How DashBeam compares

DashBeam is an open-source alternative to Blip (blip.net) and a LocalSend alternative for the internet, powered by Iroh. Native apps, CLI, no file size limits, and gigabit-class transfer speeds, without proprietary lock-in.

Comparison

The comparison

How DashBeam lines up against the other ways to move a file.

Connectivity

Networking stack

DashBeam
QUIC via Iroh
Blip
Unknown
LocalSend
HTTPS/REST over TCP
Magic Wormhole
encrypted TCP
PairDrop
WebRTC/DTLS (SCTP)

Works over the internet

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
Yes
LocalSend
LAN only
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
Yes

Saturates gigabit connections

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
Yes
LocalSend
Yes (LAN only)
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
No (SCTP/browser ceiling)

Features and limits

Open source

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
No
LocalSend
Yes
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
Yes

No account required

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
No
LocalSend
Yes
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
Yes

End-to-end encryption

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
Yes
LocalSend
Yes
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
Yes

Send folders

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
Yes
LocalSend
Yes
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
Yes (CLI only, not in browser)

Resumable transfers

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
Yes
LocalSend
No
Magic Wormhole
No
PairDrop
No

Unlimited file size

DashBeam
Yes
Blip
Yes
LocalSend
Yes
Magic Wormhole
Yes
PairDrop
Limited by browser memory

Platforms

DashBeam
CLI + desktop + mobile + web
Blip
Desktop + mobile (no web/CLI)
LocalSend
Desktop + mobile (no web/CLI)
Magic Wormhole
CLI only
PairDrop
Web/PWA + Android app + CLI

The catch

DashBeam
WIP
Blip
Closed source; data handling cannot be audited
LocalSend
Same-network only, no resume
Magic Wormhole
CLI-only; GUI front-ends are separate, community-maintained
PairDrop
WebRTC/SCTP throughput ceiling; browser memory limits

	DashBeam	Blip	LocalSend	Magic Wormhole	PairDrop
Connectivity
Networking stack	QUIC via Iroh	Unknown	HTTPS/REST over TCP	encrypted TCP	WebRTC/DTLS (SCTP)
Works over the internet	Yes	Yes	LAN only	Yes	Yes
Saturates gigabit connections	Yes	Yes	Yes (LAN only)	Yes	No (SCTP/browser ceiling)
Features and limits
Open source	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
No account required	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
End-to-end encryption	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Send folders	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (CLI only, not in browser)
Resumable transfers	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Unlimited file size	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Limited by browser memory
Platforms	CLI + desktop + mobile + web	Desktop + mobile (no web/CLI)	Desktop + mobile (no web/CLI)	CLI only	Web/PWA + Android app + CLI
The catch
	WIP	Closed source; data handling cannot be audited	Same-network only, no resume	CLI-only; GUI front-ends are separate, community-maintained	WebRTC/SCTP throughput ceiling; browser memory limits

Head to head

Deep dives

Every row above, argued out one rival at a time: where each tool wins, and where it stops.