Quick answer: The best free file transfer service depends on the job: SwissTransfer has one of the largest fixed free limits, Smash sets no fixed cap, and Share Large Files Free offers 20 GB per transfer with no account and no compression. Check each service's site for current limits.
How we compared them
We looked at what matters when you just need to get a big file to someone: how much you can send for free, how long the link lasts, whether anyone needs an account, and whether the free plan includes a password, download alerts or advertising.
Please read this first: the details for other services reflect their public pages at the time of writing. File transfer plans change often, so treat the figures as a starting point and check each service's own site for current limits before you rely on them. Where we were not sure of a detail, we say so rather than guess.
Free limits at a glance
| Service | Free size per transfer | Link lasts | Account to send |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeTransfer | A few GB, monthly caps | A few days | Sometimes |
| Smash | No fixed cap | About a week | No |
| TransferNow | A few GB | About a week | No |
| Filemail | A few GB | About a week | No |
| SwissTransfer | Up to about 50 GB | Up to about 30 days | No |
| Google Drive | Your free storage quota | Until you delete it | Yes |
| Dropbox Transfer | Small on the free plan | Set by plan | Yes |
| Share Large Video Files | Up to 20 GB | 1 day, extendable | No |
Figures for other services are approximate and may have changed. Check their sites for current limits.
Features on the free plan
| Service | Ads | Password | Download alerts |
|---|---|---|---|
| WeTransfer | Yes, full-page | Paid plans | Yes, for email transfers |
| Smash | Check their site | Check their plans | Yes |
| TransferNow | Yes | Paid plans | Yes |
| Filemail | Check their site | Paid plans | Yes |
| SwissTransfer | No | Yes | Yes, optional |
| Google Drive | No | No, account sharing | No |
| Dropbox Transfer | No | Paid plans | View and download counts |
| Share Large Video Files | No | Yes, optional | Counts and emails |
On our side, download counts are shown on the Transfers page, and when you send by email you are normally told when a recipient downloads.
Which one suits you best?
- Biggest single free transfer: SwissTransfer and Smash are hard to beat. SwissTransfer offers a very large free limit and a long, adjustable expiry; Smash does not set a fixed size cap, although very large free transfers may be slower. See our SwissTransfer and Smash pages.
- Permanent storage and team folders: Google Drive and Dropbox are storage services first. If files should stay around, or a team keeps editing them, use them. More on the Google Drive alternative and Dropbox Transfer alternative pages.
- Desktop tools for frequent, very large sends: Filemail offers desktop and mobile apps built for big uploads. See the Filemail alternative page.
- A familiar link or email transfer: WeTransfer and TransferNow work much like we do. Compare them on the WeTransfer alternative and TransferNow alternative pages.
- A quick, no-account send in original quality: that is what Share Large Video Files is built for. Up to 20 GB per transfer, a password if you want one, and links that expire after 1 day.
What we do well, and what we do not
We keep things simple. There is no account for you or your recipient, nothing to install, and no compression: files arrive byte for byte as you uploaded them. You can share by link, QR code or email, add an optional password, delete a transfer after its first download, and manage everything from the Transfers page, where you can extend the expiry, resend emails, see download counts or delete early.
We do not offer permanent storage, team workspaces, desktop apps or end-to-end encryption, and our free limit of 20 GB per transfer is smaller than some services above. Our security overview explains exactly how files are handled.
A note on names and trademarks
Share Large Video Files is an independent service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of the services named on this page. All product names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to describe and compare services.
Frequently asked questions
Which free file transfer service has the largest limit?
At the time of writing, SwissTransfer offers one of the largest fixed free limits and Smash does not set a fixed cap. Check their sites, as limits change.
Which services work without an account?
Smash, TransferNow, Filemail, SwissTransfer and Share Large Video Files let you send without an account. Google Drive and Dropbox need one to send.
Are these comparisons up to date?
They reflect public information at the time of writing. Services change their plans often, so confirm current details on each service's own site.
Why would I use this site instead of the others?
For a quick, free send of up to 20 GB with no account, no compression, an optional password and download counts. For larger free transfers or permanent storage, another service may suit you better.
Are you affiliated with any of these services?
No. Share Large Video Files is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any service named here.
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