If your smartphone storage is running low, cross-platform file transfer tools become an absolute necessity. SHAREit, a veteran file-sharing app with over 2 billion users at its peak, swept the globe with its slogan of "no data usage, lightning-fast sharing". Yet in recent years, amid tightening system permissions, recurring privacy controversies, and the rise of competitors, can SHAREit still meet our evolving needs? This article will guide you through the comprehensive SHAREit review with all detailed information, including features, safety, pros, cons, user comments, directions, price, and viable alternatives.
SHAREit is a file transfer application that enables the sharing of files, apps, games, videos, photos, music, recordings, documents, and more across different platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. In addition to file transfer, SHAREit also allows you to manage files, such as moving or deleting them, and can even convert videos into audio. Moreover, SHAREit does not rely on Wi-Fi or cellular data to transfer data, and it is said to be 200 times faster than Bluetooth for data transfer.
Key features:
According to Trend Micro, an American-Japanese data security software company, SHAREit has severe vulnerabilities that will lead to sensitive data disclosure and remote code execution. Well, in our discovery, we found that the app doesn't encrypt the transferred data.
Also, it asks for permissions to the camera (to scan the QR code), location, storage, contacts, and microphone. Some permissions may be necessary, but others are not essential for a data transfer app, or location. If you don't authorize the required permissions, you cannot use SHAREit.
What's worse, the hotspot you create to connect both devices is also a potential threat. While playing an important role in connection and file transfer, the hotspot will also let other users receive and send files to your device if they decode the hotspot.
Still, suppose you don't put the installation files in protected storage during the key installation period. In that case, hackers will have a chance to interrupt and replace the installation files with malware and steal your privacy.
Therefore, for the sake of security, you'd better not install SHAREit on your device.
SHAREit is free of charge on Android, Windows PC, and Mac and offers free and premium versions on iOS devices. The premium version on iOS devices will cost you $2.99 to remove ads. Aside from ad-block, there is no difference in features between free and premium versions.
If you don't know how the SHAREit app works exactly, you may refer to the following instructions. Note that this guide only works for phone-to-phone transfer, and the operations may be different if you handle the computer-to-phone transfer.
How to use the SHAREit app?
Step 1. Install SHAREit from the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iPhone. Then, grant necessary permissions and place both devices nearby with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
Step 2. Open SHAREit on the source phone, choose the "Send" option and select the other device as the Android or iOS.
Step 3. Next, launch the app on the target phone and click the "Receive" button. After making a successful connection between both devices, you can select the files you wish to send and hit "Next" to start sending them.
Step 4. Receive the files on your target device.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, and even the SHAREit app has the good and bad, too. Integrated with user's SHAREit reviews and our trial, we find that:
Pros:
* Fast speed and wireless transfer.
* The basic version is free to use.
* Provide media sharing, downloading, and other features.
* No registration requirements and file size limit.
* Widely compatible with all devices.
Cons:
* Ads pop up every second.
* The transfer process can get stuck sometimes.
* Complicated connection procedure.
* Some features are not available on iOS and Mac versions.
* Vulnerable to bugs, malware, and attacks.
* Slow when processing multitasks.
User's Review:
The latest comments in App Grooves show much more information. Some users think it used to be friendly, fast, and simple to use. But now, it has become cumbersome and full of ads & permissions, and takes forever to connect since it doesn't recognize the QR code. What's worse, this app only scores 1.4 on Trustpilot.com, an authoritative software review website.
What is better than SHAREit? If you seek a SHAREit alternative to switch data between your old and new phones, Coolmuster Mobile Transfer is the best alternative worth trying. This green app makes it easiest for you to transfer most data between Android and iOS devices with or without cable. Additionally, it is completely ads-free and redundant features-free.
Key features:
How to use this SHAREit alternative?
01Download and install Mobile Transfer on your computer. Later, please open it.
02Connect both phones to the computer using two original USB cables. Then, on Android devices, enable the USB debugging as prompted to make it recognizable by the computer. If one device is iOS, please tap the "Trust" option to authorize the computer.
03Once connected, you will see Connected under the device images. Please ensure that the source and target phones must be in strict order. If necessary, you can tap the "Flip" button to switch them.
04When connected, tick the data types you wish to copy and hit the "Start Copy" button below to start the transfer process.
Here's the video guide:
Phone-to-phone file transfer is a basic demand when we switch to a new phone. After reading this complete SHAREit review, we are sure you have more thought about the SHAREit app and its alternatives. Since SHAREit is not a flawless and secure app, you can abandon it and try Coolmuster Mobile Transfer decisively. It is secure, easy, and fast to transfer files between Android and iOS devices. Most strikingly, it doesn't contain any irritating ads and inductive downloads. Why don't you give it a try?
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