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Sanyam-G

Sanyam-G/Airpipe

CLI and browser tool that sends files between devices via a shared passphrase, encrypted end to end, with a relay fallback.

Open-source alternative to:DropboxWeTransfer

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16
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1
Last commit
4 days ago

What is it?

AirPipe transfers a file from one device to another by sharing a short passphrase. The sender gets a passphrase such as a set of words and a number, and the receiver enters it in the terminal, on the website, or by scanning a QR code. Data moves directly between the two devices and is encrypted throughout, so the relay server that coordinates the connection cannot read the file contents.

Devices behind home or office routers usually cannot reach each other directly. AirPipe opens outbound connections to the relay, exchanges candidate routes through it, and tries to establish a direct peer-to-peer path that passes through both NATs. If that fails, the encrypted bytes are forwarded through the relay. If the receiver is offline, a mailbox mode holds the encrypted file on the relay for a limited time, such as 10 minutes by default.

The project includes a Go CLI for Linux, macOS and Windows, a browser-to-browser mode at /live, and a relay that can be self-hosted with Docker. Encryption uses NaCl secretbox over DTLS for the direct path, with keys derived from the passphrase on the sending and receiving devices.

Key features

  • 01Sends files and folders from the CLI or browser using a shared passphrase.
  • 02Transfers directly peer-to-peer when NAT traversal succeeds, with relay fallback.
  • 03Mailbox mode stores encrypted files on the relay for a limited time when the receiver is offline.
  • 04Encrypts data end to end with NaCl secretbox, and the relay never sees plaintext.
  • 05Ships as a single Go binary for Linux, macOS and Windows, with a self-update command.
  • 06Can be self-hosted via Docker with configurable upload size, expiry and rate limits.

Use cases

  • Sending a file to a colleague's machine without email, cloud storage or scp setup.
  • Transferring files between your own computers that sit behind different networks.
  • Sharing a file with someone who has only a web browser, using the /live page.
  • Running a private relay on your own server for internal file transfers.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install the CLI with Go

    go install github.com/Sanyam-G/Airpipe/cmd/airpipe@latest
  2. 2

    Send a file and share the passphrase it prints

    airpipe send report.pdf
  3. 3

    On the receiving device, download using the passphrase

    airpipe download RIVER FALCON MARBLE 42

Things to know

  • Mailbox transfers expire after 10 minutes by default if the receiver does not pick them up.
  • If NATs are too strict for a direct connection, the transfer falls back to the relay.

In collections

Self-hosted appsCLI & terminal toolsPrivacy & local-first tools

Topics

#file-transfer#cli#peer-to-peer#webrtc#encryption#golang#self-hosted#nat-traversal

FAQ

What is Airpipe?
CLI and browser tool that sends files between devices via a shared passphrase, encrypted end to end, with a relay fallback. AirPipe transfers a file from one device to another by sharing a short passphrase. The sender gets a passphrase such as a set of words and a number, and the receiver enters it in the terminal, on the website, or by scanning a QR code. Data moves directly between the two devices and is encrypted throughout, so the relay server that coordinates the connection cannot read the file contents.
Is Airpipe free to use? What license does it have?
Airpipe is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is Airpipe still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to Airpipe was on Nov 2, 2026.
What can I use Airpipe for?
Sending a file to a colleague's machine without email, cloud storage or scp setup. Transferring files between your own computers that sit behind different networks. Sharing a file with someone who has only a web browser, using the /live page. Running a private relay on your own server for internal file transfers.
How do I install Airpipe?
Install the CLI with Go: go install github.com/Sanyam-G/Airpipe/cmd/airpipe@latest Send a file and share the passphrase it prints: airpipe send report.pdf On the receiving device, download using the passphrase: airpipe download RIVER FALCON MARBLE 42
Where can I get Airpipe?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/Sanyam-G/Airpipe

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