Stop Renting Storage to Send Files β This Free App Cuts Out the Middleman
Drop file β copy code β friend pastes β done. No cloud. No signup. No cap.
100GB. Encrypted. Laptop β laptop. Zero middleman. Zero bullshit.

π§ The 10-second pitch β what this thing actually is
Free open-source app. Install β drop any file β get a one-time code β friend pastes code into their AltSendme β file flows direct from your machine to theirs.
Phone call vs voicemail. Old way (WeTransfer/Dropbox) = upload to a strangerβs server, friend downloads later. New way = two laptops, one direct line, nobody in between.
Official tagline: βAirDrop for everyoneβ β works any OS, any country, any distance. Not stuck behind Appleβs walled garden.
ποΈ How to use it β 3 stupid-simple moves
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| Drop file or folder into AltSendme β it spits out a one-time code (the ticket) | |
| Send the ticket via Discord / WhatsApp / SMS / email β itβs just text, safe to share | |
| Friend pastes ticket β transfer starts. Direct. Live. Done. |
Ticket = Uber pickup code. Single-use. Dies after the transfer.
Connection drops mid-transfer? Resumes from where it stopped β no restart-from-zero.
Friend gets a preview (file name, size, type) before committing to download.
π§ Under the hood β every tech word, translated
| Tech word | Normal-human meaning |
|---|---|
| iroh | The engine inside the app. You drive the car, you donβt tune the carburetor. Free + open source. |
| TLS 1.3 + QUIC | Encryption + a fast lane. Same lock your bank uses. Faster delivery truck. |
| BLAKE3 | A fingerprint check. If even 1 byte got flipped, the app yells. No corrupted files. |
| Hole punching | Both laptops knock on their routers at the same moment β direct pipe opens. Same trick Zoom & FaceTime use. |
| Relay (fallback) | If hole-punching fails β courier mode. Courier canβt open the envelope (still encrypted). |
| Cryptographic identity | Your install IS your password. No accounts, no signup, nothing to leak. |
You donβt need any of this to USE it. This is for the βbut how does it actually workβ crowd.
βοΈ AltSendme vs WeTransfer vs Dropbox β the brutal table
| Round | AltSendme | WeTransfer / Dropbox |
|---|---|---|
| Account? | None | Yes. Email + password + verify. |
| File size cap | Unlimited (yes, your 100GB game backup works) | 2GB free / 200GB paid |
| Where the file sits | Direct, never stored | On their server, indexed |
| Privacy | E2E encrypted β only your friend has the key | βEncryptedβ β they hold the key |
| Speed | Up to 4 Gbps (saturates your pipe) | Capped by their throttle |
| Cost | $0 forever | $0 with limits β $12/mo to unlock |
| Company dies tomorrow? | Self-host the source code, app keeps running | Files gone, account gone, GG |
The math: WeTransfer = TWO trips (upload, then download). AltSendme = ONE trip. Half the wait. Zero snooping.
π₯ Download for your OS β every build, every flavor
| OS | Grab it |
|---|---|
| AltSendme.exe | |
| AltSendme.dmg | |
.deb |
|
.rpm |
|
.AppImage |
|
| APK |
Windows + Scoop one-liner:
scoop bucket add extras
scoop install extras/altsendme
Main repo: github.com/tonyantony300/alt-sendme β star it if it saved you a Dropbox bill
All releases + SHA256 checksums: releases page
Terminal-only CLI version: Sendme CLI β same engine, scriptable
π¨ Windows won't launch it? β The WebView2 fix
Symptom: Double-click .exe β nothing happens. No window, no error, nothing in Task Manager.
Cause: Missing Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime β the picture frame the app draws inside.
Fix (3 min):
- Settings β Apps β search
WebView2. Missing or old? Thatβs it. - Grab the Evergreen Standalone Installer straight from Microsoft.
- Right-click β Run as Administrator β install β reboot.
- Relaunch AltSendme. Pops open.
Still broken? Fully uninstall WebView2 first β reinstall fresh as Admin. Half-broken installs are worse than no install.
π£οΈ Roadmap β what's cooking next
| Coming | Why you care |
|---|---|
| Same ticket trick, smaller screen | |
horse-battery-staple-correct instead of a random string β readable over the phone |
|
| Your transfers never touch a public middleman, even on corporate wifi | |
| Send from a browser tab, zero install | |
| Speed graphs, peer info, why-is-this-slow diagnostics |
Drop your email on altsendme.com for ship notifications, or just watch the GitHub repo.
Simple-pimple: install β drop file β send code β friend pastes β file lands. Unlimited, encrypted, $0, no signup. Cancel your WeTransfer.
Saved you a Dropbox subscription. Your move on the WeTransfer one.

!