I’m steadily transferring files throughout my daily work, and over the years, I’ve encountered several frustrations. At one point, syncing my entire desktop with OneDrive resulted in a clutter of endless duplicates. Other browser-based upload and transfer tools weren’t any better, often taking forever only to fail when the Wi-Fi flickered, or a tab crashed, sending me back to square one.
My conclusion was that most of the tools were frustrating because they were primarily built for sharing, not moving data. They would comfortably share a photo, but moving a 20GB folder would be difficult. I tried Blip, and it made file transfer an easy, direct, device-to-device action. It’s an ideal solution for transferring large files.
OS
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac & Linux
Price model
Free (Business plan available)
Blip is a cross-platform app for sending original-quality photos, videos, and large files between devices. It features no size limits, direct peer-to-peer transfer (no cloud uploads), and end-to-end encryption.
Blip cuts the cloud out of the transfer entirely
Files move directly from one device to another
One reason why I’m wary of file transfers is that my data often has to live in a cloud I don’t own or control. Cloud transfer typically involves uploading a file to a server and then downloading it to a final destination. Blip completely cuts out the cloud. Once you send a file, it streams directly to the recipient’s device.
This is why the Blip approach really matters: you are not waiting for an upload to get to 100% before there is any effect on the receiving end. As soon as you send the file, the receiving device starts pulling data. Even though it is a web service, it doesn’t feel like one in practice. When you use Blip to transfer large files, it feels exactly like you are copying data over a local network.
Its file-transfer implementation also makes it a more predictable solution than cloud options like Google Drive or WeTransfer. You don’t get any of the usual delays from background processing, link generation, or server-side scanning. It all happens in real time; what leaves your disk arrives the same way on the other side.
Large files stop being a special case
Size limits disappear when storage isn’t involved
Afam Onyimadu / MUO
To really understand file transfer tools, you should try sending files larger than 10GB. This is around the limit where you start to see the cracks in browser-based tools. Timeouts, stalled uploads, and other silent failures start to occur, forcing you to start all over. Blip does not juggle storage quotas or temporary upload buckets, so large files are not a problem.
I’ve sent video projects, archived datasets, and raw photo directories exceeding 20GB in size, and the structure remains intact. I don’t experience compression, recompression artifacts, or renamed files.
However, the most important part is that I don’t have to calculate cloud storage limits before transferring files. I’m not clearing space in a cloud account or deleting old files just to make room for a transfer. As long as the local drive has enough space to hold the file, Blip can move it. It’s a simple process that works perfectly with my daily workflow.
Transfers survive real-world internet problems
Blip is built for interruptions, not perfect connections
Afam Onyimadu / MUO
After several years of moving large files, it becomes clear that the real enemy of successful transfers isn’t speed but interruptions. These interruptions come from the most unexpected sources: your laptop may sleep, the Wi-Fi can drop, and your device may switch networks. In most cases, these result in fatal errors for browser-based transfers. An accidental tab refresh may require you to start from scratch.
Blip is designed so transfers resume automatically even when the connection drops or a device briefly goes offline. I have closed my laptop in the middle of a transfer, and the moment I turn it back on, the transfer continues.
It’s so reliable that I don’t need to babysit my transfers; they resume automatically after interruptions. They’re not as fragile as I always assumed. I don’t have to wait and only try when my internet connection is perfect, because Blip maintains a persistent connection between the devices.
It works the same across all your devices
No ecosystem lock-in, no alternate workflows
Blip is ridiculously consistent, and it doesn’t matter which platform you use. I’ve sent files from my Windows 11 PC to an iPhone, from my Android to a Linux device, and from Windows to a friend’s macOS device. The experience is the same every single time. It doesn’t have a special mobile mode or any platform-specific features. This is very important if you have to work across several devices and operating systems.
Apps like AirDrop work well within Apple’s ecosystem, but don’t support cross-platform transfers. If someone has the Blip app, you can send files to them regardless of the device they use. You only have to search for their email or name, drag the file into the sending window, and they’ll receive it. I love using apps like LocalSend for file transfers, but Blip handles transfers beyond the local network, which LocalSend doesn’t.
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A file transfer tool that stays out of the way
I’m very mindful of privacy and security. This is one reason why I’ve been quietly experimenting with open-source software. While Blip isn’t open source, it offers end-to-end encryption between sender and recipient, ensuring no residual data is stored on servers.
However, the absence of friction may be its most invaluable feature. I’m not managing permissions, tweaking settings, or thinking about expiry rules. It quietly handles security and lets me concentrate only on file sharing.
