WeTransfer alternatives in 2026: limits, expiry and where your files are stored
WeTransfer compared with SwissTransfer, Smash, TransferNow, Filemail, Dropbox Transfer, Proton Drive and Nivlo Send: how much you can send for free, how long links last and which country your files end up in.
Daniel Robert Dinu, founder of Nivlo ·
The short answer: if you just want to send one large file for free, SwissTransfer goes furthest: 50 GB, no account, with files stored in Switzerland. For smaller transfers without an account there’s TransferNow and Filemail (5 GB), Smash (2 GB) and Nivlo Send (up to 7 GB). If you send and receive files every week with the same clients and suppliers, you don’t need a transfer service anymore. You need a place where files stay organised and under your control.
All figures below come from each service’s official pages, checked on 28 October 2026.
Why people are looking for alternatives
WeTransfer is still the best-known service, but a few things have changed:
- The free tier got tighter. You need an account to send, you can send at most 10 transfers or 3 GB in total every 30 days, and links expire after 3 days.
- The owner changed. In July 2024 WeTransfer was bought by Bending Spoons, and in September 2024 the new owner announced plans to cut about 75% of staff.
- The terms worried users. In July 2025, the new terms included a machine-learning clause. After public backlash, WeTransfer removed it and said it does not use AI on shared files.
None of this means WeTransfer is unsafe. It just means it’s worth knowing your alternatives and reading the terms before sending confidential material.
At a glance (free plans)
| Service | Max per transfer | How long the link lasts | Sender account | Where files are stored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WeTransfer | 3 GB (at most 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30 days) | 3 days | yes | not stated |
| SwissTransfer | 50 GB | up to 30 days | no | Switzerland |
| Smash | 2 GB | 7 days | no | region closest to the sender (e.g. Paris, Frankfurt, London) |
| TransferNow | 5 GB | 7 days | no | not stated for the free plan |
| Filemail | 5 GB | 7 days | official pages disagree | nearest of their data centres |
| Dropbox Transfer | 2 GB | 7 days | yes (Dropbox account) | not stated |
| Proton Drive | limited by free storage (5 GB) | you choose, optional password | yes | Switzerland, Germany or Norway |
| Nivlo Send | up to 7 GB | expires automatically | no | Europe |
Paid plans raise the limits: for example, TransferNow Premium goes up to 250 GB per transfer, and Smash Pro has no size limit. Prices vary by country and billing period, so check each service’s pricing page.
What to choose, depending on the situation
One very large file, once
SwissTransfer. You get 50 GB without an account, and the link stays active for up to 30 days. You can also cap the number of downloads. If the recipient downloads everything at once they get a ZIP archive, and above 10 GB files have to be downloaded one by one.
A quick transfer of a few gigabytes, no account
Nivlo Send, TransferNow or Filemail. For a presentation, a batch of photos or a short video, 5–7 GB is almost always enough. Nivlo Send takes up to 7 GB and is built for exactly the kind of transfer you don’t need to keep.
Where your data lives matters
If you send photos of identifiable people, contracts or unpublished material, the country where files end up matters too. SwissTransfer (Switzerland), Proton Drive (Switzerland, Germany, Norway) and Smash (sender’s region) state clearly where they store files. For the others, ask the provider before signing a data processing agreement.
Your team already works in Dropbox or Google
Dropbox Transfer and Google Drive links are convenient if everyone already has an account. Dropbox Transfer’s free limit is 2 GB, and files uploaded to Google Drive count against your account’s storage.
When you no longer need a transfer service
Transfer services are good for one-off sends. If your team does this every day, the same problems keep coming back:
- links expire and you upload the same files again and again;
- every supplier uses a different service, and received files end up on different computers;
- you don’t know which version reached the client;
- you can’t take access back once the link is out.
In Nivlo, files live in one place, organised by project. You send a share link you can edit or delete at any time, with a password from the Professional plan. To receive files, you send an upload link, and files land straight in the project folder.
For the exact limits of every method, including email, see our guide on how to send large files.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most generous free WeTransfer alternative?
SwissTransfer: up to 50 GB per transfer, no account, with links active for up to 30 days. Files are stored in data centres in Switzerland.
Do you need an account to send with WeTransfer?
Yes. WeTransfer now requires a free account to send. The free account allows up to 10 transfers or 3 GB in total every 30 days, and links expire after 3 days.
Does WeTransfer use files to train AI?
In July 2025, WeTransfer's new terms included a machine-learning clause. After public backlash, the company removed it and said it does not use AI on shared content. Read the current terms before sending confidential material.
Is there a European alternative to WeTransfer?
Yes. SwissTransfer stores files in Switzerland, Smash uses the region closest to the sender (for example Paris or Frankfurt), Proton Drive stores in Switzerland, Germany or Norway, and Nivlo Send is Nivlo's European transfer service.
How do I receive large files, not just send them?
Most transfer services are built for sending. To receive, you need a file request or upload link. In Nivlo, an upload link delivers files straight into the folder you choose, and the sender doesn't need an account.
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Want to see how it works in Nivlo? Book a demo or see pricing.