Send large files securely with end-to-end encryption
Create a free account to transfer up to 3 GB per share with end-to-end encryption enabled by default. Paid plans support up to 250 GB in a single transfer.
PrivCloud is a French large file transfer service and a secure, open-source alternative to WeTransfer, SwissTransfer, and TransferNow. Creating an account is required. The Free plan supports up to 3 GB per share and paid plans support up to 250 GB in a single transfer. Browser-side AES-256 end-to-end encryption is enabled by default. Files are encrypted before leaving your device and the content key is never sent to the server.
How to send encrypted files in 3 steps
Sending end-to-end encrypted files has never been easier. Three steps are all it takes to protect your documents, contracts, medical records, or any sensitive files with AES-256-GCM encryption -- no installation, directly in your browser.
Select your files
Drag and drop your files (documents, images, archives, videos...) or click to select them. Multiple files at once, no installation required -- everything happens directly in your browser.
End-to-end AES-256 encryption - your key stays private
Your files are encrypted locally in your browser with AES-256-GCM before leaving your device. The encryption key never transits to our servers -- zero-knowledge architecture.
Share the secure link
Copy the share link and send it to your recipients. Set an expiration date and optional password for additional protection. Receive a notification whenever someone downloads your files.
Send large files free, simply, and securely
An email attachment limit should not delay a client delivery. PrivCloud turns heavy files into a temporary download link: create a Free account, upload up to 3 GB per share, choose how long it remains available, and send the link. This online large file transfer service works for videos, ZIP archives, photo collections, backups, business documents, and other content that is too large to send by email.
Send a large file without email limits
There is no need to split a large file across messages or compress a video until it loses quality. Your browser uploads the content and creates a link you can share by email, chat, or a business channel. Interruption recovery and adaptive throughput make large file uploads more resilient on an unstable connection. The free plan accepts up to 3 GB per transfer with an account, limited to 15 shares per rolling 30 days. Paid plans support files up to 250 GB in a single transfer.
Secure file transfer with end-to-end encryption
Contracts, legal records, financial data, and HR documents need more than an ordinary public link. E2E mode is enabled by default for accounts, so every file is encrypted inside your browser before upload and the server never receives the content key. Add a password, set an expiry date, and monitor downloads. You get encrypted file sharing with no ads or third-party tracking, backed by source code that security teams can inspect instead of relying on a marketing promise.
Share large folders with a private link
Select multiple files or add a complete folder while preserving its directory structure. It is a practical way to send a large folder of photos, creative deliverables, a software project, or tender documents. The recipient opens the protected link in a browser and downloads the authorised items without dealing with mailbox attachment limits. Automatic expiry also prevents old folders from remaining available online indefinitely, while optional password protection gives the sender an additional access control.
Encrypted file sharing for business and GDPR needs
Companies, freelancers, IT teams, legal practices, and healthcare professionals can move sensitive deliveries into one clear workflow. The application infrastructure and primary storage operate in France, with an E2EE backup in Germany. European hosting does not replace your own compliance assessment, but it makes data flows easier to understand. Protected links, limited retention, download notifications, and end-to-end encryption provide practical controls for secure file sharing with clients, suppliers, and external partners.
How to choose a large file transfer service
Compare the limit actually included in the free offer, the maximum size available on paid plans, link lifetime, password protection, download notifications, and hosting location. PrivCloud offers a Free account with up to 3 GB per share and paid plans supporting up to 250 GB in a single transfer. For confidential files, ask who controls the encryption key. A provider may advertise encryption in transit and at rest while remaining technically able to read the content. PrivCloud prioritises browser-side E2E encryption, a key that stays away from the server, and an open-source implementation. The comparison below separates those security properties from storage capacity and makes it easier to choose a secure WeTransfer alternative for your real use case. Use case matters as much as maximum size. Photographers may prioritise unchanged image archives and download tracking, while agencies, legal practices, and finance teams may value protected client delivery, short retention, and key separation. PrivCloud requires the sender to create an account. Recipients can download through the link without opening an account.
Why choose PrivCloud_Sharing?
PrivCloud combines end-to-end AES-256 encryption, hosting in France, and open-source transparency to deliver secure file transfers in accordance with the GDPR obligations that apply to the service. For E2E shares, the server never receives the content key and cannot read the files.
End-to-end AES-256 encryption for all your files
With E2E encryption active, only you and the recipient can read the files. The content key is never transmitted to the server.
Your data, your rules - hosted in France
Application infrastructure and primary storage operated in France, with an E2EE backup replica in Germany. The architecture is designed to meet GDPR requirements, with no tracking or third-party analytics.
Adaptive multi-origin throughput
Direct transfers use bounded browser windows across multiple S3 origins, with no commercial throttling. The 1 Gbps profile targets more than 500 Mbps in both directions for a capable client. This is measured, not guaranteed per user, and still depends on the browser, network and object storage.
Open source
Fully auditable code. Transparency is not optional.
What sets PrivCloud apart from other file transfer services
WeTransfer, SwissTransfer, TransferNow, Smash: most file transfer services encrypt your data at rest on their servers but retain the key. They can technically read your files. PrivCloud takes a fundamentally different approach: AES-256 end-to-end encryption is performed in your browser, and the key never leaves your device. Zero-knowledge architecture designed to meet GDPR requirements.
Why PrivCloud is Different
- End-to-end AES-256 encryption enabled by default with an account
- Zero-knowledge architecture -- we never see your key
- Free account up to 3 GB per transfer, paid plans up to 250 GB
- Open source and fully auditable
- Application infrastructure and primary storage in France, E2EE backup in Germany
- Auto-expiring links with password protection
- Download notifications -- know when your files are accessed
- Fair bandwidth sharing based on available capacity, with no commercial throttling
PrivCloud vs WeTransfer
PrivCloud stands out through browser-side E2E encryption enabled by default for account shares, an open-source implementation, and file hosting in France. When E2E is active, the key never reaches the server and the content remains unreadable there. Other services in the table are described from their current public documentation.
Who is PrivCloud for?
- Developers and IT teams sharing code and builds
- Businesses sending contracts and confidential documents
- Healthcare and legal professionals handling sensitive data
- Freelancers exchanging deliverables with clients
- Anyone who values true digital privacy
- Teams needing real-time awareness of file access
PrivCloud vs the competition
An honest look at what sets PrivCloud apart from mainstream file-sharing services.
| Feature | PrivCloud | WeTransfer | TransferNow | Smash | GrosFichiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Documented browser-side E2E encryption | Automatic with account | ||||
| Content key absent from server | Automatic with account | ||||
| Open source | |||||
| Send without an account | |||||
| French hosting available | With account | ||||
| Automatic link expiry | |||||
| Password protection | |||||
| Download notifications | |||||
| Published free limit | 3 GB per share with Free account (15 per 30 days) | 3 GB / 30 days | 5 GB | 2 GB priority, above that it is queued | 10 GB |
(✓) included in the free offer. (—) conditional, regional, or subject to verification. (×) not advertised in the public documentation reviewed. Data checked September 11, 2026. Self-hosted instances may differ.
Official sources: WeTransfer · TransferNow · Smash · GrosFichiers
Simple, transparent pricing
Choose a plan that fits your needs. Upgrade or downgrade at any time.
Team
For teams who need shared storage, access control, and collaboration tools.
--
3 members + the owner (4 total)
+4.99€/month per extra member
-- max per transfer
-- shared active transfer capacity
+100 GB capacity per additional member
- Adaptive network window and interruption recovery
- Shared team folders
- Role-based access control
- Guest access links for folders
- Team metrics & audit logs
- Real-time activity feed
- Encrypted push notifications within the team (zero metadata leak)
- Electronic signatures (eIDAS)
- Centralized team billing
- End-to-end AES-256 encryption (opt-in in settings)
- Customizable link expiration
- Password-protected shares
- Max transfer duration: 30 days
- Unlimited shares
- Unlimited downloads
- Unlimited recipients
- File preview
- Direct WebDAV import from Nextcloud and compatible clouds
- Priority support
Pro
For power users
--
-- max per transfer
-- active transfer capacity
- Adaptive network window and interruption recovery
- End-to-end AES-256 encryption (opt-in in settings)
- Customizable link expiration
- Password-protected shares
- Max transfer duration: 15 days
- Unlimited shares
- Unlimited downloads
- Unlimited recipients
- File preview
- Direct WebDAV import from Nextcloud and compatible clouds
- Priority support
Starter
For regular use
--
-- max per transfer
-- active transfer capacity
Create an account- Adaptive network window and interruption recovery
- End-to-end AES-256 encryption (opt-in in settings)
- Customizable link expiration
- Password-protected shares
- Max transfer duration: 15 days
- 30 shares per rolling 30 days
- Unlimited downloads
- Unlimited recipients
- File preview
Free
For occasional sharing
Free
-- max per transfer
-- active transfer capacity
Sign up for free- Adaptive network window and interruption recovery
- End-to-end AES-256 encryption (opt-in in settings)
- Customizable link expiration
- Password-protected shares
- Max transfer duration: 5 days
- 15 shares per rolling 30 days
- Unlimited downloads
- Unlimited recipients
Transparent threat model
We believe honest platforms tell you exactly what they protect against -- and what remains your responsibility.
What we protect against
- Server / database compromise -- encrypted files are unreadable without your key.
- S3 storage provider snooping -- with E2E enabled, they only see opaque ciphertext.
- Network interception -- TLS 1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest and client-side.
- Platform operator (us) -- zero-knowledge design: we never see your key.
- Partial loss of recovery fragments -- thanks to Shamir's Secret Sharing, a minimum threshold of fragments is enough to reconstruct your key.
What stays your responsibility
- Losing your E2E key without having generated recovery fragments -- without the key or fragments, your encrypted shares are permanently inaccessible.
- Compromised endpoint (malware, keylogger) -- we cannot protect what your OS cannot.
- Weak account password -- enable 2FA (TOTP) and use a strong, unique password.
- Sharing a link on an insecure channel -- anyone with the link + key can decrypt.
- Storing all your recovery fragments in the same place -- if an attacker obtains them all, they can reconstruct your key.
Frequently asked questions about end-to-end encrypted file sharing
Built on the AES-256 encryption standard, GDPR compliant, and secured with Shamir's Secret Sharing scheme.