LocalSend vs ShareMouse (2026): which should you pick?

Pick LocalSend if

• Fits if you move photos and files between a phone and a computer on the same Wi-Fi
• Works for homes and offices with a mix of Apple, Android, Windows and Linux devices

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if the other person is across town, as it doesn't work over the internet
• Not for you if your devices are old, since it needs Android 7.0, iOS 13.0, macOS 11 or Windows 10 at least
• Tight if your router has AP isolation on or a firewall blocks port 53317, because devices may not find each other
• Watch out: the app doesn't update itself, so the project says to install it from an app store or a package manager
• Too light for hooking into other tools: no integrations are listed beyond its command line tool

Pick ShareMouse if

• Fits if you split work between a Windows PC and a Mac on the same desk
• Works for personal two-computer setups

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if it is for a company, as free is personal use only
• Skip it if you use Linux or want a phone in the setup
• Tight if you have more than 2 computers or screens, since the free edition stops there
• Watch out: the vendor states no refund policy and points to the free demo, about 30 minutes at a time
• Watch out: no price was readable for Standard or Professional

LocalSend

• Both devices must be on the same local network; the FAQ says it does not work over the internet.
• The app has no auto-update, so the project recommends installing it from an app store or a package manager.
• Devices may not find each other when a router has AP isolation enabled or a firewall blocks port 53317.
• Minimum versions are Android 7.0, iOS 13.0, macOS 11 Big Sur and Windows 10.

ShareMouse

• Prices could not be read: the shop sends buyers to a PayProGlobal checkout that this research could not open, so no price is recorded.
• The free edition is for personal use only; use in a company context, with more than two displays or with Standard or Professional features needs a paid license.
• The vendor states it has no refund policy and points to the free demo, which runs all features for about 30 minutes at a time.
• Each computer must have its own monitor and be on the same local network, and every display counts toward the limit, including a laptop's built-in screen.

LocalSend

Transfers over the local network

Sends files to a nearby device over the local Wi-Fi network, with no internet connection, account or external server. The site says data never leaves the local network.

Encrypted transfers

All data is sent over HTTPS using a TLS certificate generated on each device, and PIN verification can be turned on for extra protection.

Files of any type, plus text

Photos, videos, documents and text can be sent, and any file type is accepted. Received files go to the Downloads folder by default, which can be changed in settings.

Apps for desktop and mobile

Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS through app stores and package managers such as Winget, Homebrew, Flathub and F-Droid.

LocalSend Web

A web app at web.localsend.org shares files between a browser and other devices that are running LocalSend.

Command line interface

localsend-cli sends files, folders or text from a terminal, to a device picked from the discovered list or named by its alias or IP address.

ShareMouse

One mouse and keyboard for several computers

Move the pointer to the monitor of another computer and mouse and keyboard input is sent to it over the local network, with no hardware switch.

Windows and Mac together

Works with any mix of Windows 10/11 and macOS computers, so a Mac can be controlled from a PC and the other way round.

Clipboard sharing and drag and drop

Formatted text or files copied on one computer can be pasted on another, and files can be dragged between machines. The vendor's shop table places some of these in paid editions.

Encrypted traffic

Network traffic can be password-protected and AES encrypted; the vendor says it never records or transmits your input anywhere.

Editions by computers and screens

Free and Standard cover 2 computers; Standard allows up to 4 screens, and Professional allows up to 9 computers and 16 screens.

LocalSend

• LocalSend$0

  The complete app on every supported platform, with no account, no bandwidth limits and no paid tier.

ShareMouse

Pricing could not be confirmed. See sharemouse.com.