A safe SHAREit and Xender alternative that needs no app
SHAREit and Xender made phone-to-phone sharing popular, but they come with ads, many permissions and their own hotspot. OmniBeam does the same in the web browser: no app to install, no ads and no account.
How to send files without SHAREit
- Open omnibeam.site on both phones, or on a phone and a computer.
- On the same Wi‑Fi, they show each other. Without Wi‑Fi, turn on the hotspot on one phone and connect the other to it, or pair them with the QR code over mobile data.
- Tap the other device and choose photos, videos, music, documents or apps’ files.
- Tap Accept on the other device. Files are saved in its Downloads folder.
Why switch
File sharing apps often ask for access to your contacts, location and storage, and show full-screen ads between transfers. OmniBeam only sees the files you choose to send. The transfer goes directly between the two devices and is encrypted, and there is nothing to update or uninstall later.
Tips
- Add OmniBeam to the home screen from the browser menu: it opens like an app and appears in the Android share menu.
- Photos and videos keep their full quality. To send faster on a slow connection, turn on Shrink photos and videos in Settings.
- Send to several devices at once with Send to everyone in the ⋯ menu, for example to share holiday photos with the whole family.
- Works between Android and iPhone too, which SHAREit and Xender make difficult.
Because OmniBeam runs in the browser, it also works on computers with no extra software: send from a phone to a Windows PC, Mac or Chromebook just as easily as to another phone.
If you want a SHAREit alternative or a Xender alternative that is safe, free and without ads, OmniBeam needs no app and works on every device.
Questions and answers
Does OmniBeam work without internet?
The page has to load once, then devices on the same Wi‑Fi or hotspot send to each other directly. The files themselves do not go over the internet.
Does it show ads?
No. OmniBeam has no ads in the app and does not sell data.
Can I send apps (APK files)?
You can send any file, including APK files saved on the phone. Only install apps you trust.
Is it as fast as SHAREit?
On the same Wi‑Fi it runs at your network’s speed, which is similar. Big videos of several gigabytes are fine.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, in Safari. That makes it one of the few ways to send files between Android and iPhone without an app.
Can I send to a computer as well?
Yes. Open OmniBeam on the computer and send from the phone, or the other way round. Nothing needs to be installed on the computer either.
What permissions does OmniBeam need?
None beyond the files you pick. It does not read your contacts, location or other files on the phone.