LocalBeam vs. Google Drive & cloud upload
Google Drive, WeTransfer, and email attachments all work the same way: your file uploads to a server, then the other person downloads it from there. That round trip is what causes size caps and slow transfers. LocalBeam skips the server and sends the file straight to the other device.
| LocalBeam | Google Drive & cloud upload | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Any device with a browser | Any device with a browser |
| Install required | None | None, but an account is needed for large files |
| File size limit | No hard limit | Capped by provider (often 2-25GB on free tiers) |
| Where files go | Direct device-to-device, never touches a server | Uploaded and stored on a third-party server |
Which should you use?
Cloud upload makes sense when the recipient isn't with you or isn't on your network - they can download it whenever they're ready. LocalBeam is faster and more private when you're both in the same room, on the same WiFi, right now.