Make Mac BetterCompare
AirDrop for Android: from any phone to your Mac
AirDrop is great between Apple devices, but it does not show Android phones. LocalSend is a good free option if you can install it on both devices. Make Mac Better’s Transfer works from the phone’s browser: scan a QR code and send.
| Feature | AirDrop / LocalSend | Make Mac Better |
|---|---|---|
| Works with Android | AirDrop: no. LocalSend: yes | Yes, and with iPhone |
| Install something on the phone | LocalSend: yes, on both devices | No: the phone uses its browser |
| How files travel | Directly over the local network | Directly over your Wi‑Fi, phone and Mac on the same network |
| Encryption | Yes | Yes, end-to-end (WebRTC/DTLS), checked against a fingerprint in the QR |
| Files pass through a server | No | No: the server only introduces the devices |
| Integrity check | — | Every file is checked with SHA‑256 on arrival |
| Price | AirDrop and LocalSend are free | Included in Make Mac Better (€19.99 once) |
How it works
In Make Mac Better, open Transfer and a QR code appears. Scan it with the phone camera: a page opens in the browser. Compare the short code on both screens, pick photos or videos, and they arrive on the Mac. You can also drag files onto the Mac window to send them to the phone.
Is it private?
Yes. Make Mac Better’s server only exchanges the technical details to connect the two devices, never the files. The QR carries the Mac’s fingerprint and a secret key that are never sent to the server, so the phone only talks to your Mac. There are no relay servers: if the phone and the Mac are not on the same network, the transfer fails instead of going over the internet.
Where the others are better
Between Apple devices, AirDrop is built in and works without Wi‑Fi. LocalSend is free, open source, works on Windows and Linux too, and can transfer without internet at all. Make Mac Better needs internet for a moment to pair, and both devices on the same Wi‑Fi.
Bottom line
For iPhone to Mac, AirDrop is perfect. If you want free and can install an app on both devices, try LocalSend. If you want to send from any phone without installing anything, Make Mac Better’s Transfer does it in seconds.
Reviewed October 2026. Prices and features of other apps can change; check their websites.