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Self-host WeTransfer
Large file transfer / one-off send ·
Category: files, photos & sync
WeTransfer is a one-off file send service — drop a file in a browser, get a link back, recipient downloads with no account. The self-hostable replacements give you the same upload-and-share-a-link UX while keeping the file on infrastructure you own.
WeTransfer pricing anchor: Free tier 2GB per send; Pro $12/user/mo for 200GB/send + 1TB storage.
- GitHub
- ★ 1.89k · last commit 2d ago · 158 open issues
- License
-
GPL-2.0 - Setup time
- 15min docker-compose (PHP app + MariaDB)
- Monthly cost
- $5 VPS handles a small team; storage scales with attached disk (~$10/TB-mo block storage).
Migration sketch. Pull `projectsend/projectsend` image, mount a persistent volume for `/var/www/upload`, and configure SMTP for the link emails. Create client accounts (one per recipient) or use the public-link mode for WeTransfer-style anonymous downloads. Files expire on a per-share TTL you set; admin dashboard shows download counts.
Good fit forAgencies and creators sending large client deliverables on a recurring basis — has per-client folders and download analytics.
Weak atDrag-and-drop polish — UX is functional, not delightful; not the cleanest WeTransfer-shaped flow.
- GitHub
- ★ 5.73k · last commit 10mo ago · 87 open issues
- License
-
MPL-2.0 Fork of the discontinued Mozilla Firefox Send; actively maintained by Tim Visée.
- Setup time
- 10min docker run
- Monthly cost
- $5 VPS; encrypted blobs in Redis or filesystem, very cheap to run.
Migration sketch. Run `docker run -p 1443:1443 registry.gitlab.com/timvisee/send:latest`. Files are end-to-end encrypted in the browser before upload — the server never sees plaintext. Default expiry: configurable downloads (1-100) or time (5min-7d). The shareable URL embeds the decryption key in the URL fragment, so it never reaches your server logs.
Good fit forPrivacy-first sends where you want client-side encryption and predictable expiry semantics — the closest spiritual heir to Firefox Send.
Weak atNo persistent accounts or per-recipient analytics — it's intentionally one-off and ephemeral.
- GitHub
- ★ 6.95k · last commit 8w ago · 99 open issues
- License
-
GPL-3.0 - Setup time
- 5min installer (desktop app)
- Monthly cost
- $0 — runs on your laptop or desktop; no VPS needed.
Migration sketch. Install OnionShare from onionshare.org or your distro repo. Launch, drag in files, click Start sharing — the app spins up an ephemeral Tor onion service and gives you a `.onion` URL. Recipient opens the URL in Tor Browser and downloads. Stop sharing when done; the onion address dies.
Good fit forAd-hoc, fully-anonymous transfers — journalist→source, sensitive documents, situations where you don't want a public IP in the chain.
Weak atRecipients must use Tor Browser; speed depends on the Tor network — fine for documents, slow for >10GB.
In a terminal? npx os-alt wetransfer prints this table —
how the CLI works →