Comparisons & alternatives · Devices, syncing and sharing
Should I use Bridge or a USB stick to move files between my Mac and a Windows PC?
Short answer: A USB stick needs a shared format and a walk between machines; Bridge links your Mac and PC directly, end-to-end encrypted, with the PC's shared folders in Finder. Use a stick when there's no network.
Use whichever fits the moment — but Bridge saves the walking. A USB stick needs a format both computers can read and write (commonly exFAT), a trip between machines, and enough room for the job. It's still the simplest option when the two computers can't get online.
Bridge connects your Mac and PC directly over the network, end-to-end encrypted, on the same Wi-Fi or across the internet. Folders you share from the PC show up in Finder on your Mac, you can send files either way, and copies can land in the Junk Yard on the other side. Nothing is stored on a server along the way.
For one large one-off copy with no network, a fast USB drive is fine. For everyday back-and-forth, Bridge is less fuss. See Bridge & your devices.