Network reach
- AltSendmeInternet + LAN
- Magic WormholeInternet + LAN
All comparisons
Magic Wormhole
Magic Wormhole alternative with a full GUI
Magic Wormhole pioneered secure CLI file sharing with memorable short codes. AltSendme shares the same values: open source, no accounts, end-to-end encryption, but ships official GUI apps for desktop, Android, and web, with resumable folders and Iroh/QUIC networking that can saturate gigabit links.
Magic Wormhole vs AltSendme
Transfer speed
- AltSendmeCan saturate gigabit (Iroh/QUIC)
- Magic WormholeFast when direct (TCP)
CLI support
- AltSendmeYes, sendme-compatible CLI
- Magic WormholeYes, sendme-compatible CLI
License
- AltSendmeAGPL-3.0 (open source)
- Magic WormholeOpen source
Cost
- AltSendmeFree
- Magic WormholeFree
Encryption
- AltSendmeQUIC + TLS 1.3 E2E
- Magic WormholeEncrypted TCP (PAKE)
How peers connect
- AltSendmeShare a ticket
- Magic WormholeShort code via relay
Networking stack
- AltSendmeIroh
- Magic WormholeTCP crittografato
Trasferimenti riprendibili
- AltSendmeSì
- Magic WormholeNo
Piattaforme
- AltSendmeCLI + desktop + mobile + web
- Magic WormholeSolo CLI
| AltSendme | Magic Wormhole | |
|---|---|---|
| Network reach | Internet + LAN | Internet + LAN |
| Transfer speed | Can saturate gigabit (Iroh/QUIC) | Fast when direct (TCP) |
| CLI support | Yes, sendme-compatible CLI | Yes, sendme-compatible CLI |
| License | AGPL-3.0 (open source) | Open source |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Encryption | QUIC + TLS 1.3 E2E | Encrypted TCP (PAKE) |
| How peers connect | Share a ticket | Short code via relay |
| Networking stack | Iroh | TCP crittografato |
| Trasferimenti riprendibili | Sì | No |
| Piattaforme | CLI + desktop + mobile + web | Solo CLI |
When to use which
Choose Magic Wormhole when
- You live in the terminal and love the wormhole-send workflow
- Short human-readable codes via a mailbox relay are exactly what you need
- You send occasional one-off files and do not need a GUI or resume
Choose AltSendme when
- You want native GUI apps on desktop, Android, and web, not CLI only
- You need resumable large-folder transfers that survive dropped connections
- You want Iroh/QUIC tickets that work across the GUI and sendme CLI
FAQ
Is AltSendme the same as Magic Wormhole?
No. They are different projects on different protocols. Magic Wormhole uses PAKE-secured encrypted TCP with short codes delivered through a relay mailbox. AltSendme is built on Iroh/QUIC with ticket-based sharing and the sendme CLI. Both are open source, end-to-end encrypted, and avoid cloud file storage, but tickets and wormhole codes are not interchangeable.
Does Magic Wormhole have an official GUI?
The core Magic Wormhole project is CLI-only (wormhole send). Community GUI frontends exist but are separately maintained and can lag behind the CLI. AltSendme ships official apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and a web client, all sharing tickets with the sendme CLI.
How do wormhole codes compare to Iroh tickets?
Wormhole gives you a short code through a mailbox relay: the receiver types it in. AltSendme uses Iroh tickets: longer strings you paste or scan, encoding connection details for QUIC hole punching and relay fallback. Both avoid accounts. Tickets are better suited to streaming large folders with resume on Iroh.
Can Magic Wormhole resume interrupted transfers?
No. If a wormhole transfer fails partway through, you start over. AltSendme supports resumable transfers with BLAKE3 integrity checks on both ends, important for multi-gigabyte folders on flaky Wi-Fi or long internet paths.
Which is faster for large files?
Wormhole can be fast on a direct TCP path between reachable peers. AltSendme uses QUIC over Iroh and can saturate gigabit links on native desktop and mobile apps. Iroh's hole punching establishes direct QUIC connections in most cases, with encrypted relays as fallback.
Are both open source and free?
Yes. Magic Wormhole is MIT-licensed; AltSendme is AGPL-3.0. Neither requires accounts or charges for transfers. You can audit either codebase and run transfers without vendor lock-in.