# Alternatives to Warpinator

Linux Mint's LAN file sharing.

Warpinator ranks #6 of 8 in File transfer tools, with an Alt Score of 46. It is licensed under GPL-3.0, free from Free and available on Linux. 4 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/warpinator/
Category: File transfer tools

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Linux desktop users (originally built for Linux Mint) who want to move files between their own computers or with others on the same local network without cloud services or cables.
- **What you get**: A peer-to-peer LAN file-transfer tool that discovers other Warpinator instances on the network automatically. Transfers are direct machine-to-machine, encrypted, and require the receiving user to accept each incoming transfer. It supports sending individual files or whole folders and shows live progress and transfer history.
- **How it works**: Install Warpinator on each computer; it shows a list of other devices found on the same LAN (optionally grouped by a shared group code). Select a device, choose files or folders to send, and the recipient approves the incoming transfer before it copies over the network.

## Profile

- **License**: GPL-3.0 (verified 2026-07-10)
- **Pricing model**: Free (verified 2026-07-10)
- **Starts at**: Free (verified 2026-07-10)
- **Platforms**: Linux
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-10)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [croc](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/croc.md) | 73 | MIT | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 2 | [Send Anywhere](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/send-anywhere.md) | 68 | ? | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS |
| 3 | [LocalSend](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/localsend.md) | 64 | Apache-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS |
| 4 | [PairDrop](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pairdrop.md) | 64 | GPL-3.0 | Web |
| 5 | [Wormhole](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/wormhole.md) | 50 | ? | Web |
| 6 | [Smash](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/smash.md) | 37 | Proprietary | macOS, iOS, Android, Web |
| 7 | [WeTransfer](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/wetransfer.md) | 37 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| File transfer tools checklist | Warpinator | croc | Send Anywhere | LocalSend | PairDrop | Wormhole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free | Freemium | Free | Donationware | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free | $5.99/mo | Free | Free | Free |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT | ? | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 | ? |
| Platforms | Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web, Browser extension | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web | Web |
| Max file size (free) | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes |
| E2E encryption | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No account needed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? |
| Local network (P2P) | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Expiry controls | ? | ? | Yes | ? | ? | Yes |
| Password protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ? | ? |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Self-hostable | ? | Yes | No | ? | Yes | ? |
| Resume interrupted transfers | ? | Yes | Partial | ? | ? | ? |
| CLI | ? | Yes | ? | Yes | Yes | ? |

## Sources

Sources for Warpinator. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Starts at**: Free — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/README.md> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Quote: “sudo apt-get install warpinator”
- **License**: GPL-3.0 — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/COPYING> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Quote: “GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3, 29 June 2007”
- **Pricing model**: Free — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/README.md> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Note: GPL-3.0 software installed free via package managers; no paid tier.
  - Quote: “sudo apt-get install warpinator”
- **Platforms**: Linux — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/README.md> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Note: Officially Linux; the README links unofficial third-party Android (warpinator-android) and Windows (winpinator) ports.
  - Quote: “Warpinator - send and receive files across a local network”
- **Status**: active — <https://github.com/linuxmint/warpinator/releases/tag/master.mint22> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Note: Latest release 2.0.4, published 2026-05-18.
  - Quote: “master.mint22 ... 18 May 10:54”
- **No account needed**: Yes — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/README.md> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Quote: “Warpinator - send and receive files across a local network”
- **Local network (P2P)**: Yes — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/README.md> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Quote: “Warpinator - send and receive files across a local network”
- **Password protection**: Yes — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/README.md> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Note: Access is gated by a shared group code (network-level), not a per-transfer password.
  - Quote: “The group code is a shared key that allows trusted devices on the local network to see one another in Warpinator. Any devices you wish to connect with *must* be using the same group code.”
- **Open source**: Yes — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/linuxmint/warpinator/master/COPYING> (verified 2026-07-10)
  - Quote: “GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3, 29 June 2007”

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/