TransferNow is one of the most sensible free transfer services around. It sends up to 5 GB with no account, includes a free password option, and even emails you when your files are downloaded, a courtesy most rivals lock behind paywalls. If you have used it, you probably liked it.
ShareIt.onl is its closest cousin in spirit: browser-based, no sign-up, free password, no nonsense. The differences show up at the edges, in how long links live, what a free account adds, and the small extras around each share.
This page compares the two fairly, using free-tier details as of August 2026. Both services adjust limits over time, so always check the current numbers before an important send.
Key takeaways
- TransferNow sends 5 GB free with no account; this tool sends 3 GB per share (one big file or up to 100 files) - And both include a free password
- TransferNow sends free download-notification emails; this tool offers a free "My shares" dashboard (with one-click Google sign-in) instead
- TransferNow free links last a fixed 7 days; links here run 1h to 7d (30d for members) and extend 24h with every download
- This tool adds QR codes, previews, ZIP-all, delete-after-first-download, upload-inbox links, and no ads
At a glance
| Feature | ShareIt.onl | TransferNow |
|---|---|---|
| Free size limit | 100 files / 3 GB | 5 GB |
| Sign-up | None (optional one-click Google account) | None |
| Link expiry | 1h / 12h / 24h default / 3d / 7d (+30d for members), 24h keep-alive per download | 7 days |
| Password | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Download tracking | Free dashboard with Google sign-in | Free email notifications |
| QR code | Yes, built in | Not built in |
| Price | Free | Free tier plus Premium ~€8/mo annual (250 GB, 365-day retention) |
Where TransferNow wins
TransferNow's free tier is genuinely generous, and its standout is the free download-notification email. Send a contract, and TransferNow tells you the moment it is picked up, no account, no payment. That closes the "did they get it?" loop in the simplest possible way, and most competitors charge for it.
Its paid path is strong too. Premium, around €8/mo billed annually, jumps to 250 GB per transfer with up to 365-day retention. If you ship massive archives or need links that live most of a year, that is one of the best price-to-capacity deals in the category.
And the fundamentals are solid: 5 GB free with no account, a free password, and a straightforward interface. There is very little to criticize in how TransferNow treats free users.
Where ShareIt.onl wins
Link control. On pure size, TransferNow's 5 GB beats the 3 GB here (one big file, or up to 100 files that together total 3 GB) - Credit where it is due. But what happens after the upload is where this tool pulls ahead: a free one-click Google sign-in, no forms, unlocks a 30-day expiry option and lets you extend any link whenever you like, while TransferNow's free links are fixed at 7 days, full stop.
Expiry works differently too. TransferNow links last a fixed 7 days. Here you choose: 1 hour, 12 hours, 24 hours (default), 3 days, 7 days, or 30 days for members, and every download extends an active link by 24 hours. A link people are still using stays up; a forgotten one deletes itself along with the files. For a sensitive document, a 1-hour link that vanishes is a real privacy upgrade over a week-long one; see how long should a share link last for how to pick.
Instead of notification emails, signed-in users get a "My shares" dashboard: views and downloads per share, copy link, extend expiry by 30 days anytime, or delete early. Around each share you also get a built-in QR code, on-page previews (images, PDF, video, audio, spreadsheets, docx), download-all-as-ZIP for multi-file shares (up to 512 MB), and free delete-after-first-download for one-time sends. Start on the transfer files page.
Tip: Sending something sensitive? Set a short expiry (1 hour or 12 hours), add the free password, and switch on delete-after-first-download. The file disappears the moment your recipient has it, a combination TransferNow's fixed 7-day links cannot match.
Which should you use?
This is the closest matchup on this site. Both are honest free tools with the same core offer. The edges decide it.
Choose TransferNow if...
You want an email in your inbox the moment your files are downloaded without signing in to anything, or you are eyeing Premium's 250 GB / 365-day plan for seriously large or long-lived transfers. For plain 5 GB sends, it is a very good tool.
Choose ShareIt.onl if...
You want control over exactly how long a link lives - Up to 30 days with a free sign-in, extendable anytime - Plus the extras: QR code, previews, ZIP-all, one-time links, and a dashboard that shows what happened to every share. It is also the pick when short-lived, self-destructing links matter for privacy. See how to send large files online for more.
If you cannot decide
Try both with the same file; each takes under a minute and neither asks you to register. Most people land on whichever matches their habit: inbox notifications (TransferNow) or a dashboard and flexible expiry (this tool). For the wider field, see the best free file sharing services, or compare with Smash and Filemail.