If you’re working remotely and are looking for an affordable tool where you can send large files across the internet to your colleagues, then WeTransfer may be for you. With close to 100 million users, this service provider is currently one of the leading file transfer services worldwide.
To write an in-depth WeTransfer review regarding the service providers’ security, usability, and customer support features, we thoroughly investigated and tested this service and came up with the scores outlined below.
WeTransfer Short Review: Is WeTransfer Worth Getting?
Pros
- Can transfer files up to 2GB for free
- Good storage limit
- Can send files via link or email
- Can invite team members
- App available for iOS and Android
- Can track downloads
Cons
- Transfers expire after seven days with a free account
- Password-protected transfers not available for the free version
- Price is a bit steep for Premium account
- Lacks document editing and team collaboration features
WeTransfer is best known as a file-sharing service that allows users to send large files over the internet. However, WeTransfer also offers encrypted cloud storage as part of its paid subscription. This can be ideal for companies that focus on a lot of team projects. With the free version, you can send files up to 2GB in size to anyone, even people without a WeTransfer account.
Despite WeTransfer’s useful features, there are a few drawbacks to the service, too. For example, on free accounts, transfers expire after seven days, and there is no option to protect your files with a password. Moreover, there is a lack of live customer support via phone or chat.
Is WeTransfer suited to your individual and business needs? What are the different pricing options? We answer all these questions and more in this WeTransfer review!
WeTransfer Membership and Pricing
WeTransfer has three plans, which each include different features. While WeTransfer has been offering the Free and Pro plans for a while, the Premium plan is a more recent addition with some big upgrades. In the table below, we outline the price for each plan along with the various features offered.
| Feature | Free | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $0 | $10/month | $19/month |
| Transfer size limit | 2 GB | 200 GB | Unlimited |
| Storage limit | Transfers expire after seven days | 1 TB/person | Unlimited |
| Downloads with no account | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Can track downloads | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| iOS app | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Data encryption | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Two-factor authentication | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Portals | ✖ | 1 | Unlimited |
| Reviews | ✖ | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Client branding | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Custom WeTransfer page | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Personalized WeTransfer emails | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Password-protected transfers | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Shared branding | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Invite team members | ✖ | $120 yearly/person | $228 yearly/person |
| Shared storage | ✖ | Extra 1TB/person | Unlimited |
WeTransfer Free
WeTransfer’s free tier is one of the main reasons why it’s a popular file-sharing service. It allows users to share files up to 2GB in size. Users can also track whether recipients have downloaded the file. However, file links only remain active for seven days. It’s not possible to download the file associated with an expired link.
Additionally, the free plan includes 5GB of storage in “Collect” and three decks on “Paste.” Collect is WeTransfer’s version of the popular app Pocket. You can save links, playlists, and files and organize them into mood boards. Paste helps users create impressive decks and presentations in just a few clicks.
However, it may be worth checking out Google One as well, as it offers 15GB of free storage, which may be more than enough for individual users.
If you’re not a power user, WeTransfer’s free plan is the ideal choice for safe and secure file transfers due to its high levels of encryption.
WeTransfer Pro
WeTransfer’s Pro plan, which costs $10/month, caters to professionals who need to transfer large files on a regular basis. It bumps up the file size limit to 200GB and even provides an additional 1TB of cloud storage per user. There is no expiry date for WeTransfer links shared by Pro users.
However, the real benefits of the Pro plan are on the branding and collaboration front. Pro subscribers can set up custom WeTransfer landing pages with their own branding and imagery. Mails sent to recipients can also be customized. Moreover, the Pro plan includes one free “Portal,” which can be used for an unlimited number of reviews and feedback on a project.
Additional security features are also included with the Pro plan. The most notable of these is the ability to password-protect files.
WeTransfer Premium
WeTransfer launched its Premium subscription in early 2022 to meet the growing needs of creative professionals and studios. Premium users can share, upload, and store files without any size limitations. There are also no restrictions on the number of Portals a user can create.
Additionally, “Paste” can be used to create an unlimited number of decks, whereas the storage limit on Collect is 200GB for Premium users. The branding options included in the Pro subscription are also available to Premium users.
Security: How Safe Is WeTransfer?
A key concern when sharing files online is the security of the service. A data leak could put confidential files and documents at risk. This is how WeTransfer fares when it comes to security:
- WeTransfer encrypts files in transit and at rest.
- It features two-factor authentication for additional security.
- Pro and Premium subscribers can use the password-protected feature for files.
- The service provider was used in the past for phishing attacks.
Encryption
All uploads to WeTransfer are encrypted using high-level encryption, such as TLS and AES-256, even on the free version. WeTransfer encrypts files both in transit and at rest. Files are protected by TLS encryption while being uploaded and by AES-256 encryption when stored on WeTransfer’s servers.
This level of encryption is exactly what we’re looking for in a secure cloud storage/file transfer platform. For comparison, AES-256 is used by most reputable VPN providers to ensure your data stays out of strangers’ hands.
However, when you send files through WeTransfer via email, a password is not needed. Hence, anyone that may get hold of that file link can view the information you have sent. In this case, it is worth considering a WeTransfer alternative like NordLocker, which gives you an encryption key for your files that only you have access to.
Two-factor authentication
WeTransfer users can set up two-factor authentication to further bolster their security. Pro and Premium subscribers can even set up passwords to protect files they share with others. Overall, this is a robust set of security features that should keep your files from falling into the wrong hands.
Phishing attacks through WeTransfer
WeTransfer links can be used as part of phishing scams to spread malware. According to a 2021 research study on phishing attacks by security firm Barracuda, WeTransfer was used in 18% of phishing attacks. The purpose of these attacks was to steal login information and infiltrate big company networks. More recently, WeTransfer was also used to spread the Lampion malware through infected .zip files claiming to contain a Proof of Payment file from the service.
It is, therefore, advisable not to download files from WeTransfer unless you’ve received the link from someone you know and trust. You should also keep an antivirus scanner, like Bitdefender, installed on all your devices to detect and delete any potential malware that may be contained in a WeTransfer link.
Privacy: Does WeTransfer Take Good Care of Your Data?
A privacy breach for any service provider can be a serious issue. Regarding WeTransfer’s privacy measures, we discovered the following:
- The service provider complies with the GDPR.
- WeTransfer collects personal information, such as your name, IP address, and phone number.
Who’s behind WeTransfer?
WeTransfer operates out of the Netherlands. Its founders built the platform with the aim of creating a range of productivity tools that would make collaboration and client management easier for the global community of creative professionals.
WeTransfer has evolved a lot over the years, focusing on optimizing user experience by introducing a wide range of innovative apps to its platform, such as Paper and Paste.
Privacy policy
The service provider will collect certain information from you when you use their tools and features, such as your name, email address, phone number, personal messages sent along with files, and IP address.
WeTransfer’s privacy policy states that they will not sell or give your data to third parties, but if they are legally obliged to do so, they will provide it to the authorities. They claim that some of your personal data is collected to optimize your experience with the platform or help customer support tackle a problem you may be encountering.
Your personal information is encrypted in WeTransfer’s database and is only used to process any payments you make or create an account. Once you decide to unsubscribe from WeTransfer, your information still stays encrypted for 12 months in the service provider’s database and is then either deleted or given a pseudonym.
Ease of Use: Is WeTransfer User-Friendly?
Ease of use is an important aspect of any file-sharing app. How does WeTransfer fare?
- Signing up for WeTransfer is very straightforward.
- Sending files should take less than a minute.
- It has easy-to-use presentation and collaboration tools.
- There is no money-back guarantee.
- The customer service is good, and written requests are answered within a few hours.
WeTransfer’s website
There are few other services that make online file transfers as easy as WeTransfer. The entire process of creating an account and uploading and sharing your first file should take less than a few minutes on WeTransfer’s well-designed and intuitive website. Similarly, it’s very easy to view your profile and upgrade to the Pro and Premium subscription.
The same design ethos also informs the mobile app. There’s a big plus button in the bottom right-hand corner, which can be used to upload and share files. Reviewing files that you’ve shared or received is also very straightforward.
Overall, we’re big fans of WeTransfer’s minimalist but effective approach to usability and design.
Working with WeTransfer
Here we provide a step-by-step guide on how to work with WeTransfer and send files with WeChat.
- To send files with WeTransfer, you must sign up for an account. You can use your existing Google or Slack accounts to log in as well.
- Once that’s done, you’ll be taken to the homepage, from where you can upload and share files with a few clicks. Use the small box on the right-hand side to upload the files. Files can be shared either via mail or by forwarding the WeTransfer link to the intended recipient.
- Once the file is uploaded and transferred, you can review it in the Transfers section. WeTransfer shows you whether your recipients have downloaded the files and the number of days the link will be active. You can also set passwords for the uploaded files if you have one of WeTransfer’s paid subscriptions.
Automated presentation-making tool
Creating presentations and pitch decks can be a tedious process. WeTransfer’s Paste tool simplifies this process by automating presentation creation. Just upload the contents of your presentation or deck and let Paste do the rest. It’s also very easy to share decks created using Paste and get the feedback of other collaborators.
Project review and collaboration
While WeTransfer is primarily a file-sharing service, it’s quite clear that the company wishes to expand its product suite beyond that. Portals is another productivity feature recently added to the WeTransfer suite.
It simplifies the process of sharing files for review and feedback with clients or collaborators. All comments and feedback received on a particular project are arranged clearly and sequentially for easy resolution.
Moreover, the shared storage option is another great feature in the Pro and Premium plans because it can work in conjunction with Portals and any projects shared between contributors.
However, if you want to see the changes made in the files you shared in real-time, a different cloud storage option might be more suitable. Google One is a good example and also gives you the opportunity to share your files and documents in one specific place.
Does WeTransfer have a money-back guarantee?
WeTransfer does not have a money-back guarantee. If you would like to cancel your subscription to one of its paid services, you have to ensure you do so before you get billed for the next month of your subscription package.
Customer service
Despite WeTransfer’s intuitive interface, it’s possible that some users face difficulties in transferring files. Luckily, WeTransfer has a dedicated customer support section that should help resolve any such difficulties. The section contains several articles on different aspects of using WeTransfer, including setting up an account, transferring files, and the service’s security features.
If your problem isn’t resolved by consulting these articles, you can also submit a request through WeTransfer’s chatbot. The chatbot asks you to select the nature of the problem you’re facing and presents possible solutions on how it can be resolved.
If the solution isn’t satisfactory, you can submit a written outline of the problem. The WeTransfer support team will usually respond to your written request within a few hours. We received a prompt and detailed reply to our query within a few hours.
While the response to our mail was satisfactory, it’s important to note that WeTransfer does not have a live customer support option. Such support is now standard for most internet services. The lack of such support is a major drawback and drops WeTransfer’s customer support score for us.
Final Verdict: Is WeTransfer Worth Purchasing?
Through this WeTransfer review, we have concluded that this service can be the ideal choice for simple and efficient file sharing online. Its sleek design and interface make sharing even large files easy, therefore making it well-suited for professionals and companies with teams that often collaborate on projects. However, if you’re looking for added productivity, such as live document editing, then Google Drive or Dropbox may be better choices.
With an overall score of 7.7 out of 10, we can conclude that WeTransfer is a good service provider to use if you want to share and send files.
Read the articles below to find more information about platforms with features like WeTranfer’s:
- NordLocker Review: End-to-End Encrypted Files for Free
- Sync.com Review: Cheap Zero-Knowledge Cloud Storage
- Icedrive Review: A Secure and User-Friendly Cloud Storage
- Internxt Review: Decentralized, Privacy-Focused Solution
Have unanswered questions about WeTransfer’s features, pricing options, or security measures? Check out the FAQ section below.
Yes, WeTransfer is trustworthy. It encrypts users’ files in transit and at rest. While it collects some personal information, it does so in keeping with the EU’s GDPR.
Besides a few minor incidents, it has a good overall track record of ensuring user safety. Our WeTransfer review delves deeper into the service’s trustworthiness.
WeTransfer has a free plan, which allows users to send files up to 2GB. It also includes access to some other features, such as WeTransfer Collect and Paste. Check out our comprehensive WeTransfer review for more details on the free plan and how it compares with the paid ones.
No, WeTransfer operates out of the Netherlands. It uses servers in the EU and the US to store files uploaded by users.
