SwissTransfer alternative: Transfr vs SwissTransfer

SwissTransfer vs Transfr: the essentials

SwissTransfer is run by Infomaniak, a Swiss hosting company, and states that files stay exclusively in its own data centres in Switzerland, with no third-party host. If you pick the 30-day duration, it emails you a reminder on day 12 so you can extend. It also promotes a SwissTransfer Pro offer without detailing it on the page we checked.

When SwissTransfer is the better choice

• The link must last a month. SwissTransfer gives up to 30 days for free; Transfr Free stops at 7 days (Pro goes to 60).
• You specifically want Swiss hosting. SwissTransfer stores only in Switzerland, with Infomaniak’s own infrastructure.
• Your transfers stay under 50 GB and you don’t need encryption beyond a password, file requests or branding.

When Transfr is the better choice

• Transfers between 50 GB and 100 GB, free. A long 4K shoot, a full RAW wedding or a big archive in one link. See send 100 GB.
• No size limit at all on Pro. For multi-hundred-gigabyte deliveries.
• End-to-end encryption. Files are encrypted in your browser and the key is never stored on our servers. See end-to-end encrypted transfer.
• Collecting files. File requests let clients send you up to 100 GB each, without an account.
• Feedback on the download page. Comments pinned to video timestamps, image areas or PDF pages.
• Your brand and tracking. Pro adds your logo, background, subdomain or domain, and Send & Track analytics. See branded file transfer.
• Storage close to your recipient. Pick North America, Asia-Pacific or Oceania for distant clients, or keep the default in Western Europe.

Switzerland or the EU: does hosting location matter?

For many people, “hosted in Europe” is the real requirement. Switzerland is not in the EU, but the European Commission recognises its data protection as adequate, so transfers of personal data there are allowed under GDPR. Transfr stores files in Western Europe by default and lets you choose another region per transfer, which helps when a client in Sydney or Los Angeles downloads a large file. Whatever the service, check what your contracts say about data location. More in GDPR-compliant file transfer.

How long does each service keep your files?

Both delete files after the period you choose, which is a good default for privacy. Transfr account holders can change the expiry of a transfer after sending it.

Which one for which job?

Splitting a delivery into several transfers works on any service, but it multiplies the links your client has to keep track of, each with its own expiry date, and one missing part can break a set of RAW files and their edits. Keeping a whole job in one link is usually worth more than a few extra days of availability. For the RAW case, see send RAW photos to clients.

How to send with Transfr instead of SwissTransfer

1. 1

   Step 1

   Open transfr.me

   Go to transfr.me. Like SwissTransfer, no account is needed.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add files or folders

   Up to 100 GB per transfer. Folders keep their structure.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Choose Email or Link

   Email sends the download message to up to 10 recipients; Link gives a URL to share anywhere.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Pick duration, region and security

   Up to 7 days free, storage region, password, download limit, end-to-end encryption.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Send

   Recipients preview and download without an account.

Other SwissTransfer alternatives

If you mostly send under 5 GB, TransferNow and Filemail also work without an account (TransferNow alternative). Smash queues free transfers over 2 GB but has no fixed cap (Smash alternative). WeTransfer Free now needs an account and stops at 3 GB per 30 days (WeTransfer limits). See the complete ranking in WeTransfer alternatives compared.