WeTransfer made "send a big file with a link" a habit, but its free plan has become tight. If you are looking for WeTransfer alternatives, the choice depends on three things: how big the files are, whether they must arrive as a folder, and whether you can stay online while the recipient downloads. We compared 11 free options using only each vendor's own pricing and help pages.
What are the best WeTransfer alternatives at a glance?
Free plans as of 5 November 2026, from each vendor's own pricing or help pages (sources at the end). "Not stated" means the vendor's own pages don't say. Limits change — check the vendor before an important send.
| Service | Free size limit | How long files are kept | Account to send | Folders | P2P or cloud | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StrongFolder | None set by the service | Not stored; available while you share | No | Yes, structure kept, no ZIP | P2P (WebRTC) | Huge files and whole folders |
| SwissTransfer | 50 GB per transfer | Up to 30 days | No | Accepted; vendor suggests ZIP for complex trees | Cloud | Biggest free cloud send |
| Smash | 2 GB with priority; larger transfers queued | Up to 7 days | No | Accepted | Cloud | Big files when you can wait |
| TransferNow | 5 GB per transfer | 7 days | No | Accepted | Cloud | Simple sends up to 5 GB |
| Filemail | 5 GB per transfer, 2 transfers per 24 h | 7 days | No | Not stated | Cloud | Occasional 5 GB sends |
| Send Anywhere | Link: 10 GB | Link: 48 hours; 6-digit key: 10 minutes | No | Not stated | Real-time key or cloud link | Phone-to-computer with apps |
| Wormhole | Up to 10 GB | 24 hours (files up to 5 GB) | No sign-up described | Not stated | E2E encrypted; P2P above 5 GB | Private sends up to 10 GB |
| Tresorit Send | 5 GB, up to 100 files | 7 days or 10 downloads | No (email verified) | Not stated | End-to-end encrypted cloud | Confidential documents |
| Dropbox Transfer | 2 GB (Basic) | 7 days (Basic) | Dropbox account | Accepted | Cloud | Existing Dropbox users |
| Google Drive | 15 GB storage, shared with Gmail and Photos | Until you delete them | Google account | Kept online; downloads as ZIP | Cloud storage | Long-term sharing |
| FilePizza | "As big as your browser can handle" | Not stored | No | Several files arrive as one ZIP | P2P (WebRTC), open source | Quick single files, self-hosting |
Why look for a WeTransfer alternative?
WeTransfer still works well for small one-off sends, but three limits push people to look elsewhere:
- Size and count. WeTransfer's help center lists up to 10 transfers or 3 GB total in any rolling 30-day window on the free plan. One 4K video can use that up.
- Short life. Free transfer links expire after 3 days, and WeTransfer says expired free transfers are removed for good.
- An account to send. WeTransfer says sending requires a free account; recipients don't need one.
If none of these bother you, WeTransfer may still be the simplest choice — see StrongFolder vs WeTransfer for when it wins.
Which WeTransfer alternative has the biggest free size limit?
Two different answers, because there are two different models.
Among cloud services, SwissTransfer. It accepts up to 50 GB per transfer, keeps files up to 30 days and allows up to 250 downloads per transfer, without an account. Files are stored in Infomaniak's data centers in Switzerland.
Peer-to-peer tools set no limit of their own. StrongFolder and FilePizza don't store your files, so there is no storage to cap. 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 100 GB folder over a 50 Mbit/s upload takes roughly 4.5 hours — fine overnight, if your computer stays awake. More in how to send a 100 GB file free.
Smash sits in between: free transfers up to 2 GB get priority, and larger ones are accepted but join a queue behind paid transfers.
Which WeTransfer alternatives can send a whole folder?
Almost every service accepts a folder dropped into the browser. The question is what the recipient gets:
- A ZIP. WeTransfer's help center advises zipping a folder first to keep its structure, and SwissTransfer recommends a ZIP for complex folder structures. Google Drive packs downloaded folders into ZIP files. FilePizza delivers several files as one ZIP.
- The same folder tree. StrongFolder sends a folder as a folder: subfolders and file names are kept and nothing is zipped. The recipient saves it with Chrome, Edge or Opera on a computer. See how to send a folder without zipping.
Which alternatives don't keep a copy of your files?
Cloud services store your files for the retention period — that is what lets you go offline. If you'd rather nothing be stored:
- StrongFolder streams files browser to browser. Files are never uploaded to or stored on a StrongFolder server. If a direct connection is impossible, the DTLS-encrypted stream passes through a relay that forwards it and does not store it.
- FilePizza sends files directly between browsers; the uploader keeps the window open.
- Send Anywhere's 6-digit key sends in real time instead of storing files; its share links do store files for 48 hours.
- Wormhole stores files up to 5 GB for 24 hours (end-to-end encrypted) and sends larger files peer-to-peer while your page stays open.
If your concern is who can read the files rather than where they sit, end-to-end encrypted cloud services such as Tresorit Send and Wormhole are also worth a look. More in secure file sharing.
How do the main alternatives differ?
StrongFolder
Direct browser-to-browser transfer with no size limit set by the service, folders kept as folders, no account, several recipients from one link and a QR code. Works in the web app and the Chrome extension. Watch out: your tab must stay open until recipients finish.
Free · in your browser · no sign-up
SwissTransfer
The most generous free cloud plan we found. Watch out: for complex folder trees the vendor recommends zipping first.
Smash
No sign-up, files kept up to 7 days, folders accepted, files encrypted in transit and at rest. Watch out: above 2 GB, free transfers wait behind paid ones. See StrongFolder vs Smash.
TransferNow and Filemail
Both offer 5 GB per transfer for 7 days without an account. Filemail's help center limits free users to 2 transfers in 24 hours.
Send Anywhere
Two modes: a 6-digit key for a real-time transfer (valid 10 minutes) and a share link (up to 10 GB free, 48 hours). Strong on phones thanks to its apps. See StrongFolder vs Send Anywhere.
Tresorit Send and Wormhole
Both encrypt files end to end in the browser. Tresorit Send: 5 GB, up to 100 files, 7 days or 10 downloads. Wormhole: up to 10 GB, with files over 5 GB sent peer-to-peer.
Google Drive and Dropbox Transfer
Best when you already use them. Drive gives 15 GB of storage shared with Gmail and Photos; Dropbox Basic transfers go up to 2 GB and expire after 7 days. See StrongFolder vs Google Drive.
FilePizza
Open-source peer-to-peer transfer you can host yourself. See StrongFolder vs FilePizza and the wider list of P2P file transfer tools.
How do I choose the right WeTransfer alternative?
- Can you stay online until the recipient finishes? If not, use a cloud service. If yes, peer-to-peer removes the size cap and the upload wait.
- Is it a folder? If the structure matters, use a tool that doesn't zip it.
- How big is it? Under 5 GB, most free services work. Up to 50 GB, SwissTransfer. Beyond that, peer-to-peer or a paid plan.
- Will the recipient download days later? Pick a service whose retention covers it.
- Is it confidential? Prefer end-to-end encrypted or peer-to-peer tools.
When is WeTransfer itself still the right choice?
When the files are small, you want to send and close your laptop, and the recipient may open the link a day or two later. WeTransfer's paid plans also add longer expiry and password protection. Peer-to-peer can't replace "upload once, download whenever" — that is a cloud job.
Sources
Checked on 5 November 2026: WeTransfer plan limits · WeTransfer free plan · WeTransfer: sending a transfer · WeTransfer: expired transfers · SwissTransfer · Smash pricing · TransferNow · Filemail free service · Send Anywhere help center · Wormhole FAQ · Tresorit Send launch · Dropbox Transfer · Google storage · Google Drive folder downloads · FilePizza