sto.care vs SwissTransfer
Switzerland vs Ireland, capacity vs control · Updated May 2026
- Use SwissTransfer if you need a 50 GB ceiling on the free tier and the 30-day window suits the use case.
- Use sto.care if you want a one-click revoke. SwissTransfer can't kill a link before its timer expires.
- Use SwissTransfer if Swiss FADP jurisdiction matters more to you than EU/GDPR jurisdiction.
SwissTransfer is the closest peer to sto.care in positioning: both lead on privacy, both work without a signup, and both are hosted in jurisdictions with strong data law. SwissTransfer wins outright on file size (50 GB), expiry length (30 days), and free password protection. sto.care wins outright on lifecycle control: every transfer ships with an on-demand revoke link in the sender's email, which SwissTransfer's free tier doesn't expose.
This comparison isn't one-sided. Below is the head-to-head with sto.care, including where SwissTransfer is genuinely the better choice.
Feature ComparisonSide-by-side breakdown
| Feature | sto.care | SwissTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Free per-file size limit | 5 GB | 50 GB |
| Account required (sender) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Account required (recipient) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Default expiry | 7 days | 30 days |
| Maximum expiry (free) | 7 days | 30 days |
| Revoke link on demand | ✓ | ✗ |
| Password protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hosting jurisdiction | EU (Ireland) | Switzerland |
| Encryption at rest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple downloads | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recipients per transfer | 1 email | Up to 250 |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0 |
The jurisdiction questionSwitzerland vs EU (Ireland)
SwissTransfer is operated by Infomaniak, a Geneva-based hosting company, with files stored on Swiss infrastructure (SwissTransfer). The revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (in force September 2023) is broadly comparable to GDPR, and Swiss courts apply strict standards to foreign data requests, including from US authorities. For users specifically worried about US-jurisdiction process (subpoena, NSL, FISA), Swiss hosting is meaningfully different.
sto.care files are stored in AWS eu-west-1 (Ireland). Ireland is a full GDPR jurisdiction with the Data Protection Commission as regulator. For most threat models (confidential client work, draft contracts, internal documents) that's equivalent. For the specific subset of users who explicitly need non-US, non-EU jurisdiction, SwissTransfer is the answer. We don't pretend otherwise.
Lifecycle ControlThe 30-day window you can't close early
SwissTransfer's free expiry is 30 days, four times longer than sto.care's default. That's a feature for slow recipients but a liability if you mistype an email or change your mind. SwissTransfer's free tier doesn't expose an early-revoke control: once you send, the link is live for 30 days regardless.
sto.care's confirmation email contains a one-click revoke link. The default expiry is 7 days, but you can kill the share instantly if needed. The two services trade on opposite ends: SwissTransfer optimises for "available longer", sto.care optimises for "controllable sooner."
Password protectionSwissTransfer's legitimate edge
SwissTransfer offers password-protected transfers on its free tier; sto.care doesn't currently. If your share is sensitive enough that you need a password gate (and a separate channel to deliver the password), SwissTransfer is the right choice. We've weighed adding it; it sits behind a few other priorities. For now, the straight recommendation is: password requirement, SwissTransfer.
When SwissTransfer is better
- You need to send a file larger than 5 GB
- You need password protection on the transfer
- You need the file available for more than 7 days
- Your threat model specifically requires non-US, non-EU jurisdiction
- You need to send to up to 250 recipients in a single transfer
When sto.care is better
- You want the option to revoke a link the moment you change your mind
- You prefer files default to short-lived (less attack surface for a leaked link)
- EU GDPR jurisdiction is sufficient for your use case
- You want a simpler send flow (no password setup, no recipient list)
FAQCommon questions
Is SwissTransfer really free for 50 GB files?
Yes. SwissTransfer (run by Swiss hosting company Infomaniak) allows free transfers up to 50 GB per upload, 30-day expiry, and up to 250 recipients per transfer. No signup is required. It's one of the most generous free tiers on the market.
Can I revoke a SwissTransfer file early?
Not on the free tier. SwissTransfer's free transfers expire after 30 days and don't expose an early-delete or revoke control to the sender. Once a file is sent, the link is live for the full duration. sto.care includes a one-click revoke link in your confirmation email on every transfer, free.
Is SwissTransfer more private than sto.care because it's Swiss?
Switzerland's data law is well-established: the revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (in force September 2023) is broadly comparable to GDPR, and Swiss courts apply strict standards to foreign data requests. sto.care stores files in AWS eu-west-1 (Ireland), which is GDPR-jurisdictional. For most users both are appropriately private. If your specific concern is shielding from US legal process, Switzerland-hosted is marginally better.
Does SwissTransfer support password-protected transfers on free?
Yes. Password protection is included on free SwissTransfer transfers. sto.care doesn't currently support password protection. If a password gate is a hard requirement, that's a real edge for SwissTransfer.
What about download tracking and notifications?
SwissTransfer notifies the sender when files are downloaded (via the email used at upload time). sto.care emails the sender with a confirmation that includes a revoke link, but doesn't currently send a per-download notification, though the download counter is recorded server-side for the file's lifetime.
Why use sto.care over SwissTransfer when SwissTransfer is bigger and Swiss?
It comes down to whether you want a longer leash or a shorter one with an emergency stop. SwissTransfer optimises for capacity (50 GB, 30 days, 250 recipients) at the cost of any way to pull a transfer back early. sto.care optimises for control: a default 7-day window, a one-click revoke link in every confirmation email, and a send flow with no password to set up and no recipient list to manage.
Smaller cap. Shorter clock. A revoke button in your inbox.
UPLOAD A FILE →Comparing more options? See sto.care vs SendGB and sto.care vs WeTransfer, or read our guide to free file sharing without signup.