Smash vs WeTransfer
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Smash
French large-file transfer service with no size cap on free transfers and paid plans for faster, branded sending.
WeTransfer
The best-known way to send big files by link or email, with a capped free plan and paid tiers.
The short answer
Pick Smash if you send very large files for free, since it has no hard size cap on free transfers and keeps them for seven days. Pick WeTransfer if you want the most familiar brand, recipients who already know it, and paid plans with passwords, branding and custom expiry. Both send files by link with no account needed for recipients; the biggest difference is how generous the free tier is.
Smash or WeTransfer: our take
WeTransfer popularised dropping files into a web page and sending a download link, with no cloud storage needed on either side. Recipients need no account, and transfers expire automatically. Smash, a French service founded in 2017, works the same way, by link or by email, with no sign-up needed to send. Both now offer extras: WeTransfer adds file requests through Collect, shared albums and simple e-signatures, while Smash Pro adds branded backgrounds, file reception pages, transfer tracking and an Outlook add-in. Video producers and photographers are Smash's main audience.
The free plans differ the most. WeTransfer's free tier has become much tighter, allowing 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30 days, with links that expire after a few days, and its limits have changed several times. Smash's free plan costs $0 with no sign-up and has no hard size limit; transfers up to 2 GB go straight through, larger ones wait in a queue behind paying users, and free transfers stay available for 7 days.
On paid plans, WeTransfer's Starter tier allows 10 transfers or 300 GB per 30 days, and Ultimate offers unlimited transfers with passwords and branding, while Enterprise adds SSO. Smash Pro removes the queue, allows unlimited size and keeps transfers for 30 days, with Team and Enterprise plans and an API for developers; its best prices need an annual or two-year commitment. Both run in the browser with Mac, iOS and Android apps. WeTransfer is owned by Bending Spoons, and recent changes to its free limits and terms have pushed some users to look elsewhere.
For occasional big free transfers, such as video files, Smash is the more generous option if you can wait in the queue. For teams that want a well-known service with polished paid features and admin controls, WeTransfer remains a familiar choice.
Which should you pick?
Choose Smash if…
- Photographers and video teams who send very large files and want no hard size limit
- No hard size cap on free transfers
- No sign-up needed to send
Choose WeTransfer if…
- Occasional senders and creatives who want the link-sharing tool clients already recognise
- Recipients need no account or app
- Clean, familiar interface
About each app
What is Smash?
Smash is a WeTransfer-style service from a French company, founded in 2017, for sending big files by link or email. Its headline difference is that even free transfers have no hard size limit: anything up to 2 GB goes straight through, while bigger free transfers wait in a queue behind paying users. Free transfers stay available for seven days, and you don't need to sign up. The Pro plan for one user removes the queue, keeps transfers for 30 days and adds customisation such as branded backgrounds, file reception pages, transfer tracking and an Outlook add-in; Team and Enterprise plans add more users and admin controls, and an API is available for developers. Paying annually or for two years cuts the price substantially. It runs in the browser, with apps for Mac, iOS and Android and an add-in for Outlook. Video producers and photographers are its main audience.
What is WeTransfer?
WeTransfer popularised the simple idea of dropping files into a web page and sending a download link, without either side needing cloud storage. Recipients don't need an account, and transfers expire automatically. The free plan has become much tighter over the years: it now allows a limited number of transfers and a few gigabytes in total over a rolling 30-day window, and links expire after a few days. Paid plans raise the data allowance, with the top individual tier offering unlimited transfers, custom expiry dates, password protection, branded pages and access control; team plans add shared workspaces and admin tools, and Enterprise adds SSO and provisioning. Newer extras include file requests (Collect), shared albums and simple e-signatures. It runs in the browser with desktop and mobile apps. WeTransfer is owned by Bending Spoons, and recent changes to free limits and terms have pushed some users to look for alternatives.
Side by side
| Attribute | Smash | WeTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Photographers and video teams who send very large files and want no hard size limit | Occasional senders and creatives who want the link-sharing tool clients already recognise |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Smash | WeTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0, no sign-up | 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30 days |
Smash vs WeTransfer pricing
Smash: free plan + paid
- Free plan: $0, no sign-up source
- Free priority limit: 2 GB per transfer, larger ones queued source
- Free retention: 7 days source
- Pro plan: Unlimited size, 30-day retention source
WeTransfer: free plan + paid
- Free plan: 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30 days source
- Starter plan: 10 transfers or 300 GB per 30 days source
- Ultimate plan: Unlimited transfers, passwords, branding source
Platforms
| Platform | Smash | WeTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Smash facts
5 of 5 verified- Free plan
- $0, no sign-up
- Checked Oct 25, 2026fromsmash.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Monthly Annual -40% 2 years -52% Free $0.00 No payment required. No sign-up required.”
- Free priority limit
- 2 GB per transfer, larger ones queued
- Checked Oct 25, 2026fromsmash.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Beyond 2 GB, transfers join a queue behind Pro transfers.”
- Free retention
- 7 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026fromsmash.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “2 GB per transfer* Transfers valid for 7 days *Beyond 2 GB, transfers join a queue behind Pro transfers.”
- Pro plan
- Unlimited size, 30-day retention
- Checked Oct 25, 2026fromsmash.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Subscribe Unlimited transfer size Transfers valid for 30 days”
- Founded
- 2017
- Checked Oct 25, 2026fromsmash.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Since 2017, Smash has been committed”
WeTransfer facts
4 of 4 verified- Free plan
- 10 transfers or 3 GB per 30 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wetransfer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Plans overview Free — send up to 10 transfers (or 3 GB total) in any 30-day rolling window.”
- Starter plan
- 10 transfers or 300 GB per 30 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wetransfer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Starter — send up to 10 transfers (or 300 GB total) in any 30-day rolling window.”
- Ultimate plan
- Unlimited transfers, passwords, branding
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wetransfer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Ultimate — unlimited transfers, with custom expiration, password protection, branded pages, and Access Control.”
- Enterprise
- Custom plan with SSO
- Checked Oct 25, 2026wetransfer.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Enterprise — custom plan negotiated through our Sales team, including SSO”
Pros and cons of Smash
- No hard size cap on free transfers
- No sign-up needed to send
- Branding, tracking and file requests on Pro
- Free transfers over 2 GB are queued and slower
- Free links last only seven days
- Best prices need an annual or two-year commitment
Pros and cons of WeTransfer
- Recipients need no account or app
- Clean, familiar interface
- Paid plans add passwords, branding and custom expiry
- Free plan now has tight transfer and data caps
- Free links expire quickly
- Plan limits have changed several times
Other apps to consider
Smash vs WeTransfer: common questions
Is Smash better than WeTransfer?
Pick Smash if you send very large files for free, since it has no hard size cap on free transfers and keeps them for seven days. Pick WeTransfer if you want the most familiar brand, recipients who already know it, and paid plans with passwords, branding and custom expiry. Both send files by link with no account needed for recipients; the biggest difference is how generous the free tier is.
Is Smash free?
Smash has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is WeTransfer free?
WeTransfer has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Smash or WeTransfer open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Smash and WeTransfer support?
Smash: Web, macOS, iOS and Android. WeTransfer: Web, macOS, iOS and Android.