Privli vs AirDrop vs Quick Share
AirDrop and Quick Share are both excellent — until you try to share across ecosystems. AirDrop only works between Apple devices. Quick Share covers Android, Windows and ChromeOS, but has no iPhone app. Privli bridges all of them — iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux — and stays fully offline, with no account and no data collection.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | AirDrop | Quick Share | Privli |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Apple only (iPhone, iPad, Mac) | Android, Windows, ChromeOS | iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
| iPhone ↔ Android | No | No (no iOS app) | Yes |
| Works without internet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Account required | Apple ID sign-in | Google account for contacts | None |
| Data collection | On-device (Apple) | On-device (Google) | Zero — no servers, no analytics |
| Clipboard sharing | Apple devices only | No | Yes, cross-platform |
| Linux support | No | No (3rd-party only) | Yes |
| Works with Android Quick Share | No | Yes (it is Quick Share) | Yes (compatible) |
| Price | Free (Apple devices) | Free | One-time purchase |
AirDrop: seamless inside Apple, invisible outside it
Between iPhone, iPad and Mac, AirDrop is the gold standard — fast, direct, and effortless. But it only speaks to Apple hardware. There is no AirDrop for Android, Windows or Linux, and no official way to AirDrop a file from an iPhone to a Samsung or Pixel. The moment one device in the room isn't made by Apple, AirDrop simply isn't an option.
Quick Share: Android and Windows, but not iPhone
Google's Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share) is AirDrop for the Android world, and it now ships on Windows too. The gap is the other half of the planet: there is no Quick Share app for iPhone or iPad, so Apple users are left out, and Linux has only unofficial community apps. Quick Share also leans on a Google account for contact-based visibility.
Privli: one app for every device, fully offline
Privli runs on all five platforms — iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux — and it is compatible with Android's built-in Quick Share, so it can reach stock Android phones that don't have Privli installed. Transfers go directly over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: no servers, no account, and no data collection. It is an AirDrop alternative built for people who don't live in a single ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Can you AirDrop from an iPhone to an Android phone?
No. AirDrop only works between Apple devices. To send files between iPhone and Android, use a cross-platform tool like Privli, which runs on both.
Does Quick Share work on iPhone?
There is no official Quick Share app for iPhone or iPad. Privli is compatible with the Quick Share protocol and runs on iOS, so it can bridge iPhone and Android.
What is the best cross-platform AirDrop alternative?
If you only own Apple devices, AirDrop is hard to beat. The moment you mix iPhone, Android, Windows or Linux, you need something cross-platform — Privli covers all five platforms and works with Android Quick Share.
Is there an AirDrop for Windows or Linux?
Windows has Google's Quick Share app; Linux has only community apps. Privli runs natively on both, plus macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Privli send my files through the cloud?
No. Privli transfers directly between your devices over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and no data is collected.