Choosing a way to send files usually comes down to five questions: how big is it, does it have to arrive as a folder, can I stay online while it downloads, does the recipient need an account, and where do the files sit in the meantime. The pages below compare the popular tools on exactly those points.
We make StrongFolder, a free browser tool that sends files and whole folders directly from one device to another over WebRTC. That is why we hold these pages to strict rules:
- Vendor sources only. Every limit, retention period and account rule for another service comes from that vendor's own pricing or help page, checked on the date shown. Sources are linked at the end of each page.
- "See current plan" instead of guesses. If a vendor doesn't state something clearly, we say so.
- When the other tool is better, we say it. Peer-to-peer has a real trade-off — the sender's tab must stay open — and cloud services win in many situations.
Which file transfer tools do these pages cover?
Free plans as of 5 November 2026, taken from each vendor's own pages. Limits change often — check the vendor before a large send.
| Tool | How it works | Free size limit | Files kept for | Compared in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrongFolder | P2P in the browser (WebRTC) | None set by the service | Not stored; available while you share | all pages |
| WeTransfer | Cloud | 3 GB total, up to 10 transfers per rolling 30 days | 3 days | vs WeTransfer |
| Smash | Cloud | 2 GB with priority; larger free transfers are queued | Up to 7 days | vs Smash |
| TransferNow | Cloud | 5 GB per transfer | 7 days | vs TransferNow |
| Filemail | Cloud | 5 GB per transfer | 7 days | vs Filemail |
| SwissTransfer | Cloud | 50 GB per transfer | Up to 30 days | vs SwissTransfer |
| Send Anywhere | Real-time key or cloud link | Link: 10 GB | Link: 48 hours | vs Send Anywhere |
| Google Drive | Cloud storage | 15 GB storage, shared with Gmail and Photos | Until deleted | vs Google Drive |
| Dropbox Transfer | Cloud | 2 GB per transfer (Basic) | 7 days (Basic) | vs Dropbox |
| Tresorit Send | End-to-end encrypted cloud | 5 GB, up to 100 files | 7 days or 10 downloads | vs Tresorit Send |
| Wormhole | E2E encrypted; P2P above 5 GB | Up to 10 GB | 24 hours (files up to 5 GB) | vs Wormhole |
| FilePizza | P2P in the browser | "As big as your browser can handle" | Not stored | vs FilePizza |
| ToffeeShare | P2P in the browser | None in Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Not stored | vs ToffeeShare |
| ShareDrop, Snapdrop, PairDrop | P2P in the browser, mostly local network | see current plan | Not stored | vs PairDrop & Snapdrop |
| LocalSend | App, local Wi-Fi only | see current plan | Not stored | vs LocalSend |
Want to understand the difference between the two models first? Read P2P vs cloud file transfer and why the sender stays online.