SwissTransfer vs WeTransfer

2026 governance update: SwissTransfer is operated by Infomaniak, whose founder transferred majority voting control to the Infomaniak Foundation in May 2026 — making the service structurally acquisition-immune. Since 1 October 2026 Infomaniak is also listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker INFO, via a reverse merger with Perrot Duval Holding); the Foundation keeps majority voting rights through non-transferable, unlisted Class A shares.

Why Switch from WeTransfer to SwissTransfer?

WeTransfer has been the default “send a big file” tool for years. In 2024 it was acquired by an Italian holding (Bending Spoons), but the technical infrastructure and most operational decisions still flow through US-aligned cloud architecture. The free tier was meaningfully reduced after the acquisition.

SwissTransfer is Infomaniak’s Swiss-hosted alternative. Larger free transfers, optional password protection, foundation-controlled governance, and zero exposure to the CLOUD Act.

Feature Comparison

Feature	SwissTransfer	WeTransfer
Free transfer size	50 GB	2 GB (changed from 2 GB to 200 MB+)
Account required	No	Yes for larger files
End-to-end encryption	❌ No (TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest)	❌ Not available
Data location	Switzerland 🇨🇭	EU/US split
Jurisdiction	Switzerland	Italian parent / US infra
GDPR	✅ Native + FADP	⚠️ Provider claims
CLOUD Act exposure	❌ None	⚠️ Yes (US infra)
Energy	100% hydroelectric	Conventional DC
Expiration control	✅ Configurable	✅
Password protection	✅	✅ (paid)

Pricing

SwissTransfer is free for transfers up to 50 GB without a registered account. Infomaniak also offers paid SwissTransfer plans with custom branding, full transfer history and monitoring, and transfers of up to 250 GB; see Infomaniak’s SwissTransfer pricing page for current prices (as of October 2026).

WeTransfer free tier no longer covers 2 GB single transfers consistently — the unpaid offering has been gradually reduced. Pro tiers start around $12/user/month.

Privacy & Data Sovereignty

SwissTransfer’s structural advantages:

• Swiss jurisdiction — outside US CLOUD Act and FISA 702 reach
• Swiss FADP — stronger than GDPR in several areas
• Infomaniak Foundation governance — service is foundation-protected against acquisition
• Encryption in transit and at rest — TLS/AES-GCM in transit, LUKS/AES-256 on servers (not end-to-end)
• Renewable energy — 100% hydroelectric data centres

For European businesses sharing sensitive files with external parties (legal, finance, healthcare, journalism), SwissTransfer is the structurally safer default.

Migration Guide

There is nothing to migrate — SwissTransfer is a session-based tool. Switching is immediate:

1. Visit swisstransfer.com (no account needed for basic use)
2. Drag files to the upload area (up to 50 GB)
3. Set a password if desired, and send it to the recipient through a separate channel
4. Set expiration (1-30 days)
5. Send the link via email or direct paste
6. Bookmark swisstransfer.com to replace WeTransfer in your workflow

Time: 30 seconds. Difficulty: None.

Example Scenarios

Illustrative scenarios of how teams typically use these tools — not documented customer case studies.

A Berlin design studio uses SwissTransfer for sending high-resolution project deliverables (20-40 GB per project). The 50 GB free tier saves them WeTransfer Pro subscriptions; the EU jurisdiction simplifies client data-handling agreements.

A Brussels law firm uses SwissTransfer with password protection for sharing case files with opposing counsel and expert witnesses, encrypting the most sensitive files locally before upload. Swiss jurisdiction and Swiss hosting fit its confidentiality requirements better than WeTransfer.

A privacy-focused journalist uses SwissTransfer with password protection and short expirations to receive source documents. The Swiss legal framework adds a layer of legal protection no US-infrastructure service can match.

Company Background

SwissTransfer is operated by Infomaniak Network SA, a Swiss company founded in 1994 in Geneva. SwissTransfer launched in 2018 as a free public service. Infomaniak funds it as part of its broader ecosystem (kDrive, kMail, kMeet, kSuite, web hosting) which serves over 1 million users primarily across Switzerland and the EU.

In May 2026, Infomaniak’s founder Boris Siegenthaler transferred majority voting control to the newly constituted Infomaniak Foundation — a Swiss public-interest foundation that holds non-transferable voting shares, structurally locking in Infomaniak’s sovereignty mission against any future acquisition. The Foundation is the majority voting shareholder rather than the sole owner: since 1 October 2026 Infomaniak’s Class B shares trade on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker INFO) following a reverse merger with Perrot Duval Holding SA, while the Foundation’s Class A shares are unlisted and can only be transferred with the unanimous approval of its board.

Security & Compliance

• ISO/IEC 27001 certified information security
• Swiss FADP and GDPR compliant
• Password protection option; encryption in transit and at rest (not end-to-end)
• TLS 1.3 for all transfers
• Configurable expiration (1-30 days)
• Configurable download limits
• Renewable-energy hosting (100% hydroelectric)

Integration Ecosystem

• Web interface at swisstransfer.com — no install
• Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
• Mobile apps for iOS and Android
• kDrive integration — send files directly from your Infomaniak cloud storage
• kSuite integration — send from kMail composer

Who Should Switch?

SwissTransfer is ideal for:

• Anyone sending large files occasionally — the free 50 GB is best-in-class
• EU businesses wanting GDPR-clean external file sharing
• Legal, healthcare, journalism, finance — sensitive transfers needing strong jurisdiction
• Creative agencies sending high-resolution deliverables
• Anyone preferring foundation-governed services over private-equity-owned alternatives

The Bottom Line

For everyday large-file transfers between people who don’t share a cloud account, SwissTransfer is strictly better: bigger free tier, optional password protection, Swiss jurisdiction, foundation-controlled governance, no CLOUD Act exposure. WeTransfer’s only remaining advantage is brand recognition — and that’s not a feature.

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Looking for more European cloud and file alternatives? See also: kDrive vs Dropbox and Tresorit vs OneDrive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SwissTransfer really free for 50 GB transfers?

Yes. SwissTransfer is free without an account for transfers up to 50 GB. Infomaniak also sells paid SwissTransfer plans that add interface customisation (custom domain, logo, colours), a complete transfer history and monitoring, transfers of up to 250 GB, unlimited downloads and — on Enterprise plans — validity of up to 60 days. Check Infomaniak's SwissTransfer pricing page for current prices. For team file storage, kDrive (Infomaniak's cloud storage) integrates with SwissTransfer.

Is SwissTransfer end-to-end encrypted?

No. SwissTransfer encrypts files in transit (TLS, AES-GCM) and at rest on its servers (LUKS, AES-256), and its own FAQ states that this is not end-to-end encryption. You can add an optional password and share it with the recipient through a separate channel. For truly confidential material, encrypt files yourself before uploading.

Where is the data stored?

Files transit through Infomaniak's Swiss data centres in Geneva, hosted on 100% renewable hydroelectric energy. Switzerland's Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) provides stronger protections than GDPR in several areas; Switzerland is also outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act.

How long do transferred files remain available?

Default expiration is 30 days. You can configure shorter expirations or set a maximum number of downloads. Files are deleted automatically after expiration or download limit; Infomaniak does not retain them.

How does the Infomaniak Foundation governance affect SwissTransfer?

In May 2026, Infomaniak's founder transferred majority voting control to the new Infomaniak Foundation. This structurally protects all Infomaniak services — SwissTransfer included — from acquisition or strategic pivot. See our [Foundation deep dive](/en/blog/infomaniak-foundation-steward-ownership-2026/) for context.