Into videography, photography, graphic design or any field that involves sending large files to your clients? Here are my top five free file transfer websites that I’ve used from time to time, reviewed and can recommend, along with their drawbacks.
#1. SwissTransfer
Completely free and ad-free, SwissTransfer allows you to send files and folders of up to 50 GB per transfer, with the file download link valid for 30 days. It requires no registration whatsoever, but the sender’s email address and an email confirmation code are required for the first transfer per browser session.
Free SwissTransfer allows you to set a password for your file, customise the number of downloads and set a period of validity. On the downside, SwissTransfer seems slow when uploading.
#2. TransferNow
Its premium packages start at €6 for 250 GB per month. At no cost, TransferNow lets you send 5 GB per transfer, with the file link valid for 7 days, plus password protection.
Not only is registration optional, but you can also copy and share the file link directly or send it via email, without providing an email address or confirmation code.
#3. Smash
With an unlimited Pro tier starting at £10 per month, Smash’s free file transfer allows unlimited file sizes, with files of up to 2 GB transferred at maximum upload and download speeds. Download links are valid for a default of 7 days, though this can be customised up to 14 days. Files above 2 GB are processed with lower priority.
The free plan requires no registration, but the sender’s email address and email confirmation code must be provided for the first transfer in each browser session. Smash also offers free file password protection, with user files stored in Switzerland, according to the site.
The drawback is that it doesn’t support certain file extensions, such as MKV, but that shouldn’t be an issue; you can always compress the file into a ZIP.
#4. FileTransfer.io
FileTransfer.io allows you to send files of up to 6 GB for free, with a limit of 50 downloads within 3 days. No registration, no emails or confirmation codes, but the site loads some ads.
FileTransfer.io makes this list because it offers more than just file transfer. Users can convert some file formats to PDF-related formats, delete files, and choose between view-and-download-only or editor permissions, allowing another person to add files. It also generates a scan code for a file link. FileTransfer.io is integrated with LimeWire, which could explain the many features.
The downside is that uploads can be slow and sometimes get stuck at 99%.
#5. WeTransfer
With unlimited tiers starting at $23, WeTransfer’s free package lets you share files and folders of up to 3GB per month. You can make up to 10 transfers within that 3 GB limit.
No account registration is required, but you must provide the sender’s email address and confirm it by email. This is also how WeTransfer enforces the free transfer limit, unless you use multiple email addresses to send files.
File download links expire after 3 days, and file password protection is free.
Why fifth on this list? WeTransfer website has full-screen background wallpaper ads that consume excessive RAM and spike CPU usage. There’s also a clause in their data policy that allows the company to use your data.
