# Data Transfer vs LocalSend

The clearest difference is review sentiment: LocalSend at 82% against Data Transfer's 19%. LocalSend also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.9) and chart position (#86 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Data Transfer sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year and LocalSend sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

LocalSend holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 661 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Data Transfer's written reviews are positive against 82% of LocalSend's.

Data Transfer ships an update every 3 weeks, LocalSend every 11 days. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Data Transfer | LocalSend |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/data-transfer-mobiletrans/id1545867834/reviews) | **[4.5 (661 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localsend/id1661733229/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 661 |
| Positive reviews | 18.9% of reviews | **81.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#86** |
| Size | 188 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Wondershare Technology (Hunan) Co.,Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721309409) | [Tien Do Nam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552589563) |

## What reviewers say

### Data Transfer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/data-transfer-mobiletrans/id1545867834)

Easily transfer photos, videos, contacts, WhatsApp data, and files between phones, even across different operating systems and brands. Securely back up and restore your data, including iCloud backups, without using your mobile data.

**Highlights:** Cross-platform data transfer, WhatsApp chat migration, Backup and restore data, Fast transfer speeds, QR code connection, No data plan usage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Year Subscription | $2.99 | per year |
| 1 Quarter Subscription | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| Phone to Phone Subscription | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Phone to Phone Subscription | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Phone to Phone Subscription | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| 1 Month Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Phone to Phone Subscription | $10.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Subscription | $11.99 | per year |
| WhatApp Tranfer Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Phone to Phone Subscription | $15.99 | per year |
| Full Feature Subscription | $18.99 | per 7 days |
| Phone to Phone Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| WhatApp Tranfer Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Feature | $24.99 | per month |
| Phone to Phone + WhatsApp | $36.99 | per year |
| Mobiletrans lifetime license | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient transfer
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Powerful features
- 🚀 Lightning-fast transfer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires subscription
- 🐛 Doesn't work as advertised
- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable transfer
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Fails to transfer data
- Subscription issues
- Compatibility problems

**Requested features**

- Transfer SMS messages
- Transfer WhatsApp data
- More transparent pricing
- Improve customer support


### LocalSend

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/localsend/id1661733229)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

Securely share files offline and without the internet. This app offers fast, encrypted peer-to-peer transfers across multiple platforms, ensuring privacy and data integrity. Ideal for professionals and teams needing reliable, secure file sharing in sensitive environments.

**Highlights:** Offline file transfer over Wi-Fi/LAN, End-to-end TLS encryption, Cross-platform compatibility (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux), No internet required, No tracking or data collection, Open-source and transparent

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LocalSend Donation | $5.00 | one-time |
| LocalSend Donation | $10.00 | one-time |
| LocalSend Donation | $20.00 | one-time |
| LocalSend Donation | $50.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cross-platform file transfer
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🔒 Open-source and no ads
- 🚀 Fast and reliable file transfers
- 👍 Works seamlessly between devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🐛 Bugs with file selection and transfer
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance across platforms
- 🐛 Lack of a 'select all' option for media

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after device hibernation
- Transferred files not appearing in device gallery
- Inability to delete transferred files from app
- Compatibility issues with certain OS versions

**Requested features**

- Add a 'select all' option for media files
- Improve file organization and management
- Implement background/automatic file transfer
- Add support for wired file transfers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Data Transfer free?

Data Transfer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is LocalSend free?

LocalSend is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Data Transfer or LocalSend?

LocalSend is rated higher. Data Transfer averages 3.9 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while LocalSend averages 4.5 from 661 ratings.

### Do Data Transfer or LocalSend have ads?

Neither Data Transfer nor LocalSend shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Data Transfer or LocalSend?

Data Transfer ships an update every 3 weeks, and LocalSend every 11 days. Most recently, Data Transfer was updated on October 1, 2026 and LocalSend on October 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*