SHAREit is incredible with the local file transfer. However, it comes loaded with ads. You need to put on your spy glasses to locate the send and receive buttons on it. Ok. I might have exaggerated that bit. But seriously, it is full of ads. Fortunately, many SHAREit alternatives exist to do the exact job. That is, you can transfer files between various platforms such as iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android, macOS, and Windows using Wi-Fi direct. With the help of these Wi-Fi file transfer apps that don’t necessarily require a working internet connection, you can share photos, videos, documents, etc. So if you are looking for free cross-platform SHAREit alternatives on iOS, here are four of them.
1. Xender
Available across all platforms, Xender is one of the best alternatives to SHAREit. With the ability to share files, photos, documents, videos, and audios, it also offers a built-in audio player. Similar to SHAREit, the app supports group sharing of files with up to four devices. The interface of the app is simple and easy to use. While it has dedicated apps for Windows, it’s not necessary to install them for it comes with a web version too. Interestingly, you can view and select the files on the desktop itself. Price: Free Availability: Android, iOS, Windows, Web
2. Zapya
Another cool file transfer app is Zapya. With no limits on the file size, it also lets you transfer all types of files. You can even play music and video natively. The app offers interesting features such as nearby sharing via GPS location, shake to connect, and group sharing. It also supports phone data replication which makes switching to a new device an easy affair. Further, you can control your iPhone’s camera remotely and take pictures with it from your laptop. The feature is usable as a baby monitor. While it is available on Windows and Mac, you can also use the web version. However, you will have to install another app on your iPhone/iPad to utilize web sharing functionality. Price: Free (pro version available) Availability: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Web
3. Feem v4
Feem arrives with a different user interface than SHAREit and other file-sharing apps. But that shouldn’t pose any issue since it still works flawlessly and is easy to use. The app offers a built-in chat feature where you can talk with the users of the other connected devices. In fact, you have to share the files in the chat view only. When you download the app on other platforms connected to the same network, the iOS app detects them automatically. You don’t even have to scan the QR code or anything else. All you need to do is select the files that you want to send. Price: Free (with pro version) Availability: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
4. Send Anywhere
Send Anywhere not only lets you share files with people on the same Wi-Fi network, but you can use it to transfer files to anyone. The app provides a six-digit code that the receiver needs to enter on his/her side. You can also share files by creating a link when transferring files in real time isn’t possible. The drawback of this app is that it requires internet. It doesn’t use Wi-Fi Direct technology, so the speed is slow as compared to other apps. On the bright side, it is available on all platforms and devices that one can think of. It even has a Chrome extension and a WordPress plugin. Price: Free Availability: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Special Mention: Transfer Files from iPhone/iPad to PC
Other than the apps mentioned above that are available on all major platforms, we wanted to give a special mention to the Documents app by Readdle. Even though it’s not available on Android, you can use it to transfer files between iOS devices and iPhone/iPad to Windows PC and Mac without any limitation. The app, besides letting you transfer files, happens to be an amazing document and PDF reader for iOS devices. You can even save web pages to read them later. The app also acts as a ZIP extractor. Further, it works with major cloud services too, letting you sync files to them. You can listen to music and watch videos transferred from other devices in the app. In a nutshell, the app comes handy for almost everything on iPhone and iPad. Price: Free Availability: iOS, Web
Pick the Best One
Unlike Android, which has a vast collection of file-sharing apps, iOS isn’t that lucky. Besides SHAREit, I prefer Xender and Feem over others. The user interface and the overall transfer modes suit my liking and usage. However, that shouldn’t stop you from trying other apps. Do check them out and let us know which one do you like. And if you know of any other app, do mention that in the comments below. Next up: Not satisfied with the stock iOS keyboard? Check out these five free keyboard apps for iPhone and iPad.
