Sending large files over email still fails for most real work. Attachments hit size caps, shared drives add permission friction, and creative exports often sit far above what inbox tools allow. Dedicated file transfer apps exist for that gap.
A 12 GB client video package and a shared spreadsheet need different tools. This guide compares free limits and real delivery situations so you can pick without guessing.
Free limits change. Confirm details on each vendor's site before you promise a client delivery.
How do the free options compare?
| Service | Free allowance | How long can the recipient collect it? | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| HeftySend | Up to 20 GB per transfer | 3 days | Large free sends, unlimited free bandwidth, no ads |
| WeTransfer | Up to 3 GB, within about 3 GB and 10 transfers per rolling 30 days | Up to 3 days | The total monthly allowance matters as much as per send size |
| TransferNow | Up to 5 GB per transfer | 7 days | Longer free window; free password protection |
| SwissTransfer | Up to 50 GB | Longer free windows (check retention rules) | Strong for giant occasional free sends |
| Dropbox Transfer Basic | Up to 2 GB per transfer | 7 days | Sender needs Dropbox; recipients do not |
| Google Drive | Shared account storage (often 15 GB with Gmail and Photos) | Until you revoke access | Storage quota, not a fresh transfer allowance |
A storage quota and a transfer limit are different. If Drive is already half full, you may not have room for a new 10 GB upload. One 3 GB WeTransfer send can also burn most of that rolling free allowance even if you are under ten transfers.
HeftySend
HeftySend is built for finished deliveries through a link, not ongoing collaborative editing.
- Up to 20 GB per free transfer
- Unlimited free bandwidth (no HeftySend bandwidth fees on downloads)
- Recipients need no account
- Preview supported media and PDFs before downloading
- No ads or popups
- Paid: password, protected view only, customisable download pages, longer expiry, bring your own S3, and a Lifetime option
- Delivery uses modern global edge tech for fast downloads (we keep vendor stack names off this page)
Example: a 12 GB folder with a video export, cover images, and captions fits free if the client can collect it within three days. If they are away a week, expiry is the reason to pick a longer free window elsewhere or a paid plan.
For the walkthrough see sending your first transfer, viewing files online, and how recipients download.
What changes when you pay?
| Plan | Price | Max size | Expiry | Notable extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 20 GB | 3 days | Unlimited bandwidth, preview, no ads |
| Premium | $9 / month | Up to 1 TB | 365 days (unlimited with own S3) | Custom pages, password, remove branding, stats |
| Ultra | $39 / month | Up to 4 TB | Unlimited | Own S3, protected view only, priority support |
| Lifetime | $99 one time | Tied to your bucket | Unlimited | Bring your own S3, full feature set |
Custom pages help when delivery is part of your client experience. Protected View is for review with download restrictions, not a guarantee against screen photos. Own storage removes HeftySend's size ceiling; your bucket provider can still bill for storage and egress. Details: pricing, plan comparison, Protected View, own S3, Lifetime.
WeTransfer
Still the most recognisable name. Free tier today is roughly:
- 3 GB per transfer
- About 10 transfers or 3 GB total in a rolling 30 day window
- Links last up to 3 days
- Recipients do not need an account
- Free password protection is available on current free plans
Example: Two 1 GB sends fit a fresh free allowance. Four 1 GB sends may not, even under the ten transfer count, because the data allowance is shared.
Choose WeTransfer when brand familiarity matters more than free size, and your files usually stay under a few GB.
TransferNow
- Free around 5 GB per send
- Link life often 7 days
- Free password protection without an account
Example: A 4 GB photo selection the client will collect in five days fits TransferNow free size and window. A 12 GB delivery exceeds the free size limit.
Worth considering when a mid size package needs a longer free pickup window than three days.
SwissTransfer
- Up to about 50 GB per free transfer
- Longer free availability options (read Infomaniak's retention notes carefully; marketed "30 days" can include shorter default deletion and email extension steps)
- Password options on free
- No recipient account
Choose SwissTransfer when you need a one off giant free send and can live without deep branding or bring your own storage.
Dropbox Transfer
- Free Basic: about 2 GB per transfer (older "100 MB" numbers are outdated)
- Higher Dropbox plans: tens to 100 GB+
- Recipients do not need Dropbox; senders do
- Passwords, branding, and custom expiry depend on the plan
Choose Dropbox Transfer when you already pay for Dropbox. Skip it if you only need occasional large sends and do not want another full storage subscription.
Google Drive (and similar drives)
Drive is collaboration storage first:
- Recipients can sometimes use "anyone with the link," but policies and restricted sharing still cause friction
- Account storage is shared with mail and photos
- Not built as a clean, expiring client delivery page
Use a drive when the file keeps changing. Use a transfer link when the deliverable is final.
How to choose for a real client delivery
- How large is the complete package? Count every file, not just the biggest video.
- When will they actually download? Friday send + 3 day expiry fails if they return Tuesday.
- Copy or shared workspace? Final files need a download link; ongoing edits need Drive style sharing.
- What controls do you need? Password, view only, and named access solve different problems.
- What are you already paying for? Existing Dropbox or Drive may cover internal handoffs.
Frequently asked questions
Does a larger size limit mean a faster upload?
No. Size limits say how much a service accepts, not how fast your connection uploads. If a HeftySend upload stalls, see upload troubleshooting.
Will my client have to pay to download?
No. Recipients do not need a paid plan or account for a standard HeftySend transfer. They may need a password if you set one. Protected View is a different mode.
Does previewing replace downloading the final file?
Preview helps them check content in the browser. For final delivery, ask them to download and keep their own copy. See viewing files online.
Can I use a transfer link as my only backup?
Keep a separate copy of important originals. Links can expire. "No set expiry" is not a backup policy.
Should I pay just to send one 12 GB delivery?
If they can collect within three days and you do not need paid controls, that size fits HeftySend Free. Pay when you need a specific benefit such as longer availability, custom pages, protected view, or your own storage.
Bottom line
There is no single winner for every job. For simple large free sends with no account on either side, HeftySend's 20 GB free tier, unlimited free bandwidth, preview, and ad free pages are a strong default. TransferNow helps when free pickup needs about a week. SwissTransfer wins some giant free one offs. WeTransfer remains fine for small occasional sends. Dropbox Transfer mainly if you already pay for Dropbox.