Ferry vs PairDrop
Ferry vs PairDrop and Snapdrop: browser file transfer compared
Checked October 2026
The short answer
PairDrop and Ferry are close relatives: both are free, run in the browser and send files directly. Choose PairDrop if you want something you can host yourself in one small container. Choose Ferry for very large files, transfers that resume, a security code you can check, and sending without internet.
Snapdrop made browser-to-browser file sharing popular, and PairDrop is the actively maintained project that grew out of it. Both show the devices on your network and let you tap one to send a file.
Ferry starts from the same idea and adds the parts that matter once files get large or the network gets unreliable.
Side by side
| Feature | Ferry | PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free and open source. No paid plan | Free and open source |
| Account | None | None |
| Install | Nothing. Runs in the browser | Nothing. Runs in the browser |
| Same network | Nearby devices can be listed | Devices appear automatically |
| Other networks | QR code, 6-digit code or link | 6-digit pairing code or a public room code |
| Encryption | End to end, with a 6-digit code both screens show | The browser's built-in connection encryption |
| Large files | Written to storage as they arrive | Depends on the browser's memory |
| Resume | Yes. Continues from where it stopped | Start again |
| No internet | Yes, on the same Wi-Fi or hotspot | Only if you host your own copy on that network |
| Self hosting | Yes, with a Convex project and a Node host | Yes, as one Docker container |
Choose Ferry when
- The file is several gigabytes and you do not want it held in the browser's memory.
- The connection is unreliable and the transfer needs to continue after a drop.
- You want to confirm with a security code that the two devices are talking only to each other.
- You need a command line tool or an API as well as a web page.
Choose PairDrop when
- You want to run your own copy as a single container with no outside services.
- You mostly send small files between devices on one home network and like seeing them appear on their own.
- You already have it set up and paired, and it does the job.
Encryption
Every browser-to-browser connection is encrypted in transit, and that is what PairDrop relies on. Ferry adds its own layer on top: the two devices agree on keys between themselves, every piece of every file is encrypted with them, and both screens show a 6-digit code that only matches when nobody is in the middle.
Large files and dropped connections
Ferry writes each file to the device's storage as it arrives and records how far it got. When a connection drops, the transfer continues from that point when the devices find each other again. This is the main practical difference for videos, disk images and backups.
Where PairDrop is the better tool
PairDrop runs as one small container on your own server, including a server that never touches the internet. Ferry is open source too, but hosting it needs a Convex project and a Node host. If you want the whole thing on one machine you control, PairDrop is simpler.
Common questions
What is the difference between Snapdrop and PairDrop?
PairDrop is a maintained continuation of Snapdrop. It adds pairing across networks with a 6-digit code, public rooms, and a number of fixes.
Is Ferry a PairDrop alternative?
Yes. Both send files directly between browsers for free. Ferry adds end-to-end encryption you can verify, transfers that resume, streaming to storage for large files, and an offline mode.
Which is better for very large files?
Ferry, in most cases. It saves files to storage as they arrive instead of holding them in memory, and continues after a dropped connection instead of starting over.
Sources
Details about PairDrop were checked in October 2026 and can change. PairDrop 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.