OnionShare

OnionShare is an open‑source utility that enables peer‑to‑peer sharing of files, hosting of temporary onion websites, and private chat sessions over the Tor network. By creating a Tor hidden service on the fly, it lets a user offer a download link or a web page that can be accessed only by recipients who know the unique .onion address, without exposing the user’s IP address or requiring any intermediary server.

The tool is targeted at individuals who need to exchange data or communicate without revealing their identity or location, such as journalists, activists, or anyone concerned with privacy. It runs on desktop operating systems—including Windows, macOS, and Linux—and is preinstalled on privacy‑focused distributions like Qubes OS, Tails, and Parrot OS. Mobile support is provided through collaborations with the Guardian Project and The Calyx Institute for Android and iOS platforms.

What distinguishes OnionShare is its integration with Tor to provide end‑to‑end anonymity for multiple use cases—file transfer, web hosting, and chat—within a single application, while remaining free and open source.