Snapdrop won people over by doing one thing well: open the page on two devices on the same Wi-Fi, see each other, click, and the file moves across. PairDrop carries that idea on as an open-source project. The approach works best when everyone is in the same place, on the same network, at the same time. Change any of those three and you need something else.
What changed with Snapdrop
- Snapdrop was acquired by LimeWire in 2025. If you used snapdrop.net before, the experience there may now differ from what you remember.
- PairDrop is an open-source fork of the original Snapdrop code. It keeps local discovery and adds device pairing, and it can be self-hosted.
Both are peer-to-peer: the file travels directly from one browser to another. Plans and features change — check their site for current limits.
Two different models
It helps to see these as two tools for two jobs rather than one being better.
| Snapdrop / PairDrop (P2P) | Enzonic Send (stored transfer) | |
|---|---|---|
| How devices find each other | Same local network, or paired devices | A link, 6-digit code or QR code |
| Works across different networks | Limited; pairing needed, both online | Yes, over the internet |
| Both devices online at once | Required | Not required |
| Server upload step | None; data goes device to device | Yes, to Cloudflare's network |
| Sender can close the tab | No, not until the transfer ends | Yes, once the upload finishes |
| Receiver can download later | No | Yes, until the transfer expires |
| File lifetime | Only during the transfer | 1 hour to 3 days anonymous; up to 7 days signed in |
| Password or download limit | Not the model | Optional password; limit of 1, 5, 10, 50 or 100 |
Where local P2P wins
Being straightforward about it:
- No upload step. On a fast home network, a direct transfer can beat uploading to a server and downloading again, especially for large files.
- Nothing stored on a server. Once the transfer ends, there is no copy anywhere except the two devices.
- Self-hosting. PairDrop's open-source code means you can run your own instance.
If you are moving a big video from your laptop to your desktop at home, PairDrop is a very reasonable choice.
Where a code over the internet wins
The local model struggles in a few common situations:
- Different networks. You are on office Wi-Fi, they are on mobile data. Local discovery will not see them.
- Locked-down Wi-Fi. Many hotel, school and corporate networks isolate devices from each other, so they never appear.
- Different times. The other person is not at their computer right now.
- Phones that sleep. A phone locking mid-transfer can drop a P2P connection.
Enzonic Send handles these by storing the file first. You drop it on the uploader, get a link, a 6-digit code and a QR code, and close the tab whenever you like. The receiver goes to send.enzonic.com/receive, types the code, and downloads, today or tomorrow, from any network.
Getting a file across, three common cases
Laptop to a phone in the same room
Drag the file onto the uploader on your laptop. On the phone, scan the QR code with the camera or the Enzonic Send app. The download opens directly. See sending files with a QR code.
Phone to a friend somewhere else
On iPhone, tap the uploader in Safari and pick from Photo Library or Browse (Files app). On Android, tap it and choose from the Chrome file picker. Send the 6-digit code or the link in any message. More on code-based sharing.
Windows PC to a Mac or iPhone
AirDrop does not cover Windows. Drag files from File Explorer onto the uploader and open the link on the Apple device. Our guide to AirDrop for Windows covers the options in more detail.
Folders and multiple files
Drop several files or a whole folder and Enzonic Send zips them in your browser, keeping the folder structure. Single files are sent as they are, so photos and videos keep their original quality.
Limits and trade-offs
- Size: 500 MB per transfer without an account, 2 GB with a free account. Local P2P tools are not bound by a server-side cap in the same way, which is another point in their favour for very large files.
- Storage: files sit on Cloudflare's network until they expire or you delete them. They are encrypted in transit and at rest, but not end-to-end encrypted.
- Quotas: daily quotas apply to prevent abuse.
- Funding: the service is free and ad-supported.
A sensible setup is to keep both: PairDrop for quick local moves between your own devices, and Enzonic Send when the other person is on a different network or not available right now. For an Apple-style experience across platforms, see the AirDrop alternative guide.
FAQ
What happened to Snapdrop?
Snapdrop was acquired by LimeWire in 2025. PairDrop, an open-source fork of the original Snapdrop project, continues the same browser-based local sharing approach.
Why can't Snapdrop or PairDrop see my other device?
Local discovery generally needs both devices on the same network, and some guest, office or school Wi-Fi blocks devices from seeing each other. Pairing in PairDrop helps, but both devices still need to be open at the same time.
Is a local P2P transfer faster than Enzonic Send?
Often, yes. A local peer-to-peer transfer has no server upload step, so on a fast home network it can be quicker. Enzonic Send uploads first, which lets the receiver download later from anywhere.
Do I need to install anything to use Enzonic Send?
No. It runs in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS, iPhone, iPad and Android. Optional Android and iOS apps add QR scanning.
How big can the files be?
Up to 500 MB per transfer without an account and up to 2 GB with a free account.
Updated 2026-10-17