WeTransfer vs Firefox Send — What to Use in 2026
Firefox Send was what file transfer should be: private, simple, free. Mozilla killed it in 2020. WeTransfer was the next best thing — until Bending Spoons acquired it and gutted the free plan. Here's what actually works in 2026.
By starting, you agree to our Terms
The Current Landscape
Firefox Send — shut down Sept 2020
WeTransfer — Trustpilot rating
The approach that actually works
Firefox Send vs WeTransfer vs Perkoon
| Feature | WeTransfer Free (2026) | Perkoon P2P |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active (restricted) | Active (no restrictions) |
| Privacy model | Files on WeTransfer servers | Files never stored (like Firefox Send's vision) |
| File size limit | 3 GB | None |
| Monthly limit | 10 transfers | Unlimited |
| Encryption | Server-side | DTLS (WebRTC transport) |
| Account needed | Yes | No |
| Open source | No | No (but no server-side access to files) |
What Made Firefox Send Great (And Where to Find It Now)
What Firefox Send Got Right
End-to-end encryption. Simple interface. No account needed. One-time download links. It was the gold standard for private file transfer. Then Mozilla shut it down because bad actors used it to distribute malware via the stored-file links.
What Happened to WeTransfer
Bending Spoons acquisition (2024). 75% staff fired. Free plan restricted to 3GB, 10 transfers/month, 3-day expiry, mandatory account. Then they tried to claim AI training rights on uploaded files. (They reversed that one.)
Why P2P Avoids Both Problems
Firefox Send died because stored files could be abused. WeTransfer degraded because cloud storage is expensive. P2P doesn't store files — so there's nothing to abuse and nothing expensive to restrict.
The Firefox Send Spirit
Private. Simple. Free. No compromise. P2P actually delivers this better than encrypted cloud storage ever could — files never exist on a server, so there's no server to compromise.
How to Switch
Create Session
Visit perkoon.com/create. No account, no signup.
Share Code
Send the 6-character code to your recipient.
Transfer
Files go directly between browsers. Private. Free. No limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Firefox Send shut down?
Mozilla paused it in July 2020 after reports of malware distribution through Send links. They shut it down permanently in September 2020. The core problem: stored files on a server could be shared via malicious links — a problem P2P doesn't have since files are never stored.
Are there Firefox Send alternatives?
For encrypted cloud sharing: look at Wormhole (wormhole.app) or self-hosted options like PairDrop. For private P2P transfer with no storage: Perkoon. The closest to Firefox Send's spirit is P2P — private by architecture, not by policy.
Is Perkoon encrypted like Firefox Send was?
Yes, differently. Firefox Send used client-side AES encryption before upload. Perkoon uses DTLS encryption on the WebRTC data channel — files are encrypted in transit between browsers. Both approaches prevent the provider from seeing file contents.
What can't P2P do that Firefox Send could?
One-to-many distribution. Firefox Send generated a link anyone could download from. P2P is a direct handoff — one sender, one receiver. For distribution links, we offer cloud storage with encrypted upload and shareable links.
Private. Simple. Free. Still Exists.
The Firefox Send philosophy, built on P2P.
By starting, you agree to our Terms