pCloud Transfer is a solid file sharing service from the makers of pCloud cloud storage. It offers 5GB transfers for free with a clean, straightforward interface. However, if you’re looking for features beyond basic file transfers like collaboration, custom expiry times, or end-to-end encryption, there are alternatives worth considering.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best pCloud Transfer alternatives and help you find the right tool for your file sharing needs.
What pCloud Transfer Offers
Before diving into alternatives, let’s understand what pCloud Transfer brings to the table:
Free Plan:
- Up to 5GB per transfer
- 7-day link expiry
- Email or link sharing
- Simple, clean interface
- No ads
Transfer Tool Plus ($47.88/year):
- Up to 100GB per transfer
- Custom expiry times
- Password protection
- Download limits
- Detailed statistics
Strengths:
- Generous 5GB free limit
- Clean, minimalist interface
- Part of the broader pCloud ecosystem
- No ads even on free tier
Limitations:
- No collaboration features
- Limited customization
- Expiry time locked to 7 days on free tier
- No end-to-end encryption option
- Relatively expensive for what you get ($47.88/year vs competitors at $100-120/year with more features)
Top pCloud Transfer Alternatives
FileGrab
FileGrab stands out with its unique “link-first” approach and collaborative features.
Free Tier:
- 100MB storage
- 100MB max file size
- 7-day link expiry
- Real-time file sync
- No ads, ever
- Instant shareable links
Pro Plan ($10/month or $100/year):
- 10GB storage quota
- 2GB max file size
- Custom or forever expiry
- Password protection
- End-to-end encryption
- Collaborative links (multiple people can add files)
- Delete individual files from links
- View and download statistics
Why it’s a better alternative: The link-first workflow means you get your shareable link before files finish uploading. Collaborative links are a unique feature that turns one-way transfers into two-way file exchanges. End-to-end encryption provides stronger privacy than pCloud Transfer.
WeTransfer
WeTransfer is one of the most popular file sharing services globally, known for its beautiful interface.
Free Tier:
- Up to 2GB per transfer
- 7-day link expiry
- Email or link sharing
- Beautiful minimalist interface
- Ad-supported
Pro Plan ($12/month):
- Up to 200GB per transfer
- 1TB cloud storage
- Custom backgrounds
- Password protection
- Custom URLs
- Extended storage time
Why it’s a better alternative: Larger file size on free tier (2GB vs pCloud’s 5GB is competitive), beautiful interface, optional email delivery. Pro plan offers massive 200GB transfers and 1TB storage.
Smash
Smash’s killer feature is unlimited file sizes on the free tier, which is genuinely unique.
Free Tier:
- Unlimited file size
- 14-day link expiry
- Basic customization
- Ad-supported
Pro Plan ($8/month or $60/year):
- Unlimited file size
- Custom expiry times
- Password protection
- Custom branding
- Analytics and statistics
- No ads
Why it’s a better alternative: Unlimited file sizes for free, longer expiry (14 vs 7 days), cheaper Pro plan ($60/year vs pCloud’s $47.88/year but with more features), custom branding options.
Dropbox Transfer
Dropbox Transfer is part of the Dropbox ecosystem, offering integration if you’re already a Dropbox user.
Availability:
- Requires Dropbox Plus subscription ($11.99/month minimum)
- Up to 100GB per transfer
- 7-day expiry (can be customized)
- Password protection
- Tight Dropbox integration
Why it might be better: If you’re already paying for Dropbox, Transfer is included. Tight integration with Dropbox storage means you can send files directly from your Dropbox without re-uploading.
Why it might be worse: No free tier, requires expensive Dropbox subscription just to use Transfer feature.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | pCloud Transfer Free | FileGrab Free | FileGrab Pro | WeTransfer Free | Smash Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max File Size | 5GB | 100MB | 2GB | 2GB | Unlimited |
| Storage Quota | Per-transfer | 100MB total | 10GB total | Per-transfer | Per-transfer |
| Link Expiry | 7 days | 7 days | Custom/Forever | 7 days | 14 days |
| Password Protection | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Collaboration | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Encryption | In transit | In transit | E2E available | In transit | In transit |
| Ads | No | Never | Never | Yes | Yes |
| Email Delivery | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Custom Branding | No | No | No | No | No |
When File Size Matters
pCloud Transfer’s 5GB free limit is generous and covers most use cases. But how does it compare?
pCloud Transfer (5GB free):
- Good for: HD video files, large photo collections, design projects
- Not enough for: 4K video projects, raw footage, large software builds
FileGrab Pro (2GB limit):
- Good for: Most business documents, compressed videos, photo albums
- Not enough for: Very large design files, long 4K videos
Smash (unlimited):
- Good for: Anything, including massive video projects and datasets
- Trade-off: Slower uploads on free tier, ads
If you regularly send files between 2GB and 5GB, pCloud Transfer’s free tier is genuinely useful. If you need more than 5GB, Smash is your best free option.
Collaboration: A Feature pCloud Lacks
pCloud Transfer is strictly one-way: you upload files, recipients download them. This works for most scenarios, but what if you need two-way sharing?
FileGrab’s collaborative links (Pro feature) allow:
- Multiple people adding files to the same link
- Real-time updates (everyone sees new files instantly)
- No accounts required for contributors
- Perfect for group projects, event photos, client collaborations
Real-world example: You’re planning a wedding. Instead of collecting photos from 50 guests via email or messaging apps, create one collaborative FileGrab link and share it with everyone. Guests upload their photos, and everyone can see the growing collection.
pCloud Transfer has no equivalent feature. You’d need to use pCloud’s full cloud storage with folder sharing (different product, requires accounts for everyone).
The Link-First Advantage
Most file transfer services, including pCloud Transfer, follow this pattern:
- Select and upload files
- Wait for upload to complete
- Get shareable link
- Share with recipients
This creates an awkward waiting period where you can’t share the link yet.
FileGrab’s link-first approach flips this:
- Get shareable link instantly
- Start uploading files
- Share link immediately (while files are still uploading)
- Recipients see files appear in real-time
Why this matters:
- Share the link during a phone call (“I’m sending it now, files will appear shortly”)
- No waiting to share (especially useful for large files that take 10+ minutes to upload)
- Recipients can start downloading early files while later ones are still uploading
For pCloud Transfer, you’re stuck waiting for uploads to finish before you can share. For large files, this is a noticeable UX difference.
Privacy and Encryption
pCloud itself offers client-side encryption (pCloud Crypto), but pCloud Transfer does not inherit this feature.
pCloud Transfer:
- Files encrypted in transit (HTTPS)
- Files encrypted at rest on pCloud servers
- pCloud has the encryption keys
- Can access files if required by law or for technical reasons
FileGrab:
- Standard links: Encrypted in transit and at rest
- Pro encrypted links: End-to-end encryption option
- E2E files: Encrypted before upload, only link holders can decrypt
- FileGrab cannot access E2E encrypted file contents
Why E2E encryption matters: For sensitive files (legal contracts, medical records, financial data, confidential business documents), end-to-end encryption ensures that only the intended recipient can decrypt the files. The service provider cannot access the contents, even if compelled by law.
pCloud Transfer lacks this option. FileGrab Pro offers it as a standard feature.
Expiry Times and Link Management
How long do your files stay available?
pCloud Transfer:
- Free: Fixed 7-day expiry
- Plus: Custom expiry times
- Automatic deletion after expiry
FileGrab:
- Free: Fixed 7-day expiry
- Pro: Custom expiry or “forever” links
- Can manually delete links or individual files before expiry (Pro)
Smash:
- Free: Fixed 14-day expiry
- Pro: Custom expiry times
WeTransfer:
- Free: Fixed 7-day expiry
- Pro: Extended storage times
Winner for flexibility: FileGrab Pro and Smash Pro both offer custom expiry times, but FileGrab’s “forever” links (with option to manually delete later) provide the most control.
Pricing and Value
Let’s compare what you’re paying for:
pCloud Transfer Tool Plus:
- $47.88/year (annual only)
- 100GB per transfer
- Password protection
- Custom expiry
- Download limits
- Statistics
FileGrab Pro:
- $100/year or $10/month
- 10GB storage quota, 2GB per file
- Password protection
- Custom/forever expiry
- Collaborative links
- End-to-end encryption
- Delete files from links
- Statistics
Smash Pro:
- $60/year or $8/month
- Unlimited file size
- Password protection
- Custom expiry
- Custom branding
- Analytics
- No ads
WeTransfer Pro:
- $144/year or $12/month
- 200GB per transfer
- 1TB cloud storage
- Custom backgrounds
- Password protection
Best value: This depends on your needs:
- Cheapest: pCloud Transfer Plus ($47.88/year) but fewest features
- Most features: FileGrab Pro (collaboration + E2E encryption)
- Unlimited sizes: Smash Pro ($60/year)
- Most storage: WeTransfer Pro (1TB total storage)
Integration with Cloud Storage
One advantage pCloud Transfer has is integration with pCloud’s cloud storage ecosystem:
If you use pCloud:
- Send files directly from your pCloud storage
- No need to re-upload files you already have stored
- Seamless experience within pCloud ecosystem
If you don’t use pCloud:
- This integration is irrelevant
- Standalone file transfer alternatives offer better features
Similarly:
- Dropbox Transfer integrates with Dropbox storage
- Google Drive sharing integrates with Google Workspace
- OneDrive has built-in sharing features
If you’re already invested in a cloud storage ecosystem, using that platform’s transfer feature makes sense. If you’re looking for a standalone file transfer tool, alternatives like FileGrab or Smash offer better features.
Real-World Use Cases
Let’s look at specific scenarios:
Scenario 1: Sending a 3GB video to a client
- pCloud Transfer: Works well, 5GB free limit covers this
- FileGrab Free: Won’t work (100MB limit)
- FileGrab Pro: Won’t work (2GB limit)
- Smash Free: Works perfectly (unlimited)
- Winner: Smash Free or pCloud Transfer Free
Scenario 2: Team collecting design files for a project
- pCloud Transfer: Everyone sends files separately (multiple links)
- FileGrab Pro: One collaborative link, everyone adds files
- Smash: Everyone sends files separately (no collaboration)
- Winner: FileGrab Pro (only service with collaboration)
Scenario 3: Sharing confidential legal documents
- pCloud Transfer: Encrypted on servers, pCloud has keys
- FileGrab Pro: End-to-end encrypted option, only recipient can decrypt
- Smash: Encrypted on servers, Smash has keys
- Winner: FileGrab Pro (only E2E encryption)
Scenario 4: Sending business documents daily (sub-1GB)
- pCloud Transfer: Works, no ads, clean interface
- FileGrab Free: Works if files under 100MB, no ads
- Smash Free: Works, but has ads
- Winner: pCloud Transfer or FileGrab Free (both ad-free)
Scenario 5: Impressing clients with branded transfers
- pCloud Transfer: No branding options
- Smash Pro: Custom branding available
- WeTransfer Pro: Custom backgrounds and URLs
- Winner: Smash Pro or WeTransfer Pro
Making the Switch
Switching from pCloud Transfer to an alternative is straightforward since file transfer services don’t lock you into an ecosystem:
- Choose your alternative based on the features you need
- Test the free tier before committing to a paid plan
- Compare the workflow to pCloud Transfer
- Evaluate for your specific use case
You can also use multiple services:
- pCloud Transfer for general 2-5GB files
- Smash for occasional huge files
- FileGrab for team collaboration or sensitive documents
There’s no reason to commit to just one.
Conclusion
pCloud Transfer is a solid, no-frills file sharing service with a generous 5GB free tier and clean interface. However, it lacks modern features like collaboration, custom expiry on free tier, and end-to-end encryption.
Choose pCloud Transfer if:
- You value simplicity above all else
- 5GB free transfers meet your needs
- You’re already a pCloud user and want ecosystem integration
- You don’t need advanced features
Choose FileGrab if:
- You need collaborative links for team/group file sharing
- You want end-to-end encryption for sensitive files
- You value the link-first workflow with real-time sync
- You prefer paying $100/year for more features vs $47.88 for fewer
Choose Smash if:
- You regularly send files larger than 5GB
- You need unlimited file sizes
- You want custom branding (Pro)
- You prefer the cheapest Pro option ($60/year)
Choose WeTransfer if:
- You prioritize beautiful interface and UX
- You need massive transfers (200GB on Pro)
- You want 1TB cloud storage included
For most users, pCloud Transfer’s limitations (no collaboration, no E2E encryption, fixed expiry on free tier) make alternatives worth considering. FileGrab’s unique features, particularly collaborative links and end-to-end encryption, provide capabilities that pCloud Transfer simply doesn’t offer.
Ready to try collaborative file sharing with real-time sync? Get started at filegrab.link and get your shareable link instantly.