WeTransfer vs Secure Alternatives: Which Should You Use?

WeTransfer is popular because you can send big files without signing up. But how does it stack up on security? This guide compares WeTransfer with 5 other file transfer services across security, pricing, and usability.

WeTransfer Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ No sign-up required
✅ Up to 3GB (or 10 transfers) per 30 days on free tier
✅ Familiar UI

Cons

❌ No end-to-end encryption — WeTransfer can access files
❌ Free link passwords gate the download, but files aren't encrypted with them
❌ Free transfers expire after at most 3 days (no permanent storage)
❌ Ads on free tier
❌ Email required (no full anonymity)

6 Services Compared

Service	Sign-Up	Password	Content Encryption	Free Storage	Price
WeTransfer	Optional	Free	❌	3GB per 30 days	Free/$12
LOCK.PUB	❌	Free	✅ Password-derived	2MB (5MB with free account)	Free / Pro (US$4.99/month or US$41.99/year)
Google Drive	✅	❌	❌	15GB	Free
Dropbox	✅	Paid	❌ by default (E2EE team folders on top business plans)	2GB	Free/$11.99
Send Anywhere	Optional	❌	❌	10GB	Free
Tresorit Send	Optional	Free	✅	5GB	Free

Security Deep Dive

End-to-End Encryption (E2EE)

E2E encryption means even the service operator can't read your files.

Service	E2EE
LOCK.PUB	❌ (server-side, key derived from your password)
Tresorit Send	✅
WeTransfer	❌
Google Drive	❌
Dropbox	❌ by default (E2EE team folders on top business plans, no shared links)
Send Anywhere	❌

LOCK.PUB loses this row on purpose, and wins on sign-up instead: Tresorit Send wants your email address, LOCK.PUB wants nothing at all. Files are encrypted on our servers with a key derived from the password you choose, and that password is never stored — so nothing rests on disk as a downloadable file, and there is no reset or recovery — not for you, and not for us.

Free Password Protection

Even if the link leaks, no one can access without the password.

Service	Free Password
LOCK.PUB	✅
Tresorit Send	✅
WeTransfer	✅
Dropbox	❌ (Paid)

Which to Choose

Large Files (1GB+)

WeTransfer or Google Drive
For sensitive content, compress and password it first

Small Sensitive Files (≤5MB)

LOCK.PUB — password + encrypted storage + free, and no email address to hand over (up to 2MB per file without an account, 5MB with a free account)
Or Tresorit Send, if you can give them an email address

Permanent Storage

Google Drive — 15GB free
Encrypt sensitive content separately

One-Time Sharing

LOCK.PUB or WeTransfer
Security first → LOCK.PUB
Large files → WeTransfer

Anonymous Sharing

LOCK.PUB — no sign-up, no email
WeTransfer requires email

The WeTransfer Trap

Many people assume WeTransfer means "secure file transfer." But:

WeTransfer staff can access your files — no E2E encryption
A link password isn't encryption — it's free, but it only gates the download; WeTransfer still holds the keys
Logs are kept — IP addresses, download times, etc.
Subject to law enforcement requests — they can hand over plaintext

So WeTransfer is "convenient large file transfer," not "secure file transfer."

Why LOCK.PUB Beats It on Security

LOCK.PUB matches or beats WeTransfer on every security dimension below.

Item	WeTransfer	LOCK.PUB
Sign-up	Optional	None
Password protection	Free	Free
Content encrypted with your password	❌	✅
Files stored in plain form	No (encrypted at rest, WeTransfer holds the keys)	No
Ads	✅	❌
Email required	✅	❌

Downside: 2MB without an account, 5MB on a free account, 40MB on Pro — not great for huge files.

Conclusion

Use Case	Recommended
Videos, photo albums (large)	WeTransfer
Contracts, IDs (small, sensitive)	LOCK.PUB
Permanent storage + collaboration	Google Drive
Anonymous secure sharing	LOCK.PUB

The best strategy is using both. Big files via WeTransfer, sensitive files via LOCK.PUB.

Final Thoughts

"File transfer" isn't a single problem. Pick the right tool for what you're sending. WeTransfer is convenient but falls short for security-critical files.

Try LOCK.PUB for free, password-protected file sharing without sign-up.