Ferry vs AirDrop
Ferry vs AirDrop: AirDrop for Windows, Android and Linux
Checked October 2026
The short answer
Use AirDrop between two Apple devices that are next to each other: it is built in and needs nothing else. Use Ferry when one of the devices is a Windows PC, a Linux machine or an Android phone without AirDrop support, or when the two devices are not in the same room.
AirDrop is the standard everyone compares to, and between an iPhone and a Mac it is hard to beat. Its limit is who it works with. If one side is a Windows laptop, an older Android phone, a Chromebook or a Linux desktop, AirDrop is not an option.
Ferry gives you the same idea in a browser tab: open it on both devices, scan a code, send.
Side by side
| Feature | Ferry | AirDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source. No paid plan | Free. Built in to Apple devices |
| Install | Nothing. Runs in the browser | Nothing on Apple devices |
| Works on | Any current browser on any system, plus a command line tool | iPhone, iPad and Mac. Recent Pixel and Galaxy phones can connect through Quick Share |
| Size limit | No cap | No cap |
| Distance | Anywhere with internet, or the same Wi-Fi offline | About 10 metres |
| Where files go | Directly between the two devices. Never stored on a server | Directly between the two devices |
| Encryption | End to end, with a 6-digit code both screens show | Encrypted in transit |
| Several receivers | Up to 16 devices in one transfer | One at a time |
| No internet | Yes, on the same Wi-Fi or hotspot | Yes. Uses Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi |
Choose Ferry when
- One device is a Windows, Linux or older Android device.
- The devices are in different rooms, buildings or countries.
- You want to send to several devices at once.
- AirDrop cannot find the other device and you need the file now.
Choose AirDrop when
- Both devices are Apple devices within a few metres.
- You are sharing from inside an app with the share sheet.
- There is no Wi-Fi network at all. AirDrop makes its own link, and Ferry's offline mode needs a shared network or hotspot.
Devices
AirDrop is part of iOS, iPadOS and macOS. It uses Bluetooth to find nearby devices and a direct Wi-Fi link to move the file. Recent Pixel and Galaxy phones, and a few others, can now exchange files with it through Quick Share. On Windows, Linux, Chromebooks and older Android phones it is unavailable.
Ferry needs a current browser and nothing else. iPhone to Windows, Android to Mac, and Linux to iPad all work the same way.
Distance
AirDrop is for devices in the same room, roughly 10 metres apart. Ferry connects over the internet, so the other device can be anywhere. When both are on the same Wi-Fi the files stay on that network.
Where AirDrop is the better tool
Between Apple devices AirDrop takes fewer steps, works from the share sheet in every app, and needs no network. If you live entirely inside Apple's devices, keep using it and reach for Ferry when someone else's device is involved.
Common questions
Is there an AirDrop for Windows?
AirDrop itself does not run on Windows. Ferry does the same job in the browser: open it on the Windows PC and the iPhone, scan the QR code, and send files in either direction.
How do I send files from iPhone to Android without an app?
Open Ferry in the browser on both phones. Choose Send files on one, scan the QR code with the other, and pick the files. Nothing is installed on either phone.
Does Ferry work without internet like AirDrop?
Yes, when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi or phone hotspot. Offline mode connects them by scanning each other's QR codes. Unlike AirDrop it does need that shared network.
Sources
Details about AirDrop were checked in October 2026 and can change. AirDrop is a trademark of its owner, and Ferry is not affiliated with it.
Try it with the file you have now.
Open Ferry on both devices and connect them with a QR code or six digits. There is no account to create.