Side-by-side comparison
QuickBridge vs Wormhole
Short answer: Wormhole is excellent when you want to fire-and-forget a link the recipient will open later - your encrypted files sit on Wormhole's servers for 24 hours so they can download even after you close the tab. QuickBridge never uploads anywhere: the two browsers connect directly over an encrypted WebRTC channel, and bytes only ever exist on your two devices. Different tools for different jobs.
Free forever · No sign-up · Encrypted end-to-end
Feature-by-feature comparison
Every Wormhole column entry below is sourced from the live wormhole.app home, the project's own FAQ, Security Design, and Roadmap (see Sources at the bottom of this page).
| Capability | QuickBridge | Wormhole |
|---|---|---|
| Files travel directly browser-to-browser, no server hopWormhole's typical flow uploads encrypted files to its servers (Backblaze) for 24 hours; files larger than 5 GB switch to peer-to-peer via WebTorrent. QuickBridge is always direct - bytes never persist on a server. | Yes | Different model |
| Sender can close the tab after sharing the linkWormhole's 24-hour server copy keeps the link working after you close the page. QuickBridge requires both browsers to stay open for the duration of the transfer. | No | Yes |
| End-to-end encryptionQuickBridge uses WebRTC's mandatory DTLS (typically AES-256-GCM). Wormhole uses AES-128-GCM via the Web Crypto API before files leave the browser; the decryption key lives in the URL fragment and is never sent to Wormhole's server. | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum advertised file sizeQuickBridge: up to 10 GB per file when the receiver enables auto-save (saves directly to disk on Chromium-based browsers), 2 GB otherwise. Wormhole's homepage advertises a 10 GB ceiling - files up to 5 GB use the cloud relay, 5-10 GB switches to peer-to-peer. | Yes | Yes |
| No sign-up, no email requiredBoth services let you send instantly without an account. Wormhole's product-update mailing list is opt-in. | Yes | Yes |
| No ads, no third-party trackersQuickBridge: none. Wormhole's security page explicitly states 'No ads. No trackers. No kidding.' | Yes | Yes |
| Open sourceWormhole's wormhole-crypto streaming-encryption module is open source per their security design; the full client and server are not. QuickBridge is in active development. | Yes | Different model |
| Native desktop appWormhole ships a Microsoft Store app (Windows 10, Xbox, HoloLens) per their roadmap. QuickBridge is browser-only - installable as a PWA on every major OS. | No | Yes |
The honest verdict
Choose QuickBridge when…
- You want bytes to never touch a server, even encrypted, even briefly. The transfer should be browser-to-browser, period.
- You're handing off in person - phone in hand, laptop open - and a QR scan or 6-digit PIN is faster than copy-pasting a link.
- You don't want a third-party storage provider (Backblaze, in Wormhole's case) in the trust chain.
- You want a pricing model that stays free with no Pro tier on the roadmap.
Choose Wormhole when…
- You want to share a link and walk away - the recipient will open it later, possibly hours after you close your tab.
- You'd rather upload to a server and share a link than coordinate two tabs being open at the same time.
- You want a Microsoft Store app for Windows 10, Xbox, or HoloLens.
- You're already used to the encrypted-link share-anywhere model and don't need an in-person pairing step.
Status note (April 2026)
Wormhole's roadmap lists a fully cloudless "Peer-to-peer Mode" as upcoming, even though their FAQ already states that files larger than 5 GB transfer peer-to-peer via WebTorrent. Reading both sources together: today, files up to 5 GB are encrypted in your browser and uploaded to Wormhole's Backblaze servers (deleted after 24 hours), while files between 5 GB and 10 GB transfer browser-to-browser. A future cloudless mode that bypasses the upload entirely is on the roadmap. The comparison above reflects this present-day model. We will update this page if Wormhole's product changes.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- wormhole.app (live homepage) - verified 2026-04-28
- Wormhole FAQ - verified 2026-04-28
- Wormhole Security Design - verified 2026-04-28
- Wormhole Roadmap - verified 2026-04-28
- Why We Built Wormhole - verified 2026-04-28
- Wormhole Terms & Privacy (operated by WebTorrent, LLC) - verified 2026-04-28
Try a transfer that never touches a server
Open QuickBridge in two browsers, scan the QR or share the 6-digit PIN, and watch a file move directly between your two devices - no upload, no cloud, no waiting.
Start a transfer