Type: Anonymous peer-to-peer file sharing via Tor
Server: Your own computer — no third-party server
Account required: No
Built into Tails OS: Yes
Clearnet: onionshare.org
Last verified: March 2026
How OnionShare Works
When you start a share in OnionShare, it creates a Tor hidden service directly on your computer. Anyone with the generated .onion address can connect and download files. No files pass through OnionShare’s servers — the transfer is direct between your machine and the recipient’s Tor Browser. When the transfer completes or you stop the share, the .onion address ceases to exist.
| Mode | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Send files | Generate .onion address — share it with recipient — they download directly |
| Receive files | Generate upload .onion — send to source — they upload directly to you |
| Anonymous chat | Temporary .onion chat room — no accounts, no logs, disappears on close |
| Host a website | Serve files as a temporary .onion site |
Use Cases
Journalists receiving documents from sources: Send your source an OnionShare receive address. They upload documents directly to your computer through Tor — no intermediary server sees the files, no account links the source to the upload.
Sharing sensitive files without cloud storage: Sending through OnionShare avoids uploading to Google Drive, Dropbox or any third party — the transfer happens machine-to-machine.
Tails OS users: OnionShare is pre-installed in Tails. No additional setup required — it works immediately from the application menu.