If you're reading this, you probably just tried to send a file with WeTransfer and hit a wall — either "you've reached your transfer limit" or "file too large." You're not alone. WeTransfer's free tier is significantly more restrictive than it used to be. Here's what happened and what to do about it.
Current WeTransfer free limits (2026)
As of 2026, WeTransfer's free tier has these hard limits:
- Maximum file size: 3 GB per transfer
- Transfer cap: 10 transfers per month
- Availability: Download link valid for only 3 days
- No way to extend or reset the monthly cap
Once you hit 10 transfers in a calendar month, you're locked out until the next month — unless you upgrade to WeTransfer Pro, which costs money. The 3 GB file size limit means larger files (4K video, project archives, design packages) simply can't be sent at all on the free tier.
What changed: the Bending Spoons acquisition
WeTransfer was acquired by Bending Spoons in 2023. Bending Spoons is known for acquiring popular apps — Evernote, Meetup, Filmic Pro — and aggressively restricting free tiers to push paid subscriptions. WeTransfer followed the same pattern: the free tier was reduced from unlimited transfers with 7-day availability to 10 transfers per month with 3-day availability. The goal is conversion pressure.
Free alternatives with higher limits
freesend.io — 100 GB, unlimited transfers
freesend.io was built as a direct alternative to the post-acquisition WeTransfer. It offers the most generous free tier available:
- 100 GB per transfer (33× more than WeTransfer Free)
- Unlimited transfers — no monthly cap
- 7-day availability (vs. WeTransfer's 3 days)
- No account required
- Sender email verified for security
- Funded by non-intrusive video ads
TransferNow — 5 GB, 5 transfers per day
TransferNow offers 5 GB per transfer with up to 5 sends per day. No account required. The main drawback: no sender email verification, which means anyone can claim any email address as the sender — a phishing risk. EU-only CDN may result in slower downloads outside Europe.
Smash — 2 GB, 10 transfers per month
Smash offers a clean interface with 2 GB per transfer and 10 monthly sends. The limit is lower than WeTransfer, but the 7-day availability and transfer tracking make it a decent option for small files.
Comparison: WeTransfer vs. alternatives
- freesend.io: 100 GB | Unlimited sends | 7 days | No account | Free
- TransferNow: 5 GB | 5/day | 7 days | No account | Free
- Smash: 2 GB | 10/month | 7 days | No account | Free
- WeTransfer Free: 3 GB | 10/month | 3 days | No account | Free
- WeTransfer Pro: 200 GB | Unlimited | 28 days | Account | Paid
How to work around the WeTransfer limit right now
If you've hit the WeTransfer cap and need to send a file today, you have two immediate options. First, switch to freesend.io — the workflow is nearly identical (upload, enter recipient email, send), but with a 100 GB limit and no transfer cap. Second, if your file is under 15 GB, upload it to Google Drive and share a download link — though this requires a Google account and manual cleanup.