Best Free WeTransfer Alternative in 2026
WeTransfer used to be the obvious choice for sending large files. No account, no nonsense. Upload, grab a link, send it. That has changed. The free tier now caps transfers at 3 GB, files expire in 3 days, and you only get 10 transfers per month with a 3 GB total monthly limit. The download page still shows ads, too.
If you want something that works the way WeTransfer used to, keep reading.
What happened to WeTransfer's free tier?
The free version has gotten noticeably worse over the past couple of years:
- 3 GB per transfer (bumped from 2 GB after Bending Spoons bought them, but still well below sto.care's 5 GB)
- 3-day expiry, so your recipient better download fast
- 10 transfers per month, 3 GB monthly cap on both the number and total size of transfers
- Ads on the download page, full wallpaper-style advertisements that your recipient has to look at
- Constant upsell prompts pushing you toward WeTransfer Pro at $12/month
- The AI training controversy: in July 2025, WeTransfer updated their terms of service to let them use uploaded files for AI training. They reversed it after backlash, but it shook a lot of people's trust
If you only need to send files once in a while, these limits are frustrating. It used to just work; now it feels like a funnel toward the paid plan.
What to look for in a replacement
If you are switching, these are the things that matter: a free limit over 2 GB, no account requirement (or just a quick email verification), a clean download page with no ads, automatic file expiry, and encryption in transit and at rest.
sto.care vs WeTransfer
Below is a side-by-side of sto.care and WeTransfer's free tier:
| Feature | sto.care | WeTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 5 GB | 3 GB |
| Account required | ✗ | ✗ |
| No account needed | ✓ | ✓ |
| File expiry | 7 days | 3 days |
| Monthly transfer cap | None | 3 GB / 10 transfers |
| Ads on download page | ✗ | ✓ |
| Encryption at rest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple downloads | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom branding | ✗ | Paid only |
| Password protection | ✗ | Paid only |
| Price | Free | Free / $12 mo |
The short version: sto.care gives you 5 GB instead of 3, files last 7 days instead of 3, there are no monthly caps, and no ads on the download page. WeTransfer has brand recognition and paid extras like password protection and custom branding if you need those.
We also have a dedicated comparison page with more detail.
Switching over
If you have used WeTransfer before, you already know how sto.care works. It is basically the same flow:
- Go to sto.care instead of wetransfer.com.
- Drag your file onto the upload area. You can send up to 5 GB with no monthly cap.
- Enter your email and we send you the download link (no account gets created).
- Copy your shareable link and send it. The person downloading does not need to sign up and will not see any ads.
We have a step-by-step guide if you want the full walkthrough.
Other alternatives worth knowing about
sto.care is not the only option out there. We reviewed 22 services in total, but here are the ones that come up most often:
- SwissTransfer lets you send up to 50 GB with no account and no ads. Files last up to 30 days with a 250-download limit. The interface is busier than simpler services, but it is great if you need to send something really large. Run by Infomaniak out of Switzerland.
- Wormhole.app offers end-to-end encryption. Up to 5 GB with server storage (24-hour expiry), or up to 10 GB peer-to-peer if both of you can stay online.
- Dropbox Transfer gives you 2 GB on the free tier (Dropbox Basic), but you need a full Dropbox account. See our Dropbox Transfer comparison.
- file.io supports up to 2 GB with no account. Files get deleted after the first download, which can be a problem if the other person needs to download again.
- TransferNow is the closest direct competitor to sto.care: 5 GB, no account, 7-day expiry, no ads, and it includes free password protection and antivirus scanning.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to WeTransfer?
Yes. sto.care lets you send files up to 5 GB for free. Files last 7 days and there are no monthly caps. WeTransfer's free tier caps you at 3 GB with a 3-day expiry and a 3 GB monthly limit.
Why did WeTransfer change its free tier?
Bending Spoons acquired WeTransfer in July 2024 and tightened the free tier: 3 GB monthly cap, 10 transfers per month, 3-day expiry. You no longer need an account for basic transfers, but the free version is a lot more limited than it used to be. sto.care takes a different approach with email-only verification and no monthly limits.
Can I send files larger than 3 GB for free?
Yes, sto.care supports up to 5 GB per transfer, completely free. No account, no payment. Check out our large file sending guide for all the options.