Filen vs WeTransfer

Filen is a zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage service from Germany. Files are encrypted on your device before upload, so the company cannot read them, and data is stored in German data centers under EU privacy law. It positions itself as a cheaper alternative to established privacy-focused providers while offering the core features of a modern cloud drive.

Filen provides desktop sync clients for Windows, macOS and Linux, mobile apps with camera upload, a web drive, encrypted sharing links with passwords and expiry dates, file versioning and a network drive mode. Its client software is open source, which lets security-minded users inspect how encryption works. Pricing starts with a free plan of 10 GB, followed by low-cost monthly or yearly plans that can be stacked on one account; the lifetime plans it once sold have been removed from the lineup.

Filen fits individuals and freelancers who want private storage on a budget, especially Linux users who are poorly served by larger providers. It is a young company with a small team, so collaboration features, admin controls and support are limited compared with business products, and some users report variable sync performance with very large folders. Proton Drive offers a broader privacy ecosystem, pCloud and Internxt sell lifetime plans, and Tresorit is the stronger choice for businesses that need compliance and team administration.

WeTransfer is a file transfer service founded in Amsterdam in 2009 that became the standard way for creative professionals to send large files. You upload files, enter recipients' email addresses or create a link, and the recipient downloads them without needing an account. The company was acquired by Bending Spoons, the Italian app developer, in 2024.

The free plan lets you send files up to a size limit per transfer with a cap on monthly transfers, and transfers expire after a short period. Paid plans raise the size limit, keep files available longer, and add password protection, custom expiry dates, download tracking, branded backgrounds and pages, and storage for files you want to keep. Teams plans add shared administration and collaboration. Over the years WeTransfer has also added tools for collecting feedback on files, though the core product remains simple, fast transfer.

WeTransfer fits photographers, designers, video editors and agencies that need to deliver large files to clients quickly. It is not a cloud storage or sync service, so ongoing collaboration on shared folders is better in Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive. Free limits have tightened since the acquisition, and in 2025 a change to its terms of service raised concerns about AI training on user files, which the company then clarified and rewrote. Smash is a French alternative with no size limit on free transfers, and Filemail is another option for very large files.