Apple’s leading operating systems — iOS and Mac OS — may very well be trailing Android and Windows in the race for global supremacy, but the company has a few fantastic tricks up its sleeve. The Cupertino giant has complete control over all its devices and services, so, it’s pretty straightforward for them to roll out features with cross-platform compatibility. Google, on the other hand, is forced to jump a lot of hoops to attain the same results on Android.

When it comes to seamless cross-platform file exchange, nothing really holds a candle to Apple’s AirDrop. The only pre-requisite here is to keep the compatible devices within 30ft of one another, and the rest is magically taken care of.

After being on the sidelines for a very long time, Google has finally announced its own interpretation of AirDrop called Nearby Sharing. The service would establish a Bluetooth handshake connection at first before switching over to Wi-Fi direct. XDA has found that we’ll need to keep the devices within 1 ft of each other to successfully establish the connection.

Related: What is Nearby Sharing from Google

Sadly, Google hasn’t announced a release date for the highly-anticipated service, so, it could be a couple of months before we know more about Nearby Sharing. Instead of sitting and waiting for the update/announcement to drop, we thought about doing something productive and telling you about three alternatives to Google’s Nearby Sharing.

Files by Google

For those unaware, Files by Google is a file manager application, packing enough features to replace your native file organizer. Apart from giving you a bunch of options to organize and declutter your device, the app doubles up as a handy file transfer tool. Simply head over to the Share tab on the Files by Google app and share files with nearby Files by Google users.

DownloadGet Files by Google on Google Play

Zapya

Zapya is a dedicated file transfer app like Share It and Xender and has a bunch of tricks up its sleeve. Unlike Files by Google, Zapya supports cross-platform file transfer, meaning that you can share your favorite files with even iOS and Windows users. The app also supports super-quick file sharing with nearby devices. Simply shake your Zapya-installed, nearby devices to establish a connection. The data is then transferred over Wi-Fi direct.

DownloadGet Zapya on Google Play

Send Anywhere

Send Anywhere, just as the name suggests, allows you to send your files anywhere across the globe. Apart from supporting Wi-Fi direct-powered nearby sharing, Send Anywhere also excels in cross-platform file sharing. The app is available for all major operating systems, so, you won’t have a hard time sharing your favorite files to all supported devices.

Download: Get Send Anywhere on Google Play


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