Despite years of technological advancement, smartphone users still face the challenge of transferring data across different platforms. Although different smartphone makers have their apps, one software that stands out is Snapdrop. But what is Snapdrop, and how does it work? Let’s dig in.

In this article
    1. Pros and Cons of Snapdrop

What is Snapdrop?

Snapdrop is a simple transfer service to send files across different platforms and devices. Snapdrop is web-based and works on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and any other platform with web browser support.

So, what makes it special?

  1. It uses the most common technology like WebSockets and WebRTC to send and receive files.
  2. Snapdrop is free and open-source. You do not need to sign up to use it.
  3. And it also has a TLS protocol for complete data encryption, which gives you security while using it.
  4. You can use Snapdrop to transfer PDFs, images, videos and even Image names to people near you.
  5. It is peer-to-peer and requires a common WiFi network for the sender and receiver.

But is Snapdrop difficult to use ? It is easy, and we will illustrate that.

How to use Snapdrop on a Windows PC

Using Snapdrop is easy. Follow these steps to transfer data using the software.

Step 1. First, open snapdrop on your two devices. Once open, you will discover the two devices instantly.

icon note
Note: Both devices must be connected to the same WiFi network because Snapdrop uses a P2P connection.
snapdrop receiver interface on pc
snapdrop sender interface on icon

Step 2: Now, tap the snapdrop icon on the target device you want to send data to. Then, select the file you want to send on the source device.

Once you do that, you will receive a notification on the receiving device to either save or ignore the file. Tap save, and the file will be saved on your receiving device in seconds.

snapdrop sender interface on icon
snapdrop notification to accept or ignore transfer

Step 3: Go to your download location on your PC, and you will find the file you just transferred.

So, in just two steps, you can transfer your files. Considering the features of Snapdrop, is it among the best for file transfer?

Is Snapdrop the best Transfer Tool?

So, what do users think about Snapdrop? Many users consider it a good application, but they also note its weaknesses. Here are some comments from users on different platforms.

User @/Gar from the Saashub discussion board praises the capabilities of the software.

discussion about snapdrop

Users have reviewed Snapdrop on Trustpilot, and these are their comments. @/FabioDR states, “just excellent, the perfect web application for occasional file transfer on the local network”

Trustpilot review of snapdrop efficiency

Another user, Jacob Crahan, also has positive comments about the application.

Trustpilot review of snapdrop

Another user also has a mixed review. While he believes the program works well, he experienced some glitches with files over 500MB.

mixed review about snapdrop

There is also a discussion about Snapdrop on the Reddit forum. Many users find the software effective and useful.

@/xxtkx says, “Worked great in the limited times I’ve used it” and he goes on to praise the privacy of the software.

reddit discussion on snapdrop

Another user vouches for the application, saying he has been using it for a long time.

more about snapdrop on reddit

But it is not all positive reviews. There are some mixed reviews too. For instance, @/alien2003 believes it is good, but he prefers NitroShare.

snapdrop discussion on reddit board

Another user shares the same sentiments as the above in another Reddit discussion thread. He says Snapdrop does not work for him and now uses ShareDrop.

snapdrop discussion on reddit board

And for some users, they only have negative comments as Snapdrop did not work for them, here are some of the comments.

snapdrop not working
reddit user says snapdrop crashes

So, the comments from users show some of Snapdrop's capabilities and weaknesses. And I have also tried and tested Snapdrop and then summarized the pros and cons of Snapdrop for your consideration.

Pros and Cons of Snapdrop

Pros
  • Easy to use: The user interface is clean. There is only one place to tap to start transferring files. So, it is almost impossible for a user to make any mistake.
  • Supports progressive web app: Snapdrop supports PWA or progressive web app. That means you can open it with several windows integrated with your operating system, giving you easy access from your app drawer.
  • Speedy transfer: The transfer speed is fast.
  • Compatible with all devices: Snapdrop works with all operating systems and devices. There is Snapdrop for Android, Snapdrop for iPhone, and Snapdrop for Windows. This makes it easy for you to transfer files across different operating systems.
  • Free to use: Using Snapdrop will not cost you any money.
  • No storage limit: Snapdrop relies on cloud servers to transfer data between devices, so it’s not limited to the size of files you can transfer.
Cons
  • Service sometimes times out: The service can be inconsistent. For instance, during our trial, we experienced some time out. But once it re-established the connection, the transfer was fast.
  • Only works with an internet connection: Snapdrop cannot work without an internet connection. Also, if the internet is unstable or slow, you will experience delays.
  • Limited features: Snapdrop does not have extra features that you can find in other file transfer applications. For instance, it does not have a history function, which means if the network slows down, the transfer fails and cannot resume, so you need to start over. Aldo, it does not have a file manager to enable you manage your sent and received files.
  • Restrictive WiFi support: As Snapdrop is p2p, you cannot transfer files to a device not connected to the same network.

So, based on the pros and cons, you would prefer software that can transfer files even without an internet connection. Also, you can use software that does not rely on peer-to-peer transfer, whereby the sending and receiving devices must be connected to the same WiFi.

MobileTrans is an excellent alternative because it does not rely on peer-to-peer connections. It is secure, easy-to-use and free for file transfer. You only need your USB cable to transfer all data types across different smartphones and operating systems.

File Transfer Using MobileTrans Software

Here are the steps to transfer files from Android to iPhone. Visit the website, download and install MobileTrans software on your computer, and then follow the below steps to use it.

Wondershare MobileTrans

Transfer Files Easily Even Without the Internet.

  • • No data loss. No data leaks.
  • • Support various data, including files, photos, videos, contacts and various apps.
  • • Support transferring from Android to iPhone, iPhone to Android, Android to Android and iPhone to iPhone.
4,085,556 people have downloaded it
logo trustpilot 5 stars 4.5/5 Excellent

Step 1: Launch MobileTrans and go to Phone Transfer, then click App Transfer.

launch mobiletrans

Step 2: Connect your smartphones using a USB cable and select the apps or file you want to transfer.

select the app you want to transfer

Step 3: Click the start button and wait for a few minutes.

conclude your app transfer

So, if you want to transfer your app from Android to iPhone and you have no internet connection, you can use MobileTrans as an alternative way to transfer data.

Conclusion

Snapdrop offers a good way to transfer files. It is also versatile across operating systems, as there is Snapdrop for Android, Snapdrop for iPhone, and Snapdrop for Windows. But it has a few weaknesses.

For instance, it requires you to connect both devices on the same network, it does not work without the internet and file transfer can sometimes be unstable. In that case, MobileTrans presents a reliable alternative to enable you to transfer files and apps across all devices and operating systems.

Navkiran Dhaliwal
Navkiran Dhaliwal Dec 25, 23
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