isn't open and online at the same moment, the transfer can't happen.
Fails silently on public Wi-Fi
WebRTC connections frequently break on guest and public networks. A relayed transfer over HTTPS doesn't.
No hand-off for later
You can't 'send it and walk away.' WeScanTransfer holds the file so the other side can grab it when convenient.
How to send files across networks without PairDrop
- 1
Open the site on one device
Go to wescantransfer.com. A QR code and share link appear — no install, no account.
- 2
Scan or share
Scan the QR with the other device, or send the link. Pairing works across any network.
- 3
Send — even if they're offline
Move files up to 3 GB. The transfer is relayed, so the other device can pick it up when it's back online. Everything auto-deletes after 24 hours.
Why WeScanTransfer is the more reliable choice
No TURN server, ever
Cross-network transfers just work — there's nothing to self-host or configure.
Asynchronous by design
The recipient doesn't have to be online at the same time. Send now; they receive later, within 24 hours.
No install, no account
It's a browser page with a QR code. Nothing to set up on either device.
Up to 3 GB, private
Encrypted in transit, unguessable links, hard-deleted after 24 hours.
WeScanTransfer vs PairDrop
| WeScanTransfer | PairDrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Works across networks | Yes | Needs TURN server |
| Recipient can be offline | Yes | No (live P2P) |
| Setup to cross networks | None | Self-host TURN |
| Install required | No — browser | No — browser |
| Max file size (free) | 3 GB | Varies |
| Auto-deletes | 24 hours | — |
PairDrop alternative — FAQ
Why won't PairDrop work across different networks?
PairDrop uses peer-to-peer WebRTC. When devices are on different networks or behind symmetric NAT, the direct connection can't be established without a TURN relay server, which you'd have to host yourself. WeScanTransfer relays transfers by default, so different networks work with no setup.
Do both devices need to be online at once?
With PairDrop, yes — it's a live peer-to-peer connection. With WeScanTransfer the transfer is relayed and held briefly, so the recipient can pick it up when they're back online (within 24 hours).
Is there a PairDrop alternative with no setup?
Yes — WeScanTransfer runs in the browser: open the site, scan the QR, send up to 3 GB. No TURN server, no install, no account.
Can I self-host instead?
Yes — PairDrop is open source, so you can run your own instance and even add your own TURN server to cross networks. That's the right call if you want full control and don't mind the setup. WeScanTransfer is the zero-setup option: a hosted, encrypted relay that crosses networks with nothing to run yourself.
What's the real difference between a relay and P2P here?
P2P (PairDrop) sends the file straight between the two devices — private, but both must be online and same-network without a TURN server. A relay (WeScanTransfer) passes the file through an encrypted server that briefly holds it, so different networks work and the recipient can pick it up later, within 24 hours.
No catch — the honest answers
The six questions people ask before they trust a transfer tool.
Is it really free?
Yes. Sending files up to 3 GB is free — no sign-up, no credit card, no ads, and no watermark on anything. The free tier is fully usable on its own; an optional Pro plan just raises the limits.
How do you make money?
From the optional Pro subscription, and nothing else. We don't run ads, we don't sell data, and we don't monetize your files. Pro upgrades — not your content — fund the service, which is why the free tier can stay generous.
Are my files private?
Yes. A transfer travels over an encrypted connection, and the share link is a long unguessable code, so only someone with that exact link can receive the file. Your files are never opened, indexed, read, or shown to anyone else.
Are files stored forever?
No. Every transfer is hard-deleted after 24 hours — both the file and its database record — and you can remove it instantly with Delete Now. Nothing lingers on our servers.
Are files used to train AI?
Never. Your files are not used to train AI models, build datasets, or improve any product. They are relayed to the recipient and then deleted — that is the entire lifecycle.
Is my data encrypted?
Yes — encrypted in transit with TLS 1.3 and at rest with AES-256. The only credential is the unguessable link, and it expires along with the transfer.
More detail on encryption, retention and deletion: how your files stay private →
Move your file now — scan, drop, done
No account, no install, nothing kept. It just works.
Send across networks free →