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Petal vs LocalSend

Side-by-side comparison for macOS

Petal

7.0
Communication

Multi-window screen sharing where each shared window becomes a native window

LocalSend

8.0
Communication

Open-source cross-platform alternative to AirDrop

Metric Petal LocalSend
Category Communication Communication
AI Score 7.0 8.0
30-day Installs 6 6.1K
90-day Installs 6 17.7K
365-day Installs 6 66.7K
Version 0.9.32 1.18.2
Auto-updates Yes No
Deprecated No No
GitHub Stars 325 76.3K
GitHub Forks 12 4.0K
Open Issues 17 889
License Apache-2.0 Apache-2.0
Language Rust Dart
Last GitHub Commit 2d ago 7mo ago
First Seen Oct 16, 2026 Sep 25, 2024

Reviews

Petal

Petal is a multi-window screen-sharing tool that transforms shared windows into native desktop windows, ideal for remote collaboration and teamwork.

Enables multi-window screen sharing where each shared window becomes a native window on participants' desktops.

Pros

  • + Open-source and built with Rust for performance and safety.
  • + Active development with a responsive community.
  • + Ideal for remote collaboration and teamwork.

Cons

  • - Low installation count suggests limited testing and adoption.
  • - Past issues with stability and compatibility.

LocalSend

LocalSend is an open-source, cross-platform alternative to AirDrop, offering a simple and free way to share files between devices. Its ease of use and flexibility make it ideal for users seeking a reliable file-sharing solution without platform restrictions.

Enables file sharing between devices on the same network through a user-friendly interface.

Pros

  • + Open-source and free to use.
  • + Cross-platform support for various operating systems.
  • + User-friendly and intuitive interface.

Cons

  • - Does not auto-update, requiring manual checks for new versions.
  • - Some technical issues reported, such as network connectivity problems.