When choosing between FileGrab and WeTransfer, the decision comes down to what matters most: traditional email-based transfers or instant, collaborative file sharing. Both services let you share large files, but they take fundamentally different approaches to the problem. This comprehensive comparison breaks down features, pricing, limits, and user experience to help you choose the right tool.
The Core Difference: Email vs Link-First
WeTransfer pioneered the “send files via email” model back in 2009. You upload files, enter recipient email addresses, and WeTransfer sends them a download link. It’s familiar and straightforward, but it locks you into a one-way workflow.
FileGrab flips this model with a link-first approach. You get your shareable link before uploading any files. Share the link immediately, then upload files as they’re ready. Recipients see files appear in real-time without refreshing. This matters when collaborating on projects, collecting files from multiple people, or sharing work-in-progress content.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | FileGrab Free | FileGrab Pro | WeTransfer Free | WeTransfer Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Quota | 100 MB | 10 GB | N/A (per transfer) | N/A (per transfer) |
| Max File Size | 100 MB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 200 GB |
| Link Expiry | 7 days | Forever/custom | 7 days | 7-30 days |
| Password Protection | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| E2E Encryption | No | Yes | No | No |
| Collaboration | Yes | Toggle per link | No | No |
| Ads | Never | Never | Yes | No |
| Price | Free | $10/mo | Free | $15/mo |
Storage Model: Quota vs Per-Transfer
WeTransfer doesn’t have a storage quota. Each transfer can be up to 2 GB (free) or 200 GB (Pro), but the files are temporary. Once the link expires, everything is deleted.
FileGrab uses account-based storage quotas. Free users get 100 MB total storage, Pro users get 10 GB. This means you can create multiple links that all stay active simultaneously. Your files persist until expiry (7 days for free, forever for Pro). This model works better for:
- Portfolios that need multiple active projects
- Teams sharing resources that need to stay accessible
- Content creators with libraries of files
The quota model also enables collaborative links. Since your storage is persistent, multiple people can upload to the same link, building a shared collection.
Real-Time Collaboration
FileGrab’s collaborative links let anyone with the URL upload files to your storage. Enable collaboration on a link, share it with your team, and everyone can contribute. Files appear instantly for all viewers without page refreshes.
WeTransfer doesn’t support collaboration. Every transfer is one-way: you send files to recipients. If they want to send files back, they create a separate WeTransfer. This ping-pong workflow adds friction to back-and-forth projects.
Privacy and Security
FileGrab offers end-to-end encryption on Pro plans. The encryption key lives in the URL fragment (the part after #) and never reaches the server. Only people with the full URL can decrypt files. This matches Firefox Send’s privacy model before Mozilla shut it down.
WeTransfer Pro includes password protection but not end-to-end encryption. Your files are encrypted in transit and at rest on WeTransfer’s servers, but WeTransfer can technically access them. For most users this is fine, but for sensitive documents, client-side encryption adds an extra layer of security.
User Experience
WeTransfer’s interface is beautifully minimal. Upload files, add recipient emails, include a message, click transfer. The simplicity is its strength, but also its limitation. You can’t modify a transfer after sending it. If you forget a file, you create a new transfer.
FileGrab’s link-first model is more flexible. Get the link, share it in Slack or email, then add files throughout the day. Recipients refresh once to see everything. The interface focuses on the link dashboard where you manage files, expiry, settings, and collaboration all in one place.
Ads and Monetization
WeTransfer Free shows full-screen background ads while uploading and downloading. These ads are tasteful and brand-focused, but they’re still ads. WeTransfer Pro removes them for $15/mo.
FileGrab has no ads on any tier. The free plan is genuinely ad-free. This matters when sharing with clients or professional contacts where every impression counts.
Pricing Breakdown
WeTransfer charges $15/mo ($120/year with annual billing) for:
- 200 GB per transfer
- Up to 30-day expiry
- Password protection
- Custom backgrounds
- No ads
FileGrab charges $10/mo ($100/year) for:
- 10 GB storage quota
- 2 GB per file
- Forever links
- Password protection
- E2E encryption
- Collaborative uploads
- No ads (also on free tier)
WeTransfer Pro makes sense if you regularly send massive individual files over 10 GB. FileGrab Pro works better for multiple active links, collaboration, and long-term file hosting.
Use Case Scenarios
Choose WeTransfer if:
- You send one-off large files to clients
- Email-based workflow fits your process
- You need to send 10+ GB files frequently
- Recipients expect familiar email notifications
Choose FileGrab if:
- You need multiple active links simultaneously
- Collaboration is important (teams uploading to shared links)
- You want links that never expire (Pro)
- Privacy matters (E2E encryption)
- You hate ads in your workflow
- Real-time file syncing improves your process
Mobile Experience
WeTransfer’s mobile apps (iOS/Android) are polished and full-featured. Upload from your camera roll, send transfers, manage your Pro account.
FileGrab is web-based and mobile-responsive. No app to install, works in any browser. The tradeoff is fewer native integrations (like iOS share sheet), but you get cross-platform access without downloads.
Business and Team Plans
WeTransfer offers team plans starting at $25/mo for 1 TB transfers and basic collaboration features (reviewing, approving, commenting on transfers).
FileGrab’s Pro plan is individual-focused, but collaborative links effectively create team workflows at $10/mo per user. For small teams, this can be more cost-effective than WeTransfer’s team tier.
The Verdict
Neither service is strictly better. WeTransfer dominates for simple, large, one-off transfers to non-technical recipients. FileGrab wins for collaborative workflows, multiple active links, privacy-conscious users, and anyone who wants ad-free file sharing at a lower price point.
If your workflow is “upload once, send to recipients, forget it,” WeTransfer is hard to beat. If you need links that evolve over time, accept files from others, and stay accessible long-term, FileGrab’s link-first model is more powerful.
Try FileGrab Free
Ready to try the link-first approach to file sharing? FileGrab’s free tier includes 100 MB storage, 7-day links, and full collaboration features with zero ads. Create your first link at filegrab.link and see real-time file sharing in action.