Show HN: Stash: End-to-end encrypted file sharing with zero friction
alepacheco-dev Thursday, January 15, 2026
I built Stash because I was tired of the usual tradeoff in file sharing: either force recipients to create accounts or give up on privacy.
How it works 1. Upload from the iOS, iPad or Mac app 2. Get a shareable link 3. Recipients download in the browser, no app, no account, nothing to install
Encryption model Files are encrypted on device using AES 256 GCM before upload. The encryption key lives only in the URL fragment (after #), which browsers never send to servers. Even if the link is intercepted in transit, the file cannot be decrypted without the fragment. The server never sees plaintext or keys.
Native Mac app Built with Mac Catalyst and full bidirectional drag and drop. Drag files onto the app to upload. Drag files out of the app to save them anywhere. No save dialogs, no friction. It feels like moving files in Finder.
What I optimized for • No file size limits • No compression, original quality preserved • Links do not expire unless you delete them • Native Apple UX for senders, universal browser access for recipients
The goal was something my non technical family could use to receive files securely without walkthroughs, accounts or app installs.
I would love feedback on the encryption approach and the UX, especially from people who have built or reviewed similar systems.