Free file transfer sites all do the same thing — turn files into a link — but their free limits differ by a factor of a hundred. Some cap a transfer at 4 GB, some at 50 GB, and peer-to-peer sites set no cap at all because they store nothing. We compared 14 file transfer sites that let you send files online free, using only each vendor's own pricing, FAQ and help pages.
Which free file transfer sites are worth using?
Free plans as of 5 November 2026, from each vendor's own pages (sources at the end). "Not stated" means the vendor's own pages don't say. Limits change — check before an important send.
| Site | Free size limit | How long files are kept | Account to send | Folders | P2P or cloud |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrongFolder | None set by the service | Not stored; available while you share | No | Yes, structure kept, no ZIP | P2P (WebRTC) |
| SwissTransfer | 50 GB per transfer | Up to 30 days | No | Accepted; ZIP advised for complex trees | Cloud |
| Transfer.it (MEGA) | "No size limits" | 90 days by default, adjustable | No | Accepted | Cloud, managed keys |
| Smash | 2 GB with priority; larger ones queued | Up to 7 days | No | Accepted | Cloud |
| TransferNow | 5 GB per transfer | 7 days | No | Accepted | Cloud |
| Filemail | 5 GB, 2 transfers per 24 h | 7 days | No | Not stated | Cloud |
| pCloud Transfer | 5 GB; upload box shows 200 MB per file | Not stated | No | Not stated | Cloud |
| Tresorit Send | 5 GB, up to 100 files | 7 days or 10 downloads | No (e-mail verified) | Not stated | End-to-end encrypted cloud |
| Wormhole | Up to 10 GB | 24 hours (files up to 5 GB) | No sign-up described | Not stated | E2E encrypted; P2P above 5 GB |
| Send Anywhere | Link: 10 GB | Link: 48 hours; 6-digit key: 10 minutes | No | Not stated | Real-time key or cloud link |
| Snapdrop / ShareDrop (LimeWire) | 4 GB per transfer; 4 GB and 20 files a day | 3 days | No | "Upload Folder" | Cloud (LimeWire storage) |
| WeTransfer | 3 GB total or 10 transfers per rolling 30 days | 3 days | Free account | Zip first to keep structure | Cloud |
| FilePizza | "As big as your browser can handle" | Not stored | Not stated | Several files arrive as one ZIP | P2P (WebRTC) |
| ToffeeShare | None in Chrome, Firefox, Edge; about 4 GB in Safari | Not stored | Not stated | No — zip first | P2P (WebRTC) |
What is the difference between cloud and P2P file transfer sites?
Cloud sites (SwissTransfer, Transfer.it, Smash, WeTransfer) upload your files to their servers first. When the upload finishes you can close the laptop; the recipient downloads whenever they like until the link expires. The cost: a size cap, an upload wait, and a copy of your files on someone else's server for days.
Peer-to-peer sites (StrongFolder, FilePizza, ToffeeShare) stream files straight from your browser to the recipient's. Nothing is uploaded first, so the download starts at once and there is no storage to cap. The cost: The sender's browser tab must stay open and online until the recipient finishes downloading — files come from the sender's device, not from a server.
Neither model is better in general. Read P2P vs cloud file transfer for the full trade-off.
Which free file transfer site has the biggest limit?
Among cloud sites with fixed numbers, SwissTransfer: 50 GB per transfer, kept up to 30 days, with no account.
Transfer.it, MEGA's transfer site, goes further on paper: its FAQ says there are "no size limits for transfers" and that links expire 90 days after creation by default. It also says it uses managed encryption keys and pre-zipped files — unlike MEGA's main cloud drive, where only you hold the keys. More in StrongFolder vs MEGA.
Peer-to-peer sites set no limit of their own. No size limit set by StrongFolder. The practical limits are free disk space on the recipient's device, connection speed, and how long both devices stay online. A 200 GB folder over a 100 Mbit/s upload takes about 4.5 hours — fine overnight if the computer stays awake. See how to send a 100 GB file free.
Which sites let you send files online free without sign-up?
Most of them. As of 5 November 2026, SwissTransfer, Transfer.it, Smash, TransferNow, Filemail, pCloud Transfer, Send Anywhere, Snapdrop and ShareDrop all let you send without an account. Tresorit Send asks you to verify your e-mail. WeTransfer is the exception among the big names: it says sending requires a free account.
For StrongFolder: No account needed to send or receive. Signing in with Google is optional and keeps a list of your transfers. The recipient needs only the link and a modern browser.
Which file transfer sites keep a folder's structure?
Every site on the list accepts files. Folders are where they differ:
- StrongFolder sends a folder as a folder. Folders are sent as folders: subfolders and file names are kept, nothing is zipped. Saving a whole folder with its structure uses the File System Access API: Chrome, Edge, Opera and other Chromium browsers on a computer. Other browsers can download the files one by one or as a ZIP.
- SwissTransfer recommends a ZIP for complex folder structures, and WeTransfer advises zipping a folder first to keep its structure.
- ShareDrop (LimeWire) says the recipient downloads an uploaded folder back as one archive.
- FilePizza delivers several files as one ZIP; ToffeeShare asks you to zip folders yourself.
For project folders with thousands of files, see how to send a folder without zipping.
Free · in your browser · no sign-up
What happened to Snapdrop and ShareDrop?
Both projects say they were acquired by LimeWire. Today snapdrop.net and sharedrop.io upload files to LimeWire storage instead of sending them device to device: without an account, up to 4 GB per transfer, up to 20 files and 4 GB a day, and links that expire after 3 days. If you want the old local, direct behaviour, see Snapdrop and ShareDrop alternatives.
Which free file transfer sites are the most private?
Three different approaches:
- Nothing stored. StrongFolder, FilePizza and ToffeeShare stream files directly. Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. If a direct connection is impossible (strict corporate firewall, some mobile networks), the encrypted stream passes through a StrongFolder relay (TURN) server. The relay forwards the data and does not store it.
- Stored, but encrypted in your browser. Tresorit Send and Wormhole encrypt files end to end before upload, so the provider can't read them.
- Stored by the provider. Most cloud sites keep files on their servers until the link expires and protect them with the provider's own security.
To create the link, the service keeps transfer metadata: file and folder names, sizes and the number of files. More in secure file sharing and security.
When is another site better than StrongFolder?
Be honest with yourself about one question: can you stay online until the recipient finishes?
- You want to send and go offline → SwissTransfer, Transfer.it, TransferNow or Smash.
- The recipient will download days later → a cloud site whose retention covers it (SwissTransfer up to 30 days, Transfer.it 90 days by default).
- You need end-to-end encryption for stored files → Tresorit Send or Wormhole.
- You want open source you can self-host → FilePizza; see FilePizza alternatives.
Choose StrongFolder when the files are bigger than free cloud limits, when a folder must arrive as a folder, when you'd rather not leave a copy on a server, or when several people need the same files now: One link can be opened by several recipients; each downloads directly from the sender.
How do I choose a free file transfer site?
- Under 4–5 GB, sending once? Almost any site works; pick one with no sign-up.
- 5–50 GB and you need to go offline? SwissTransfer or Transfer.it.
- Bigger than that, or a folder that must keep its structure? A peer-to-peer site.
- Confidential? End-to-end encrypted cloud or peer-to-peer.
- Recipient on the same Wi-Fi? A local tool such as LocalSend or PairDrop — see AirDrop alternatives for Windows and Android.
More options side by side: WeTransfer alternatives and best P2P file transfer tools.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026: SwissTransfer · Transfer.it FAQ · Smash pricing · TransferNow · Filemail free service · pCloud Transfer · Tresorit Send launch · Wormhole FAQ · Send Anywhere help center · Snapdrop · ShareDrop · WeTransfer plan limits · WeTransfer: sending a transfer · FilePizza README · ToffeeShare FAQ