Alternatives to croc
Encrypted terminal file transfer
croc ranks #1 of 8 in File transfer tools, with an Alt Score of 73. It is licensed under MIT, free from Free and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 7 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Developers and technically comfortable users who need to send files between two computers over a network — for example, across a LAN, over the internet, or between servers via SSH — without setting up file sharing infrastructure.
A command-line tool for secure, peer-to-peer file and folder transfer with end-to-end encryption via PAKE (password-authenticated key exchange). It works without port forwarding, supports resuming interrupted transfers, handles multiple files or entire directories, and works cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) with optional relay/proxy (including Tor) support.
The sender runs `croc send [file]`, which generates a short one-time code phrase; the receiver runs `croc [code-phrase]` on another machine to establish an encrypted connection and pull the file, relayed through a public or self-hosted relay server if the two machines can't connect directly.
Where croc stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave croc
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How croc compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| File transfer tools checklist | croc | Send Anywhere | LocalSend | PairDrop | Wormhole | Warpinator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Max file size (free) | ||||||
| E2E encryption | ||||||
| No account needed | ||||||
| Local network (P2P) | ||||||
| Expiry controls | ||||||
| Password protection | ||||||
| Open source | ||||||
| Self-hostable | ||||||
| Resume interrupted transfers | ||||||
| CLI |
Every fact and feature listed for croc is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License MIT verified 2026-07-10
MIT License
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/LICENSE -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-10
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of the software
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/LICENSE -
Starts at Free verified 2026-07-10
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of the software
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/LICENSE -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-10
Enables easy cross-platform transfers (Windows, Linux, Mac)
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md -
Status active verified 2026-07-10
v10.4.13 · 09 Jul 15:28
https://github.com/schollz/croc/releases -
E2E encryption Yes verified 2026-07-10
Provides end-to-end encryption (using PAKE)
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md -
No account needed Yes verified 2026-07-10
Uses a one-time code phrase; no account or sign-up.
croc is a tool that allows any two computers to simply and securely transfer files and folders.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md -
Password protection Yes verified 2026-07-10
The code phrase is used to establish password-authenticated key agreement (PAKE) which generates a secret key for the sender and recipient to use for end-to-end encryption.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md -
Open source Yes verified 2026-07-10
MIT License
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/LICENSE -
Self-hostable Yes verified 2026-07-10
You can run your own relay: `croc relay`
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md -
Resume interrupted transfers Yes verified 2026-07-10
Allows resuming transfers that are interrupted
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md -
CLI Yes verified 2026-07-10
$ croc send [file(s)-or-folder]
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/schollz/croc/master/README.md
FAQ
Yes. Send Anywhere, LocalSend and Wormhole have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
LocalSend, PairDrop and Warpinator — every license claim links its source.