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We list the best file transfer software, to make it simple and easy to share your images, folders and documents online.
The best file transfer software will help you make your files easier to access online when you want to share them - an increasingly important tool for businesses.
But, there are plenty of providers who do allow you to share files online as well as transfer your data - so you can have full control with what and how you share, including setting permissions to folders so you can keep them to varying degrees of private, such as read-only access.
We've compared these file transfer options on aspects like their storage limits, interface, ease of signup, security encryption, and individual file-size sharing limits. We also considered their free plans and the value of their pricing plans, among other things.
Below we list the best files transfer software services currently available.
Read more on the best ways to share big files.
The best files transfer software of 2026 in full:
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Best file transfer software for collaboration
Even die-hard Microsoft or Apple fans will admit that Google is pretty good when it comes to this type of thing. Google Drive runs Dropbox very close in terms of file sharing.
The one that will suit you best purely depends on which you spend more time using.
You can use these platforms to share files through email or link - though you don't get password options or time limits. What you are able to do is to limit edits file recipients can make: as you'd expect, it's perfect for sharing files from Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
As is the case with Dropbox, you can access Google Drive from just about every mobile and desktop platform out there. Users get 15GB for free across Drive and other services like Gmail, but if you need more, you'll need to upgrade your storage.
For more information, read our full Google Drive review.
Best file transfer software for sharing
Dropbox is a giant in file transferring, and it's still going strong even in the face of huge firms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft launching alternatives.
They haven't knocked Dropbox off top spot, and that's because it's slick, easy to use, and reliable - and it's compatible with just about any platform.
You can share files in just a few clicks, from Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux and the web, and time limits and password protection can be applied too. What's really useful, is recipients don't need a Dropbox account.
The only downside is that you only get 2GB of free storage - so if you need more, you'll have to get either the individual or family plan, or business team plans for enterprises, with annual payment discounts available.
To find out more, see our full Dropbox review.
Best file transfer software for speed
If you want something quick and convenient that's not tied to a bigger platform (like Dropbox or Google Drive), give WeTransfer a try. You don't even need to register an account, though you do need to supply an email address you can be contacted on.
Just pick your file (or files), enter the recipient's email address, and you're good to go – it's hard to beat in terms of simplicity. You can email or copy the link to the files, and the link stays active for a week. WeTransfer apps for Android and iOS are available, if needed.
All that is free, but with a Plus account you can set time limits for your downloads, password-protect your files, change the look of the share screen, and more.
WeTransfer's customer support is prompt in its response. Although there's a three-business-day guarantee, you'll likely receive a response much sooner than that.
Best file transfer software for security
Internxt stands out for its privacy focused cloud storage solutions. Zero knowledge architecture, end-to-end encryption, and password protected links keep your data secure.
You don't need to set up an account, just drag and drop your files of any size and create a share link.
Internxt doesn't scan, store, or save any information that you send through the service. All files are encrypted on your end so they're secure before they leave your device.
All file formats are supported and Internxt's code open-source so it can be independently verified.
To find out more, see our full Internxt review.
Best file transfer software lightweight
Send Anywhere offers up an even more lightweight interface than WeTransfer, so you can dive right in without any distractions or setup screens to work through. Despite the simple setup, you've got a variety of different file-sharing options to pick from as you go along.
Add files from the opening splash screen, and you can send them direct (through the site via a code), via a URL link, or via email. If you don't want to work with Send Anywhere through the web, you can install dedicated apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.
Free of charge, Send Anywhere will let you easily share files up to 10GB in size, with the link active for 48 hours. However, for the Plus account you get 1TB of storage and can share files up to 50GB in size, track and limit downloads, and remove the ads.
Best simple file transfer software
Hightail is a professional-level file collaboration service but there is a file transfer component that's easy to dip in and out of, even if you don't use everything else on the platform. It works straight from the web – you can just drag and drop your files into it.
There is a rather stingy 100MB file size limit in place, but the service is quick and simple and fast Your contacts get a URL they can click on to access the file or files you've selected, and there is no need to register an account at any stage. The files are available for seven days.
There is plenty more to Hightail, which you can get with a paid account, such as larger file sharing (individual file limit of 25GB), advanced collaboration options, and unlimited storage.
Best file transfer software for comms
Slack isn't so much of an online file store as much as an online communications platform. However, if you're looking to share a select few documents rather than a huge archive then Slack might just work for you.
This is especially the case if you're managing a project, or working as part of a team on a project, and need to keep all your documentation in one place.
This is easy to set up in Slack, and better still, ensure control over which team members have access over which documents.
This provides an advantage over general file-sharing services, because it allows for much more user control - and especially respect hierarchies - without having to worry about overcomplicated permissions.
Even better is that Slack has a free tier with a generous 5GB of storage available per team member, so you can try it out with minimal investment other than a little time spent setting up your team(s). Paid-for plans allow for phone and video conferencing on top of messaging, with increases to member storage.
Read our full Slack review.
We've also featured the best cloud storage.
Best file transfer software FAQs
What is file transfer software?
File transfer software is a tool that helps you the share files from one device to another using the internet.
These applications are often used by internet users across the world, and they come with their own storage, file-size limits, and file-sharing features.
How to choose the best files transfer software for you?
When deciding which files transfer software to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free and budget software may only provide basic tools and saving options, so if you need to use advanced features you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile.
You'll want to check how much storage the file-sharing app offers, the individual file size limits, security encryption, and the overall ease of use.
Additionally, higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require from your files transfer software.
What security features should you look for?
If you have sensitive files, making sure these are safe is a must. If this is a priority for you, make sure you look for these features:
Your files should be encrypted in transit, and at rest, and for maximum privacy, your software should provide zero-knowledge encryption and end-to-end encryption.
Look for transport layer security (TLS) or at the very least SSL (secure sockets layer). For specialized transfers, we look for secure file transfer protocol (FTPS).
These are the industry standards for safe file transfer - so definitely keep these in mind when shopping around.
If this is your main concern though, check out our list of the best secure file sharing tools.
How we tested the best file transfer software
To test for the best files transfer software we first set up an account with the relevant software platform. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used with different files and folders, from different devices, in different situations.
We assessed their file-sharing features, limitations, security, and customer support.
The aim was to push each files transfer platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
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