A sending service and a storage service. How they compare in 2026, where Dropbox Transfer fits in, and how to get a WeTransfer into your Dropbox without downloading it first.
Free limits, file sizes, how long files last and what you pay.
| WeTransfer | Dropbox | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A service for sending files | Cloud storage with sharing, plus its own sending tool, Dropbox Transfer |
| Free plan | Up to 10 transfers or 3 GB in total every 30 days | Dropbox Basic: 2 GB of storage |
| How long files last | Transfers expire, after a few days on the free plan | Stored files stay until you delete them. Dropbox Transfer links expire after 7 or 30 days, depending on the plan |
| Largest single send | Up to 1 TB per transfer on the Ultimate plan | Dropbox Transfer: up to 50 GB on Plus, 100 GB on Standard and Advanced |
| Recipient needs an account | No | No, for shared links and transfers |
| Organising and search | None: files arrive as a download | Folders, search, previews and version history |
| Paid storage | Ultimate includes up to 2 TB | Plus: 2 TB from $9.99 a month |
Prices and limits checked September 2026. Plans change, so check each provider before you buy.
Dropbox cannot open a WeTransfer link by itself, so the usual way is to download everything to your computer and upload it again. WetoDrive moves the files from WeTransfer into your Dropbox for you.
Take the WeTransfer link from the email or message. Short we.tl links and full wetransfer.com links both work.
Allow WetoDrive on Dropbox's screen, paste the link and, if you like, name a folder such as Clients/Acme.
Your free Dropbox space is checked first, then the files go straight into your Dropbox, with nothing downloaded to your device. You get an email when they land.
For sending a large file once with no account needed, WeTransfer is simpler, and its Ultimate plan sends up to 1 TB per transfer. If you already pay for Dropbox, Dropbox Transfer sends up to 50 GB on Plus and 100 GB on Standard and Advanced, and keeps everything in one place.
Both send files with a link that expires. WeTransfer is a standalone sending service with a free plan. Dropbox Transfer is part of a Dropbox plan: it sends files from your Dropbox, and its links expire after 7 or 30 days depending on the plan.
Dropbox cannot open a WeTransfer link by itself. With WetoDrive you paste the link and the files are saved straight into your Dropbox, without being downloaded to your computer or phone first.
Dropbox Basic includes 2 GB. That fills up quickly with video or photo deliveries, which is why WetoDrive checks your free Dropbox space before fetching anything.
Yes. Free transfers expire after a few days, and paid plans such as Ultimate let you set your own expiration. Once a transfer expires the link stops working, so save anything you want to keep before then.
No. Continue with Dropbox and your WetoDrive account is set up from your Dropbox account.
Save it into Dropbox before the link expires, without downloading it first.
Save a WeTransfer to Dropbox