WeTransfer had a great run. Then it got acquired, capped its free tier, and tried to train AI on your files without asking. Here's what to use instead — starting with the one that actually built AI in the right way.
Why People Are Looking for WeTransfer Alternatives Right Now
It's not just one thing. It's three things that happened in quick succession.
The acquisition. In July 2024, WeTransfer was bought by Bending Spoons — the same company that acquired Evernote and hollowed it out. Within months, 75% of WeTransfer's staff were laid off.
The free tier restrictions. The free plan that once felt genuinely generous is now: 10 transfers per month maximum, 3 GB combined data cap across all those transfers, and links that expire after just 3 days. Hit your cap mid-month and you're locked out until it resets.
The AI trust scandal. In July 2025, WeTransfer quietly updated its terms of service to include a clause allowing your uploaded files to be used for training machine learning models. The backlash from creative professionals was immediate and intense. WeTransfer reversed the changes — but the damage was done. Photographers, designers, and agencies who'd trusted WeTransfer with client work for years started looking for the exit.
If you're one of them, here's where to go.
What to Look for in a WeTransfer Alternative
Before the list, a quick framework. The best alternative depends on what broke for you with WeTransfer:
- Hit the transfer cap? You need something with no monthly limits
- Links expired too fast? Look for longer or no expiry
- Frustrated by account requirements? Prioritise no-signup options for recipients
- Worried about your files being used for AI training? Look for explicit data policies
- Want more than just delivery? That's where SimpleDrop changes the conversation
The Alternatives, Ranked
1. SimpleDrop — Best Overall, Especially for Documents and Client Work
simpledrop.zip
SimpleDrop is the only tool on this list that doesn't just deliver your file — it makes your file intelligent.
Recipients need no account. No transfer caps. No links expiring in 72 hours. Sign up free, drop a file, get a link, send it. That covers what WeTransfer used to do on its best day.
But here's what none of the other alternatives do: when you share a file through SimpleDrop, AI reads it. The recipient can ask questions about the document, get an instant summary, find specific information — without downloading anything. A contract, a brief, a report, a spec — it arrives ready to answer questions about itself.
For anyone sharing documents, PDFs, briefs, proposals, or reports with clients or collaborators, that's not a minor upgrade. That's a fundamentally different product.
Free tier: Free to start, recipients need no account
Best for: Freelancers, agencies, consultants, anyone sharing documents with external clients
The catch: Built for sharing, not long-term storage — use it as your delivery layer, not your archive
2. Smash — Best for Large Files
fromsmash.com
Smash is the closest thing to what WeTransfer used to be: simple, no-account drag-and-drop file sharing with genuinely no file size limit on the free tier. It's fast, clean, and doesn't nag you to upgrade.
The caveat: free users sending very large files (over 2 GB) can hit slower transfer speeds during peak hours. But for most use cases it's a solid, no-fuss option.
Free tier: Unlimited transfers, no file size cap (speed may vary for very large files)
Best for: Creative professionals sending large media files occasionally
The catch: No AI, no document intelligence — it's pure delivery
3. TransferNow — Best No-Account Option for Larger Files
transfernow.net
TransferNow offers up to 5 GB per transfer with no account required and no monthly quota. Where WeTransfer's free tier now has a hard 3 GB combined monthly cap, TransferNow gives you 5 GB per individual transfer, as many times as you need.
It's not flashy. The interface is functional rather than beautiful. But it does the job reliably.
Free tier: 5 GB per transfer, no account needed, no monthly cap
Best for: Anyone regularly hitting WeTransfer's monthly data limit
The catch: Links expire after a limited period; no document AI
4. pCloud Transfer — Best for Encrypted Transfers
transfer.pcloud.com
pCloud Transfer is a standalone product (separate from pCloud's main cloud storage service) that lets you send files up to 5 GB without an account, with optional client-side encryption. If security and privacy are your priority — particularly after the WeTransfer AI data scandal — pCloud's explicit commitment to not touching your files is worth noting.
Free tier: Up to 5 GB combined per transfer, no account required
Best for: Privacy-conscious users, anyone sending sensitive files
The catch: 5 GB combined cap per transfer, not per file
5. SendGB — Best for Simple, No-Account Sharing
sendgb.com
SendGB lets you transfer files up to 5 GB for free without creating an account. It has a clean drag-and-drop interface, optional password protection, and customisable expiration dates. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated.
Free tier: Up to 5 GB, no account required, password protection included
Best for: Occasional one-off transfers where you want more control over expiry
The catch: Smaller file size limit than some alternatives; no AI features
6. Google Drive — Best if You're Already in the Google Ecosystem
drive.google.com
Google Drive isn't a dedicated file transfer tool, but for anyone already living in Google Workspace it's a functional WeTransfer replacement. The 15 GB free tier sounds generous — until you realise it's shared with Gmail and Photos. Sharing files outside your organisation can hit the notorious "request access" wall. But if your recipients are also Google users, it works fine.
Free tier: 15 GB (shared across Google account)
Best for: Teams already using Google Workspace for internal sharing
The catch: Permission settings are confusing; works poorly for external recipients
7. Dropbox Transfer — Best for Branded, Professional Delivery
dropbox.com/transfer
Dropbox Transfer is Dropbox's dedicated file delivery feature — separate from their main sync product. It allows you to send files with a clean download page, optional password protection, and download tracking. On paid plans you can customise the page with your branding.
It requires a Dropbox account to send, and the free tier is limited. But for agencies and professionals who want polished, on-brand file delivery to clients, it's the most refined option on this list.
Free tier: Up to 100 MB on free plan (paid plans for serious use)
Best for: Agencies wanting branded file delivery
The catch: Very limited free tier; requires a Dropbox account
How They Compare
| Tool | Recipients Need Account? | Transfer Limit | Link Expiry | AI Reads Files | Free to Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleDrop | No | None | No expiry anxiety | Yes — built in | Yes |
| Smash | No | Unlimited (speed varies) | 7 days | No | Yes |
| TransferNow | No | 5 GB/transfer | Limited | No | Yes |
| pCloud Transfer | No | 5 GB combined | Limited | No | Yes |
| SendGB | No | 5 GB | Customisable | No | Yes |
| Google Drive | Sometimes | 15 GB total storage | No | No | Yes |
| Dropbox Transfer | No | 100 MB free | 7–30 days | No | Limited |
| WeTransfer (2026) | No | 3 GB/month total | 3 days | No | Limited |
The Bottom Line
Most WeTransfer alternatives on this list will solve the immediate problem: no monthly caps, recipients need no account, no links dying in three days.
But if you share documents — briefs, contracts, reports, proposals, specs — with clients or collaborators who need to actually understand what they're receiving, SimpleDrop is in a different category entirely. It's the only tool here where the file doesn't just arrive. It arrives ready to be useful.
WeTransfer's best days were when it got out of your way and just worked. SimpleDrop does that — and then does something WeTransfer never thought to do.
Obviously.
Try SimpleDrop free at simpledrop.zip — free sign-up, no transfer caps, AI built in.