What Is SuperBeam and What Is It Used For?

Updated

SuperBeam is an Android file-sharing app for sending files and entire folders between devices over WiFi Direct or an available WiFi connection, without needing a USB cable or an internet-based cloud service. It is also available as a PC application for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so you can move files between your phone and computer. It is aimed at people who want fast local transfers and simple device pairing rather than uploading files to a remote server.

How SuperBeam Works

SuperBeam transfers data directly between devices using WiFi Direct technology or whatever WiFi connection is available. The site describes this as a way to transmit data at very high speeds, and the app is positioned as the easiest and fastest way to share large files between Android devices.

Pairing is designed to avoid memorizing passwords or searching for nearby devices. You can connect devices in three ways:

  • QR codes — scanned with the included QR code scanner
  • NFC — Near Field Communication tap-to-pair
  • Manual sharing key — available as a PRO feature

The site notes that this removes the need for repeated clicks and manual approvals for connections.

What You Can Do With It

Capability Free PRO ($1.99)
Fast transfers using WiFi Direct Yes Yes
Unlimited number of files between Android devices Yes Yes
Android 2.3.3 and later support Yes Yes
Light and dark color themes Yes Yes
Ad-free experience Yes Yes
Send/receive files to and from a computer via SuperBeam for PC No Yes
Send entire folders and preserve their hierarchy No Yes
Share files with more than one device at the same time No Yes
Pair devices using a manual sharing key No Yes

The free version covers phone-to-phone transfers. The PRO version, listed at $1.99, adds computer transfers, folder sharing with preserved structure, multi-device sharing, and manual-key pairing.

The PC Application

If you need to move files between your phone and computer, SuperBeam offers a desktop application compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. According to the site, computer transfers are a PRO feature, so this workflow requires the paid version. The PC app is presented as the counterpart to the Android app for two-way file transfer.

Transfer Speed Expectations

Speed depends on several factors. The site's testing indicates that 20–40 Mbps is optimal in most cases, while some users with high-end devices reached speeds around 75 Mbps.

If transfers feel slow, the suggested fix is to turn off WiFi on both the sender and receiver before starting SuperBeam. This forces direct mode to activate when sharing begins, which the site says allows for much greater speeds.

There is no limit on the number of files you can send.

Who It Is For

SuperBeam suits Android users who regularly move large files or whole folders between phones, or between a phone and a computer, and who prefer a direct local connection over cloud uploads. If you only occasionally send a single small file, the free tier may be enough; if you need folder transfers, multi-device sharing, or PC connectivity, the PRO upgrade is the relevant option.