Alternatives to croc
Sends a file between any two computers with one command and a short code phrase, end-to-end encrypted. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
croc
Sends a file between any two computers with one command and a short code phrase, end-to-end encrypted.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as croc.
PairDrop
Browser-based device-to-device file transfer with no install or signup.
PairDrop runs in the browser with no install or account, using pairing codes across networks, but both devices must have the page open at the same time.
OnionShare
Shares files, hosts sites and chats anonymously over Tor.
OnionShare sends files anonymously over Tor with a desktop app instead of a command line, but both sides need Tor and transfers are slow.
Send
Self-hostable encrypted file sharing, continuing Firefox Send.
Send uses browser-encrypted links that expire by time or download count, so the recipient need not be online at once, though it needs a self-hosted or public instance.
Smash
A web service and mobile app for sending large files of any size as a download link.
Smash is a closed-source web service and mobile app that stores files on its servers until downloaded, with password protection and expiry, and premium options.
Also worth comparing
These listings name croc as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
ffsend
A command-line client for sharing encrypted files through Send-compatible servers.
croc sends files directly between two machines with a code phrase and PAKE encryption, rather than uploading to a server for a download link.
MASV
A hosted service for transferring very large files and media, used from the browser.
croc is a free open-source tool that transfers files directly between two computers with end-to-end encryption, requiring croc or its browser version on both ends.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
miniserve
Share a file or directory over HTTP from one small command.
Dufs
Serve and upload files through a small HTTP and WebDAV server.
Nicotine+
A graphical client for the Soulseek peer-to-peer network, for sharing files and finding people with similar taste.
Globus Connect Personal
Client software that turns a laptop or desktop into a Globus collection for research data transfers.
