Tech

This free Android app makes sharing files across Windows, Mac, and iOS easy for me

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

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Highlights taken by ZDNET

  • You won’t find an easier file sharing app than Blip.
  • Blip works on Android, MacOS, Windows, iOS, and iPadOS.
  • Blip is free for personal use and $25 for a business license.

Don’t blink, because in a blip, you might be missing out on a handy file sharing tool for Android. Yes, I’m talking about Blip.

I’ve tested all kinds of file transfer apps for Android, and Blip has to be the easiest. Install it on your Android device (from Google Play), your desktop, laptop, or other mobile devices, and start sharing. There is also iOS version in the Apple App Store, which I have not tested.

It’s that simple.

Also: 5 little Linux tools I can’t live or work without

Also, Blip is fast. Of all the device-to-device sharing apps I’ve tried, Blip is, by far, the fastest (and easiest).

Blip has no size limits, keeps you informed of file transfer progress, sends notifications, lets you send folders, uses end-to-end encryption, and sends in real quality (so your photos don’t get damaged). You can upload almost any file type (even large videos), and it’s free for non-commercial use.

If you need to use Blip in a commercial environment, you will need to pay for the Business Plan at $25 per user per month. But, again, for personal use, it’s completely free.

Yes, Blip is the file sharing app you’ve been waiting for.

Also: My top 6 open source Android apps from the Google Play Store – and why that matters

Oh, and it’s not just for Android. You can share files from MacOS, Windows, iOS, and (coming soon) Linux. Until the developers offer a Linux version, try one of these open source OS file sharing options, or you can use Packet. (Note: I tried to register for the Linux version, but it failed every time. Hopefully, the developers will solve that problem.)

How do you use Blip? It’s probably too easy.

Includes Blip

Installing Blip is easy, but it depends on where you’re using it. To install on Android, just visit the Google Play Store on your phone, search for “blip file sharing”, and press the related install button.

If you’re using MacOS or Windows, download the following installer from the Blip Download page, double-click the downloaded file, and follow the installer wizard.

Once you’ve installed the app, you’ll need to register an email address to verify user accounts and ensure secure file sharing. A registered email address helps maintain privacy and control who can send and receive files on the platform.

Also: 6 features I wish Linux would borrow from macOS

When you register your email address, you receive a 6-digit passcode that you must enter into the Blip app before it can be used. I went with the same email address for all instances of Blip and had no problems.

Using Blip

Using Blip is as easy as installing it. Open the Blip App, tap the device you want to share the file with, find the file(s), tap Done, and that’s it. The file will automatically arrive at its destination. It’s that simple.

Blip

All your discovered Blip devices will be found here.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You can disable automatic acceptance in Settings (if you’re not worried about someone sending you a file you don’t want), and you can disable notifications (if you don’t need them).

Blip

You won’t find many settings here, which adds to Blip’s simplicity.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You can also share files with Blip from your device’s built-in share menu (like on Android and MacOS). To do this, you just need to find the file to be shared, select it, press the share icon (or right-click/two fingers on macOS), select Blip, and wait for it to reach its destination.

Blip

Sharing Blip on macOS is easy.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Also: I finally bought the Transmit MacOS app, and the 16x faster transfer speed is still a start

Blip is one of those rare apps that I check out that will stay on my devices. I plan to use this tool instead of the built-in Android and MacOS file sharing features to move files between devices on my LAN.



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