There is no single best free file transfer service. There is the one that fits the file you have today, the person receiving it, and how much setup you are willing to put up with. This comparison sticks to what each service offers on its free tier, as far as we could confirm at the time of writing, and says plainly where our own service, Enzonic Send, is not the strongest choice.
How we compared them
Five questions decide most choices:
- How big can a free transfer be?
- How long does the link last?
- Do you need an account, and does the recipient?
- Do both people need to be online at the same time? Upload-based services store the file; peer-to-peer tools send it live.
- Anything unusual about limits, privacy or how the service works.
Price is not a column because every option here has a usable free tier.
The comparison table
Figures are for free plans at the time of writing. "Check site" means we did not have a reliable current number.
| Service | Free size limit | Link expiry | Account needed | Both online? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enzonic Send | 500 MB anonymous, 2 GB signed in | 1 h, 1 day, 3 days; up to 7 days signed in | No (yes for 2 GB) | No | Link, 6-digit code and QR code; password and download limits; folders zipped in browser; ad-supported; not end-to-end encrypted |
| WeTransfer | 3 GB or 10 transfers per rolling 30 days | 3 days | Email verification / auto free account | No | Best-known name; July 2025 terms controversy over AI training, clause later reverted |
| Smash | 2 GB at full priority; bigger free transfers queued | 7 days | No | No | Large free transfers work but may wait in a queue |
| SwissTransfer | 50 GB | 15 days, extendable to 30 | No | No | Highest free cap in this list |
| Send Anywhere | Check site | 6-digit key ~10 min; links 48 h | No for key mode | Yes for key mode | Key mode is peer-to-peer and needs both devices active |
| Wormhole | Up to ~5 GB stored | 24 hours | No | No up to ~5 GB; yes above | End-to-end encrypted; bigger files go peer-to-peer with the tab open |
| TransferNow | 5 GB | 7 days | No | No | Straightforward upload-and-link |
| Filemail | 5 GB | 7 days | No | No | Limited number of free transfers per day |
| file.io | Check site | Deleted after one download | No | No | Built for one-time handoffs |
| Dropbox Transfer | 2 GB on Basic | Check site | Yes (Dropbox account) | No | Convenient if you already use Dropbox |
| PairDrop | No server storage | Live only | No | Yes | Open-source Snapdrop fork; same network or paired devices |
Two retired names come up in searches: Firefox Send was shut down by Mozilla in 2020, and Snapdrop was acquired by LimeWire in 2025. If you used either, see Firefox Send alternative and Snapdrop alternative.
Plans change, check their sites. Free tiers get adjusted often. Treat this table as a starting point and confirm the current limits on each provider's own site before relying on them for something important.
Service by service
Enzonic Send
Our service, so read this with that in mind. You drag in a file or folder, choose an expiry, and get a link, a 6-digit code and a QR code. The recipient opens the link or types the code at /receive. Files are stored on Cloudflare's network, so you can close the tab. Folders and multiple files are zipped in the browser with their structure intact.
Where it is weaker: 500 MB without an account is smaller than several rivals. Even signed in, the cap is 2 GB per transfer, and links last 7 days at most. Transfers are encrypted in transit and at rest but not end-to-end. If you routinely move 10 GB video projects, SwissTransfer or a service with a higher cap will suit you better.
Where it is strong: the code and QR options make it quick to hand a file to someone in the same room or over the phone, and the password, download limit and short expiry options are all free.
WeTransfer
The service most people know. The free plan works well for occasional use, but the rolling 30-day allowance of 10 transfers or 3 GB means heavy users hit the wall. In July 2025, WeTransfer faced criticism over a terms-of-service clause about AI training, which it later reverted. See WeTransfer alternative and WeTransfer limit reached.
Smash
Smash lets free users send large files, but anything over 2 GB may be queued behind priority traffic. Links last 7 days. A good pick if you are not in a hurry. More in Smash alternative.
SwissTransfer
The free cap of 50 GB is the standout here, and links last 15 days, extendable to 30. If your main concern is raw size, start here.
Send Anywhere
Its 6-digit key mode is peer-to-peer: the key works for about 10 minutes and both devices must stay online. Shareable links last 48 hours. Compare it with upload-based codes in Send Anywhere alternative.
Wormhole
Wormhole is end-to-end encrypted, which is a real advantage for sensitive files. Files up to about 5 GB are stored for 24 hours; above that it switches to peer-to-peer and you must keep the tab open.
TransferNow and Filemail
Both offer 5 GB per free transfer and 7-day links. Filemail limits how many free transfers you can make per day.
file.io
Designed for one-time sharing: the file is deleted after it is downloaded once. Useful for handing a single file to a single person. See file.io alternative if you need more than one download.
Dropbox Transfer
Requires a Dropbox account, with 2 GB transfers on the free Basic plan. Natural if you already keep files in Dropbox.
PairDrop
A browser-based, open-source peer-to-peer tool, the community fork of Snapdrop. Nothing is stored on a server, so both devices must be online and usually on the same network or paired. Great for AirDrop-style transfers between your own devices; see also AirDrop for Windows.
Upload-based vs peer-to-peer
This difference matters more than most feature lists suggest.
Upload-based (Enzonic Send, WeTransfer, Smash, SwissTransfer, TransferNow, Filemail, file.io, Dropbox Transfer): you upload, the service stores the file, the recipient downloads whenever they like before expiry. You can shut your laptop right after uploading.
Peer-to-peer (PairDrop, Send Anywhere key mode, Wormhole above ~5 GB): the file goes straight between devices. No server-side size cap, and nothing sits on a server, but both sides must be online and the sender usually has to keep the page open until the transfer finishes.
If the recipient is in another time zone or does not check messages often, upload-based is far less frustrating.
Which one should you pick?
Sending something over 5 GB for free: SwissTransfer, thanks to its 50 GB cap. Smash also accepts big files if you can wait in a queue.
Quick handoff under 500 MB, no account, no email: Enzonic Send. Upload, read out the 6-digit code or show the QR code. See share files with a code and send files with a QR code.
Up to 2 GB with a password and download limit: Enzonic Send with a free account, or TransferNow and Filemail if you need up to 5 GB.
Highly sensitive files where end-to-end encryption matters: Wormhole, or a tool your organisation has approved. Enzonic Send is not end-to-end encrypted.
One download, then gone: file.io, or Enzonic Send with the download limit set to 1. See expiring file link.
Between your own devices on the same Wi-Fi: PairDrop or AirDrop (Apple only). If the devices are on different networks, an upload-based link is easier.
You already pay for or use Dropbox: Dropbox Transfer keeps everything in one place.
Occasional sender who wants the familiar name: WeTransfer, as long as you stay within its monthly allowance.
Bottom line
For giant files, pick the service with the biggest cap. For quick, private handoffs that do not need an account, the code-and-QR approach is hard to beat, and that is where Enzonic Send fits. For a full walkthrough of methods beyond transfer services, including email limits, cloud drives and zipping, read how to send large files free.
FAQ
Which free file transfer service has the biggest size limit?
Of the services compared here, SwissTransfer has the highest free limit at the time of writing, at 50 GB per transfer. Peer-to-peer tools have no server-side storage cap but need both devices online.
Which file transfer services work without an account?
Several do, including SwissTransfer, Smash, TransferNow, PairDrop and Enzonic Send up to 500 MB. WeTransfer asks for email verification, and Dropbox Transfer needs a Dropbox account.
Is WeTransfer still free?
Yes, but at the time of writing the free plan is limited to 10 transfers or 3 GB per rolling 30 days, with a 3-day expiry. Check WeTransfer's site for current terms.
Which services are end-to-end encrypted?
Wormhole advertises end-to-end encryption. Enzonic Send encrypts in transit and at rest but is not end-to-end encrypted, so check each service's security page if E2EE matters to you.
What happened to Firefox Send and Snapdrop?
Mozilla discontinued Firefox Send in 2020. Snapdrop was acquired by LimeWire in 2025; PairDrop is the open-source fork that works the same way.
Why is Enzonic Send free?
It is supported by ads. There is no paid tier needed for the features described here.
Updated 2026-10-17