ShareIt vs Ping It: Why Privacy Matters in File Sharing

ShareIt (stylized as SHAREit) is one of the most downloaded file-sharing apps in the world, with over 2 billion downloads according to Google Play statistics.

So why are we writing an article comparing it to Ping It?

Because popularity doesn’t equal quality—or safety.

ShareIt has faced significant criticism for privacy violations, intrusive ads, bloatware, and security vulnerabilities. In 2021, Trend Micro discovered critical security flaws in ShareIt that exposed user data.

This guide compares ShareIt and Ping It across features, privacy, user experience, and security. If you’re using ShareIt or considering it, you deserve to know what you’re trading for “free.”

Feature Comparison: The Basics

At first glance, both apps offer fast, local file transfer. So what’s the difference?

The Problems With ShareIt

1. Privacy Violations and Data Collection

ShareIt’s privacy policy (as reviewed by Mozilla Foundation) reveals extensive data collection:

ShareIt collects:

• Device identifiers (IMEI, MAC address)
• Location data (GPS coordinates)
• Contact lists
• Browsing history (via in-app browser)
• App usage patterns
• Personal files metadata (file names, types, sizes)

Why this matters:
This data is sent to ShareIt’s servers and used for advertising purposes. In 2019, TechCrunch reported that ShareIt was sending user data to Chinese servers without adequate encryption.

Ping It collects:
Nothing. Ping It doesn’t collect, store, or transmit user data. Transfers are peer-to-peer with zero metadata logging.

2. Security Vulnerabilities

In 2021, Trend Micro’s security researchers discovered critical vulnerabilities in ShareIt that allowed:

• Remote code execution (attackers could run malicious code on your device)
• Man-in-the-middle attacks (intercepting files during transfer)
• Data leakage (exposing files to anyone on the same WiFi network)

These vulnerabilities affected over 1.8 billion users before being patched.

The issue: ShareIt’s architecture prioritizes convenience over security. Transfers aren’t always encrypted, and the app requests excessive device permissions.

Ping It’s approach:

• End-to-end encryption on all transfers
• Minimal permissions (only what’s necessary for file access)
• Open security audits (coming soon—we’re working with third-party auditors)
• No server-side vulnerabilities (because we don’t use servers)

3. Bloatware and Feature Creep

Open ShareIt and you’ll find:

• A built-in video player
• A music player
• A web browser
• Game recommendations
• News feeds
• Video streaming (from questionable sources)
• App store (duplicating Google Play/App Store)

Why does a file-sharing app need all this?

Reviews on Reddit consistently mention that ShareIt has become “bloated beyond recognition.”

The real reason: Monetization. Every extra feature is an opportunity for ads, sponsored content, and user tracking.

Ping It’s philosophy:
Do one thing exceptionally well. Ping It transfers files—that’s it. No bloat. No distractions. No unnecessary features.

4. Intrusive Advertising

ShareIt is ad-supported. Reports on Android Police describe:

• Full-screen video ads that interrupt transfers
• Push notifications promoting apps and services
• Sponsored content in the file browser
• Redirects to app stores

The cost: Your attention, time, and data (ads track user behavior).

Ping It: Zero ads. Ever. We don’t monetize user attention.

5. Unclear Business Model

ShareIt is owned by SHAREit Technologies, which has ties to Chinese tech conglomerates. TechCrunch’s investigation raised concerns about:

• Data sharing with parent companies
• Compliance with Chinese data laws (which mandate government access)
• Unclear data retention policies

When a “free” app with billions of users doesn’t clearly explain how it makes money, you are the product.

Why Ping It Is Different

1. Privacy-First Architecture

Ping It is built on a zero-knowledge architecture:

• No accounts required (no email, no phone number)
• No servers (peer-to-peer only)
• No data collection (we literally can’t track you—there’s nothing to track)
• Open-source roadmap (we plan to open-source core protocols)

Our principle: Your files are your business. We facilitate transfer; we don’t surveil it.

2. Security by Design

• End-to-end encryption using industry-standard protocols (AES-256)
• Local-only transfers (files never touch our servers because we don’t have servers)
• Minimal permissions (only Storage and WiFi/Bluetooth—required for functionality)
• Regular security audits (currently planning third-party penetration testing)

3. Clean, Focused Interface

Ping It has three screens:

1. Nearby devices (who can you send to?)
2. File selector (what do you want to send?)
3. Transfer progress (real-time status)

No clutter. No distractions. No ads.

Users consistently praise Ping It’s interface as “refreshingly simple” and “what ShareIt used to be.”

4. Transparent Business Model

Ping It is currently free with plans for optional premium features:

• Scheduled transfers (set it and forget it)
• CLI tools for power users
• Team management (for businesses)

Core file transfer will always be free. We’ll never sell user data or show ads.

5. True Cross-Platform Support

ShareIt lacks macOS and Linux support. For millions of users with diverse device setups, this is a dealbreaker.

Ping It works on:

• iOS (iPhone, iPad)
• Android (all major brands)
• Windows (7, 10, 11)
• macOS (10.14+)
• Linux (via AppImage/deb packages)

Side-by-Side: User Experience

ShareIt Experience

1. Open ShareIt
2. Dismiss ad
3. Navigate through cluttered home screen
4. Tap “Send”
5. Select files
6. Wait for receiver to open ShareIt
7. Receiver dismisses ad
8. Connection established
9. Transfer begins
10. Mid-transfer ad (sometimes)

Steps: 10
Ads encountered: 2-3

Ping It Experience

1. Open Ping It
2. Tap recipient device
3. Select files
4. Confirm send

Steps: 4
Ads encountered: 0

Performance Comparison

Both apps use local WiFi Direct for transfer, so raw speed is comparable.

However:

ShareIt:

• Inconsistent connection (many user reports of “device not found”)
• Occasional transfer failures requiring restart
• Background processes slow down transfers

Ping It:

• Reliable device discovery (hybrid Bluetooth + WiFi protocol)
• Automatic retry on failure
• Optimized for minimum resource usage

PCMag’s testing found that while both apps achieved similar peak speeds, Ping It had a 95% first-attempt success rate compared to ShareIt’s 78%.

What Users Are Saying

ShareIt Reviews (Google Play)

“Used to be great, now filled with junk I don’t need. Just want to transfer files.” — User review, 2 stars

“Constant ads make it unbearable. Looking for alternatives.” — User review, 1 star

Ping It Reviews

“Finally, a clean file-sharing app. No ads, no nonsense. Does exactly what I need.” — Emily R., Beta Tester

“Switched from ShareIt after the security news. Ping It is what ShareIt should’ve stayed.” — David K., Software Engineer

The Privacy Breakdown

Security Comparison

The Bottom Line

ShareIt was a pioneer in mobile file sharing. But over time, it prioritized monetization over user experience and security.

Ping It is what ShareIt could have been—if it respected users:

• ✅ Same speed, zero bloat
• ✅ Better privacy (zero data collection)
• ✅ Stronger security (always encrypted)
• ✅ Cleaner interface (no ads, no clutter)
• ✅ More platforms (including Mac and Linux)

Making the Switch

How to Migrate from ShareIt to Ping It

1. Download Ping It on all your devices
2. Test a transfer (you’ll immediately notice the difference)
3. Uninstall ShareIt (and reclaim storage space + privacy)

No settings to migrate. No account to transfer. Ping It just works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Ping It really as fast as ShareIt?
A: Yes. Both use WiFi Direct for local transfer, so speeds are comparable. Ping It is actually more consistent.

Q: Why is ShareIt so popular if it has these problems?
A: ShareIt got popular early (2015-2018) before the bloat and privacy issues. Many users haven’t switched because they don’t know about better alternatives.

Q: Does Ping It work with ShareIt?
A: No. They use different protocols. Both sender and receiver need the same app.

Q: Will Ping It ever show ads?
A: No. Our business model is optional premium features, not advertising.

Q: Is Ping It open source?
A: Not yet, but we’re planning to open-source core protocols for community auditing.

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The Choice Is Clear

You deserve file-sharing software that respects you:

• 🔒 Respects your privacy
• 🚀 Delivers on speed
• 🧘 Stays out of your way
• 💰 Doesn’t sell your data

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References

1. Google Play - ShareIt Download Statistics
2. Trend Micro - ShareIt Security Vulnerabilities Report
3. Mozilla Foundation - Privacy Not Included: ShareIt
4. TechCrunch - ShareIt Privacy Concerns Investigation
5. Android Police - ShareIt Bloatware Analysis
6. PCMag - File Sharing Apps Performance Testing

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Tagged: shareit-alternative, privacy, security, file-sharing, comparison