The best alternatives to WeTransfer make it simple and easy to transfer files securely online between different users.
1. Best overall
2. Best for syncing
3. Best for sharing
4. Best for large files
5. Best for consolidation
6. Best torrent-based
7. FAQs
8. How we test
WeTransfer itself has become a leading online data storage service used by millions, with the ability for users to upload and share files for free and without even having to register an account, making it very accessible.
(ed: note that it is not a substitute to one of our best cloud storage providers)
However, there are alternative ways to share big files, including options specifically for using file transfer software or else for ensuring that you share files securely.
All of these offer similar options but with a different service emphasis, allowing you to decide a provider based on whether you're simply looking to share files with friends or family, or whether you need an ultra-secure service for work files to be shared or worked on collaboratively with business colleagues.
Here we'll take a look at the best alternatives to WeTransfer, giving indications on selling points so you can decide which might be best for your own use and needs.
We've also featured the best cloud document storage.
The best alternatives to WeTransfer of 2024 in full:
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Best overall
Microsoft OneDrive works like the other well-known consumer cloud storage options, the likes of Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud: you specify the files and folders you want it to back up, and they get automatically synced with copies in the cloud, as well as all the other computers and devices where you've got OneDrive set up.
Drop a file or folder into OneDrive, and it's synced to the cloud (and your other devices) – if you want to save space on your local machine, you can just keep a copy in the cloud, which is handy. If you need to share files and folders with other people than that's a breeze too, as OneDrive will just generate a link for you.
While there are a number of cloud storage provider options, OneDrive excels for the simple fact that Microsoft 365 accounts come with a massive 1TB of storage. That, of course, is also the catch - you need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to take full advantage of this.
However, the free version of OneDrive available with Windows can suit if you'd rather not pay, but if that's the case you're missing out on what is probably he most cost-efficient cloud storage option out there. And OneDrive can handle files as large as 100 GB.
There are four plans available starting with the OneDrive for Business Plan 1 costing $5 per user per month.
Read our full OneDrive review.
Best for syncing
Google lives in the cloud, so it's little wonder that it offers a cloud storage service. You can Google Drive to share files with friends, family and co-workers.
If you stick with a free account, you're given 15GB of storage as standard, but you can upgrade this by paying a monthly or annual fee, with options up generous allowances from 100GB.
The sharing options available in Google Drive are impressive and varied. You can share individual files as required, or you can share entire folders of files. More than this, you can opt to give people different rights when you share with them, such as giving them only the ability to view the files you share, or allowing them to edit them.
Flexible, powerful and easy to use, and with the option for collaborative work with G Suite tools such as Google's online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software, the possibilities are near limitless.
The Personal plan is free, but if you want more storage, the Business Standard plan costs $12 per user per month when billed annually.
Read our full Google Drive review.
Best for sharing
One of the best-known cloud storage services, Dropbox is a more than capable alternative to WeTransfer.
As with other similar services, there are multiple packages available, with the free tier giving you 2GB of storage space – this is upgradable to 2TB or 3TB with the Plus and Premium packages. You can use Dropbox on the web, or via desktop software, and sharing options are simple yet effective.
Individual files can be shared by providing the recipient's email address (or recipients' email addresses) and a link will be sent out for you.
In the case of shared folders, you can specify whether the people you share with are able to edit, or just view, the contents. They can also leave comments and you can choose whether they should be allowed to add files to their own Dropbox accounts to re-share.
Pricing starts at around $10 per month for one user with the Plus plan.
Read our full Dropbox cloud storage review.
Best for large files
If you have particularly large files to send, Smash could be the file sharing service for you. Not only is Smash free, but there are no limits on the size of file that can be shared – you do not even need to register an account to use it!
The files you share are made available for up to 14 days, after which time they are deleted (if you upgrade to a Premium account, this increases to a full year). As a security measure, you have the option of password-protecting shared files too.
The website is beautifully simple, and the sharing process starts by dragging and dropping your files onto the Smash logo. Then you can supply the email addresses of those you wish to share with (or you can just grab a link to share through messaging services or other means) before configuring share options.
You can choose how long the files should be available for, whether they are password-protected or not, and change the look of the page recipients see when they access the files.
Best for consolidation
Hightail's free Lite account lets you share files of up to 100MB in size, with a total storage limit of 2GB. Of course, more storage is available if you are willing to pay.
If you move to the Pro package, you get unlimited storage and an individual file limit of 25GB. The files you share via a free account are available for seven days.
Hightail uses 'Spaces' to manage your stored files, and although these can also be shared with others, there's also a separate sharing feature.
What's interesting about Hightail's sharing is that it enables you to not only share files from your computer using drag and drop, but also to consolidate and share files from other cloud services (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and Core are all supported). There are no options other than these, but it gets the job done.
Best torrent-based
Terashare is a little different from the other services we've looked at. It's based on BitTorrent which makes it ideal for sharing very large files, or sharing files with a lot of people.
Because of the way it works, very large files (over 10GB) can only be shared when your computer is switched on and accessible to those you want to share with.
However, Terashare's hybrid system means that files under 10GB – which is likely to be most of them – are stored on its servers and are therefore accessible regardless of whether your computer is switched on.
You can share smaller files (or folders) through the Terashare website, but you'll need to install the app for larger ones. A great option for sharing large video files.
We've also featured the best free cloud storage service.
Alternatives to WeTransfer FAQs
Which alternative to WeTransfer is best for you?
When deciding which alternative to WeTransfer to use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while 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.
How we tested the best alternatives to WeTransfer
To test for the best alternatives to WeTransfer we first set up an account with the relevant online service. We then tested the service with a range of different file types and file sizes from different devices to see how each provider could handle different purposes and different situations. The aim was to push each 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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