Comparison

QRDrop vs Beam

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

QRDrop

Features
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Transfer files without installing another app. QRDrop turns your iPhone, iPad, TV, or computer into a secure local file transfer portal. Simply open QRDrop on one device, scan the QR code from another device, and start transferring files directly through your web browserβ€”no installation required on the receiving device. Whether you're sending photos to your TV, copying videos to your device, or sharing files with friends, QRDrop makes the process simple, fast, and private. Features β€’ No app required on the second device β€’ Scan a QR code to connect instantly β€’ Fast local network (Wi-Fi/LAN) transfer β€’ Upload and download files through any modern web browser β€’ Support for photos, videos, documents, music, APKs, ZIP files, and more β€’ Multiple file transfer β€’ Large file support β€’ Cross-platform compatibility β€’ Clean and intuitive interface β€’ No cloud upload β€’ No account required Why QRDrop? Unlike traditional file transfer apps that require installation on every device, QRDrop only needs to be installed on one device. Simply: Open QRDrop Scan the QR code Transfer files instantly No registration. No cables. No cloud. No hassle. Perfect For β€’ TV file transfer β€’ iPhone ↔ TV β€’ iPhone ↔ iPad β€’ iPhone ↔ Computer β€’ Family sharing β€’ Office file sharing β€’ Classroom presentations β€’ Local network transfer Privacy First Your files never pass through our servers. All transfers happen directly between devices on your local network whenever possible, giving you better privacy and faster speeds.

About

Beam

Features
Read full description

Beam moves a file from one phone to another using nothing but light. No internet. No Bluetooth. No pairing. It works on a plane. One phone shows an animated code on its screen. The other points its camera at it and rebuilds the file. That's the whole protocol β€” your photos and videos travel as light and touch nothing else. WHEN BEAM SAVES YOU β€’ On a plane, in airplane mode β€’ Abroad, with no SIM and no roaming β€’ Underground, remote areas, dead zones β€’ When Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are broken, blocked, or untrusted β€’ When you don't want your files passing through any server β€” not even ours HOW IT WORKS 1. Tap Send and pick your photos or videos. 2. Choose a quality β€” Beam shows the exact transfer time up front, no surprises. 3. Your screen plays an animated code. The receiver points their camera at it and watches the file rebuild in real time. BUILT FOR THE REAL WORLD β€’ Join mid-stream: the sender loops until you stop it, and every frame is equally useful. Missing a bit costs nothing but time. β€’ Fountain-coded redundancy: dropped frames are absorbed automatically β€” nothing is ever lost, it just takes a little longer. β€’ Optional PIN encryption protects the stream against onlookers. β€’ Received files save straight to your photo library. β€’ Prop the phones up: long transfers are a first-class mode, with a guided steady-hold coach. HONEST ABOUT SPEED Beam is deliberate. A camera can only read so much per second, so a photo takes seconds to a few minutes depending on quality. Beam never hides this: you see the time before you commit, and the Optimized preset is often many times faster than Original. PRIVATE BY PHYSICS There is no network path between the phones, so there is nothing to intercept. Your content never leaves the device β€” no uploads, no cloud, no account, no sign-up. Beam collects only anonymous, bucketed transfer statistics (rough size and duration ranges, never filenames or content) to keep the optical link improving.

Screenshots

QRDrop4 screens
Beam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QRDrop at none against Beam's 1. QRDrop also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Beam sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. QRDrop asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QRDrop ships an update every 6 days, Beam every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences Β· 4 level
QRDrop versus Beam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQRDropBeam
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 3 days β€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 β€” better18.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size32 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerι“« 刘Furlan Paolo

In-app purchases

None

QRDrop

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Beam

One-time1
  • Beam Pro$1.99

Questions

Is QRDrop free?
QRDrop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Beam free?
Beam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do QRDrop or Beam have ads?
Neither QRDrop nor Beam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, QRDrop or Beam?
QRDrop ships an update every 6 days, and Beam every 3 days. Most recently, QRDrop was updated on October 31, 2026 and Beam on November 7, 2026.

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