If you are using a Mac or an iOS device, you must be pretty well aware of AirDrop, Apple’s simple system to transfer files between its devices. While we quite like the feature, as it makes for a seamless and easy file sharing between iDevices, it’s not without its flaws. Firstly, AirDrop has its fair share of issues. Also, as you might have guessed, the feature is only available for Apple devices. So, if you are a Windows or Android user who wants a similar solution, we have you covered. Here are the 10 best AirDrop alternatives for Windows you can use in 2020.

There are several file transfer tools designed to work as viable AirDrop substitutes for Windows. Moreover, most of them are available for free and work across devices including Windows, macOS and Linux. So, you can transfer files seamlessly between devices without having to dole out any bucks.

  • Windows Nearby Sharing
  • Send Anywhere
  • Microsoft Photos Companion
  • Snapdrop
  • Xender
  • Instashare
  • SHAREit
  • Filedrop
  • Zapya
  • NitroShare
  • Frequently Asked Questions

1. Windows Nearby Sharing

Windows Nearby Sharing is a built-in tool in the Windows 10 operating system which has been introduced with the April 2018 update. Depending on your region, you might have received the update a little later than the original launch date. The feature basically allows users to transfer files between nearby Windows devices using Bluetooth and WiFi.

The feature can either be accessed from the Settings app or the quick settings in the Notification panel. If you cannot see the feature on your device, it might be that you have not turned it on. You can turn it on by going to Settings -> System -> Shared Experiences and clicking on the toggle below “Nearby Sharing” option.

Send Anywhere is a powerful file transfer tool which is a little different from most of the other file transfer tools that you are familiar with. While most other file transfer tools only allow you to transfer files between nearby devices, Send Anywhere allows you to send files, well, anywhere in the world.

In fact, you can share the six-digit code with the file receiver and they can instantly start downloading the file while it’s being uploaded. The file transfer although dependent on the network speed is quite fast.  The software has both a free and a paid version. The free version restricts you to 10GB of max file size which should be enough for most users.

Microsoft Photos Companion came out of the famed Microsoft Garage project which creates apps for Android and iOS devices. Since we don’t have Windows phones anymore, it’s important for Microsoft to make Windows more open to other mobile operating systems.

The Photos Companion app is a step in the same direction as it allows users to transfer photos from their Android or iOS devices to Windows machine over WiFi using the Windows Photos app. That means you will have to install the companion app on your smartphone while you will be using the built-in photos app on your Windows device.

Snapdrop is the most simple yet arguably one of the best AirDrop alternatives. Since AirDrop comes baked into iOS and macOS, you don’t have to go through a setup process and it’s the same with Snapdrop too. It’s a simple web app that lets you share files over the same network.

The working of the app is pretty simple, you can just open the Snapdrop webpage on devices you want to share data with, share the file and it will be available for download. Also, it’s free and there’s no limit on the size of a file. However, since it works on the web browser, you will need an active internet connection.

Xender is a pretty popular file-sharing app, which is available for multiple mobile platforms for free (includes ads) but what makes it a great AirDrop alternative is the fact that it has a pretty cool web app. Connecting your phone to your PC or Mac is pretty simple with Xender.

You can visit the personalized link that Xender offers or scan the QR code in Xender’s web app. Once done, you will be able to see all the files on your phone. You can then go ahead and download files from your phone or transfer files from your PC to phone. It all works like a charm.

Instashare is another great AirDrop alternative and that’s because it’s very similar to the Apple offering. After you have installed the app on your phone and PC, you can just hit the share button on a file and select Instashare. Then, the app will list the devices you can transfer files with.

SHAREit is a fairly popular free (includes ads) file-sharing application that works across almost all major platforms. The app lets you connect your smartphone to a PC or a Mac over the same WiFi network by scanning a QR code or by connecting to a WiFi hotspot, that the app generates.

Filedrop is a pretty simple offering, which lets you share files over the same network with ease. What works for the app, is its ease of use. Like AirDrop, the app lets you share a file or multiple files with just a couple of taps. Select the device you want to share files with, then select the files from a built-in file manager and you are good to go.

Zapya is a very popular file sharing app, which is available on all platforms and even the web, which makes it a perfect AirDrop alternative. The free app (includes ads) lets you share all types of files from your phone to PC or PC to phone over the same network, without the usage of bandwidth.

Also, it is pretty speedy (makers claim 200 times faster than Bluetooth) and there are no restrictions about file sizes. While the app is not as simple as the likes of Snapdrop or even Instashare, it works pretty well. You must be wondering, why get Zapya instead of Xender or SHAREit, well, Zapya offers something that both the apps are missing, a Windows client and a web app, respectively.

If simplicity and ease-of-use are on top of your priority, NitroShare could be a better alternative to AirDrop for Windows. Being an open-source and cross-platform network, it allows you to transfer files fast across devices including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

NitroShare takes advantage of both the capable hardware and fast networks to accelerate sharing. As for the user interface, the file transfer looks clean and is quite lightweight. When it comes to security, the software is said to be safe and doesn’t sell your data. Overall, NitroShare has got everything covered to be a reliable AirDrop replacement software.

With the advent of various cloud storage services, you can always use them to share files between your mobile and computer with ease. You can use Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive or any other cloud service you use on your phone as well as your Windows PC to share files easily.

Is there something like AirDrop for Windows?

Windows Nearby Sharing is designed to be a native AirDrop alternative for Windows. Both in terms of security and efficiency, it can make a good match with Apple’s offering.

Is There Anything Like AirDrop for Android?

Google has developed its AirDrop alternative called “Nearby Sharing”. The search giant has rolled out the file transfer tool in beta. And it’s expected to launch next month.

No. AirDrop is designed to support only iDevices including iOS, macOS, and iPadOS.

No. AirDrop is restricted to work only within Apple ecosystem.