WeTransfer and ShareText both create temporary file share links, but they serve different needs. WeTransfer is built for large file transfers in creative industries. ShareText is built for controlled, private sharing with access rules you actually own.
Password protection, custom expiry, and view limits are free on ShareText. On WeTransfer, most of those controls require a paid plan.
Feature comparison
ShareText vs WeTransfer — side by side.
| Feature | ShareText | WeTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary share links | Yes | Yes |
| No recipient account needed | Yes | Yes |
| Password protection | Yes | Paid plan |
| Custom expiry control | Yes | 7 days only |
| View limits | Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | No |
| Notes + files together | Yes | No |
| AI quick summary | Yes | No |
| File size per transfer | 15 MB | 2 GB |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Why choose ShareText?
Key reasons ShareText works better for temporary, controlled sharing.
Full expiry control
WeTransfer free links expire after 7 days. ShareText lets you set expiry from 1 hour to 3 months — or never.
Free password protection
WeTransfer charges for password-protected transfers. ShareText includes it on every link at no cost.
Notes alongside files
Attach a rich text message to your file share. Recipients see context and files on one page — WeTransfer has no equivalent.
End-to-end encrypted notes
Enable E2E encryption on any note and it is encrypted in your browser before it leaves your device. WeTransfer has no equivalent for note privacy.
Which one is right for you?
Choose ShareText if…
Temporary sharing with access controls, custom expiry, and notes. Best for credentials, contracts, onboarding docs, and anything sensitive.
Choose WeTransfer if…
Large file transfers up to 2 GB in the creative and design industry, where file size is the priority over access controls.
Where each tool is genuinely better
WeTransfer is built around size. Its free tier moves up to 2 GB in one transfer, which makes it the right answer for video rushes, layered design files, and photo sets. ShareText caps files at 15 MB each, up to 10 per link. If you are sending large media, WeTransfer wins and nothing about access control changes that.
ShareText is built around control of everything below that ceiling — contracts, invoices, exports, reports, scans, spreadsheets. For those the hard question is not bandwidth but who can open this, for how long, and how do I know it stopped being accessible. WeTransfer's free tier answers that with 'anyone with the link, for seven days'.
The seven-day problem
A fixed seven-day window is wrong in both directions. It is far too long for a document containing personal data that one person needed to read once — that file stays openable by anyone holding the URL for a week after it was relevant. It is too short for a project that runs a month, so you end up re-uploading and re-sending the same files.
Custom expiry fixes both ends. One hour for something sensitive, three months for a long engagement, or no expiry at all when the file is genuinely reference material. Pair it with a view limit and access ends when the last intended reader has finished, whichever comes first.
What you give up, and what you do not
You give up file size, and you should be clear-eyed about that before switching. What you do not give up is the flow: open a page, add files, get a link, no account required on either end. That part is the same, minus the step where WeTransfer asks for your email address and your recipient's.
What you gain beyond the access controls is the note layer. A ShareText link can carry formatted text alongside the files, so context travels with the documents instead of in a separate email that gets detached from them. For handovers and client deliveries that is often the difference between a link that explains itself and one that generates a follow-up question.
Frequently asked questions
Does WeTransfer offer password protection for free?
No. WeTransfer only offers password protection on paid plans. ShareText includes it on every link at no cost.
Can I control how long a WeTransfer link stays active?
WeTransfer free links expire after 7 days with no flexibility. ShareText lets you set expiry from 1 hour to 3 months, or keep links active indefinitely.
Can I add a note to a file share in WeTransfer?
WeTransfer allows a short message field but no rich text. ShareText lets you attach a full formatted note alongside files on the same share page.
Does ShareText have a file size limit?
ShareText supports files up to 15 MB each, with up to 3 files per link. WeTransfer supports up to 2 GB — if large file sizes are the priority, WeTransfer has an advantage there.
Can I send files larger than 15 MB with ShareText?
No. 15 MB per file, up to 10 files per link, is the ceiling. For large video or design files WeTransfer's 2 GB free transfer remains the better tool, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise.
Does ShareText ask for email addresses like WeTransfer does?
No. You get a link and distribute it yourself. Neither your address nor your recipient's is collected anywhere in the flow.
Are there ads on the ShareText download page?
No. Recipients see your files and your optional note, with no full-screen advertising and no branded wallpaper.
Can I revoke a link before it expires?
Yes. Delete the link from your dashboard and it stops working immediately, regardless of the expiry you originally set.
Start sharing for free.
No setup. No account required. Your first link is ready in seconds.