Like Snapdrop and PairDrop, but it isn't tied to one Wi-Fi network
Snapdrop and its maintained fork PairDrop are great for flicking a file between devices on the same network. pastehere keeps a persistent, encrypted room with history that works across different networks.
Snapdrop popularised the "AirDrop in a browser" idea, and PairDrop is the actively-maintained fork that adds paired-device support. Both are open source, need no account, and move files peer-to-peer between devices on the same local network — which is exactly what you want when two devices are sitting on the same Wi-Fi.
pastehere is built for the other case: devices on different networks, or a transfer you want to keep around. A room is persistent — items stay until you clear them — so an offline device catches up when it reconnects, and there's a running history instead of a one-shot send. It's still no-account and browser-only.
pastehere vs Snapdrop and PairDrop, side by side
| Feature | pastehere | Snapdrop / PairDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | No |
| Install | Browser only | Browser only |
| Works across different networks | Yes | PairDrop: with paired devices; Snapdrop: same network only |
| Persistent room + history | Yes | One-shot transfer |
| Offline catch-up on reconnect | Yes | No |
| End-to-end encrypted | AES-256, stored as ciphertext | Encrypted in transit (WebRTC) |
| Open source / self-hostable | No | Yes |
| Large files | 15 MB/file, 100 MB/room | No fixed cap (peer-to-peer) |
Snapdrop and PairDrop facts last checked 2026-06-10. Features change — if something here is out of date, it's a mistake, not a dig.
When Snapdrop or PairDrop is the better choice
If both devices are on the same Wi-Fi and you're moving a large file — a multi-gigabyte video, say — PairDrop sends it directly between the two devices with no server in the middle and no size cap, which pastehere's 15 MB-per-file limit can't match.
If you want fully open-source software you can self-host, PairDrop is the better pick — it's open and you can run your own instance. pastehere is a hosted service.
When pastehere fits better
When the two devices aren't on the same network — your phone on cellular, your laptop on home Wi-Fi — same-network P2P doesn't apply, and pastehere just works over the web. And when you want the transfer to stick around: a room keeps a history, lets an offline device catch up later, and stores everything as AES-256 ciphertext rather than only encrypting it in transit.
Questions
Does pastehere work across different networks like PairDrop's paired devices?
Yes. pastehere always works across networks — the two devices don't need to be on the same Wi-Fi. Snapdrop is same-network only; PairDrop adds cross-network transfers for devices you've explicitly paired.
Can pastehere send very large files like Snapdrop?
Not as large. pastehere caps files at 15 MB each and 100 MB per room because items are stored (as ciphertext) for catch-up, whereas Snapdrop/PairDrop stream peer-to-peer with no stored copy and no fixed cap. For a huge file on the same network, PairDrop is the better tool.
Is pastehere open source like Snapdrop and PairDrop?
No. Snapdrop and PairDrop are open source and self-hostable; pastehere is a hosted service. pastehere's trade is end-to-end encryption with persistent rooms and cross-network sync out of the box.