About SharingCast

Why SharingCast exists

Sending a file to the person next to you, or between two of your own devices, should be simple. In practice it often is not. Photos get compressed in chat apps, email rejects anything bigger than a few megabytes, free upload services have monthly limits and expiring links, and Apple’s AirDrop stops at the edge of Apple’s own devices. Many people end up uploading a private file to a company’s server just so it can be downloaded again a metre away.

SharingCast was built to remove that detour. It connects two devices directly, through the browser they already have, so the file goes straight from sender to receiver. There is no account to create, no file size limit and no copy left on our servers.

How it works

The sender chooses one or more files (or a whole folder) and presses Start sharing. SharingCast creates a short code, such as SC-7K2QF. The receiver enters that code on their device and the two browsers open a direct, encrypted connection using WebRTC, the same technology behind browser video calls. Files then travel one after another, straight from one device to the other.

Our server only helps the two devices find each other. When a network blocks a direct connection, the encrypted data can pass through a relay, which forwards it without being able to read it. Either way, files are never stored on our infrastructure. You can read the technical details in How WebRTC file transfer works.

What makes it different

• No server storage. Files are not saved on SharingCast servers, not even temporarily.
• No size limit. Send a single photo or a 50 GB project folder the same way.
• Works everywhere. Any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad.
• Encrypted by default. WebRTC’s built-in DTLS encryption protects every transfer, and you can add your own password on top.
• Resumes after drops. If the connection is interrupted, both sides reconnect and continue from where they stopped, as long as the page stays open.
• No account. We do not ask for your name, email or contacts to send a file.

Our principles

Your files are yours

We designed SharingCast so that we never need to hold your files. That is better for your privacy, and it means there is nothing for us to lose, leak or scan.

Honest about trade-offs

Because files are not stored, both devices must be online at the same time. We say this clearly on the site and in our guides rather than hiding it, so you can choose the right tool for each situation.

Free to use

Sending and receiving files is free. To cover running costs, such as servers for signalling and relays, the website and apps may show advertising. Ads never have access to your files, and our privacy policy explains exactly what data advertising partners receive and how to opt out.

Apps for Windows and Android

SharingCast works in the browser, but some people prefer an app. The Windows app is available from the Microsoft Store and from our website, and the Android app can be downloaded from our website. The apps use the same SharingCast service and are often more reliable for long transfers, because they keep the connection running even when the browser would pause it. You can also use “Pin to desktop” in your browser to install SharingCast as its own window.

Learn more

Our guides cover common tasks and questions, from AirDrop-style sharing on Windows to how safe peer-to-peer transfer is and fixing connection problems.

Get in touch

We read every message. For feedback, questions, bug reports or partnership enquiries, email info@sharingcast.com or visit our contact page.