How to send large files for free
By the WispFile team · Updated 24 September 2026
You can send large files for free by sending them directly, browser to browser, which has no storage to fill and so no size limit to sell you. Free upload services stop between 2 GB and 15 GB because storing your file costs them money. A direct transfer stores nothing; the catch is that you stay online while it downloads.
Key facts
- WeTransfer Free: 10 transfers or 3 GB in total in any 30 days.
- Dropbox Basic: 2 GB; OneDrive: 5 GB; Google Drive: 15 GB shared with Gmail.
- WispFile Free: direct transfers, any size, nothing stored.
- Free WispFile links are direct only: files never pass through our servers.
Free limits compared
| WispFile | WeTransfer | Dropbox Transfer | Google Drive | OneDrive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How files travel | Device to device, over an encrypted direct connection | Uploaded to WeTransfer, then downloaded by the recipient | Uploaded to Dropbox, then downloaded | Uploaded to your Drive, then shared and downloaded | Uploaded to OneDrive, then shared and downloaded |
| Stored on servers | Never | Yes: on the Free plan, 3 days | Yes, in Dropbox, until the transfer expires or is deleted | Yes, until you delete it | Yes, until you delete it |
| Size limit | None set; verified to 5 GB so far | Free: up to 10 transfers or 3 GB in total in any 30 days | Dropbox Basic: 2 GB of storage and transfers up to 2 GB | Free: 15 GB of storage, shared with Gmail and Google Photos | Free: 5 GB of storage; files up to 250 GB each |
| Account needed to send | No | Yes: a free account, required since November 2024 | Yes | Yes (a Google account) | Yes (a Microsoft account) |
| End-to-end encrypted | Yes: AES-GCM with a 256-bit key that only the link carries | Not end-to-end encrypted | Not end-to-end encrypted by default | Not end-to-end encrypted for personal accounts | Not end-to-end encrypted |
| Sender must stay online | Yes, until the download finishes | No: the upload finishes, then the sender can leave | No | No | No |
Competitor details checked 24 September 2026 on each company’s own site; sources are linked below. Plans change, so check theirs before you rely on a limit.
Sources for every figure are on the comparison pages.
What “free” costs elsewhere
- An account. Most now require one before you can send.
- A copy on their servers for days, or until you delete it.
- Caps on size, on transfers per month, or both.
WispFile’s free plan asks for none of these. What it asks is that your device stays online until the receiver finishes, and that the two networks can connect directly. Most do; some office and mobile networks block it, and the receiver is told plainly if so. Pro adds an encrypted relay for those networks.
Step by step: a large file, free
- Open WispFile on the computer or phone that has the file.
- Add the file or the whole folder. Nothing uploads; the files stay on your device.
- Choose how long the link lasts, and add a password if the files are private.
- Send the link by chat, email or the QR code.
- Keep the page open. The receiver downloads straight from you and sees their progress.
When a free upload service is the better choice
Direct transfer is not always right. If the recipient will download tomorrow while your laptop is closed, the file has to wait somewhere, and that means an upload service and its limits. For files under their caps, WeTransfer or a cloud folder is simpler in that case. WispFile is for when the recipient is ready now, the file is large, or it should not sit on anyone’s servers.
Is free file transfer safe?
It depends less on the price than on where the file goes and who can read it. Check three things: whether the file is stored, for how long, and whether it is end-to-end encrypted so the service itself cannot open it. WispFile stores nothing and encrypts every transfer with a key that exists only in the link. See what end-to-end encryption means.
Frequently asked questions
Is WispFile really free for large files?
Yes. Direct transfers are unlimited on the free plan because they cost almost nothing to run: the file never touches our servers. Paid plans add a relay for networks that block direct connections, and branding.
What is the largest file I can send free?
No limit is set. Transfers are verified end to end up to 5 GB so far; larger ones use the same design and are being tested.
Do I need an account?
No. Add files, share the link. An account is only for history, inboxes and paid features.
Why does WeTransfer ask me to sign up now?
Since November 2024 WeTransfer requires a free account to send. WispFile needs no account on either side.
Can the recipient download on their phone?
Yes. They open the link in their phone’s browser. On iPhone, Safari support is still in testing.
Related guides
- File transfer with no size limit — Why caps exist, and what limits a transfer without them.
- Send files without signing up — No account, no email address, no app: what to check first.
- Email attachment too large? How to send it anyway — What to do when email says the file is too big.
Send it directly now
Open WispFile, add your files and share the link. No account, nothing uploaded, nothing stored. Free.
Send files with WispFile