If you're looking at Hightail alternatives because there's no custom domain at any price or because per-user billing is adding up fast, TrunkTransfer ($9/mo flat) is the most direct option for branded client delivery with a true custom domain. If Hightail's creative review and approval features are what drew you in but the price is the issue, MASV covers large file delivery and Google Drive covers collaborative review at a lower per-team cost. The rest of this guide covers all six with current pricing and what each one actually does well.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Custom Domain | Client Portal | Free Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TrunkTransfer | Branded agency delivery | Yes (Starter+) | Yes (Starter+) | 3GB per transfer, 7-day expiry |
| WeTransfer | Occasional large sends | No | No | 3GB total, up to 10 sends/30 days, 1-3 day expiry |
| Dropbox Transfer | Dropbox users sending small files | No | No | 100MB per transfer, 7-day expiry |
| MASV | Huge video/production files | No | No | 15GB/month, no per-file cap |
| Smash | Freelancers, casual branding | Enterprise only | No | 2GB per transfer |
| Google Drive | Teams already on Google Workspace | No | No | 15GB total storage |
Why Look for a Hightail Alternative
Hightail, now owned by OpenText, is a genuine creative review and approval platform. Its Spaces feature gives each client a dedicated area with annotations, version control, and approval routing. For internal creative workflows, that's genuinely useful. The reasons agencies look elsewhere for client delivery come down to three things:
No custom domain on any plan. Custom branding is available from Teams ($24/user/mo) and above, but it only controls the visual design of the page. Every delivery link still lives on Hightail's own infrastructure. There's no plan, including Business, where you can point files.yourstudio.com at a Hightail delivery page.
Per-user pricing adds up fast. Pro is $12/user/mo billed annually, Teams is $24/user/mo, and Business is $36/user/mo. A 3-person studio on Teams pays $72/mo. A 5-person studio pays $120/mo. For agencies that need basic large-file delivery rather than Hightail's full creative review suite, that's a lot to pay for features you may not use.
Recipients often need to sign in. Hightail's review and collaboration features require recipients to create a Hightail account to leave feedback, which adds friction for clients who just want to download and move on.
What to Look For Instead
A true custom domain, not a branded page on the vendor's infrastructure. files.yourstudio.com and a branded Hightail page are meaningfully different. Check that the tool you're switching to supports a CNAME pointing to your own domain, not just visual customization within the vendor's URL.
Flat pricing or per-transfer pricing. If you're replacing Hightail to reduce costs, look for tools with a flat monthly rate rather than per-user billing that scales with your headcount.
No recipient account required. For pure file delivery, clients should be able to click and download without creating an account anywhere.
Client portals vs creative review. If what you actually needed from Hightail was the Spaces feature (one organized area per client), look for tools that offer a client portal. If you needed the annotations and version control, that's a narrower requirement and most pure file-transfer tools won't cover it.
The 6 Alternatives
1. TrunkTransfer
TrunkTransfer is built specifically for agencies handing off finished work to clients. The Starter plan ($9/mo, or $6/mo billed yearly) includes 200GB per transfer with a 30-day expiry, and includes a custom domain, full branding, and client portals. A 7-day free trial lets you try it before you commit.
Key features:
- Delivery pages on your own domain (e.g.
files.youragency.com), with no TrunkTransfer branding visible to clients - Client portals so each client has one link collecting every delivery you've sent them
- Email notifications when a client downloads a file
- Password protection and link expiry on every transfer
Pros:
- Custom domain and full branding from the $9/mo Starter plan, cheaper than Hightail's $12/user/mo Pro with no custom domain
- Flat pricing, not per-user, so a 5-person studio pays $9/mo rather than $60/mo
- No account or sign-in required for the recipient, ever
Cons:
- No creative review features: no annotations, version control, or approval routing
- Built for delivery, not ongoing storage or collaboration, so it sits alongside whatever you use for internal files
- Files expire on a schedule (7 days free, 30 days Starter, 365 days Pro), so it's not a place to archive work long-term
How it compares to Hightail: TrunkTransfer costs less than Hightail Pro per month for a single user ($9/mo flat vs $12/user/mo), and unlike Hightail it includes a true custom domain and client portal from day one. What it doesn't have is Hightail's creative review suite: annotations, version control, and approval routing. If your team uses those features, TrunkTransfer is a delivery-only replacement, not a full swap. See the full TrunkTransfer vs Hightail comparison for a closer side-by-side.
Best for: Agencies that want Hightail's client-facing delivery experience with branded links, but don't need the creative review and approval features.
2. WeTransfer
WeTransfer changed its plans significantly in 2026. The free plan now allows up to 10 transfers or 3GB total in any rolling 30-day period, and files stay available for only 1 to 3 days. The Starter plan ($8/mo) raises the monthly cap to 300GB. Ultimate ($23/mo) removes the transfer cap entirely, has no per-transfer size limit, and adds custom expiration dates, password protection, and some page branding, though still on a we.tl address, not your own domain.
Key features:
- No per-transfer size limit on Ultimate, with no monthly cap
- Password protection and custom expiration on Starter and above
- Some logo and color customization on Ultimate, but no custom domain at any price
- Teams plan ($25/user/mo, 2-user minimum) for shared workspaces
Pros:
- No per-user billing on the individual plans: Starter and Ultimate are flat rates
- Almost every client already recognizes a WeTransfer link, no "what is this" hesitation
- Simple interface with no learning curve for sender or recipient
Cons:
- No custom domain at any price, including Ultimate and Teams
- No creative review, annotations, or approval routing
- 2026 free plan changes made it more restrictive: 3GB total per month, links last only 1 to 3 days
How it compares to Hightail: WeTransfer is simpler and cheaper than Hightail at every tier, but trades away everything Hightail does well: no review tools, no client Spaces, no annotations. The main advantage over Hightail for pure delivery is flat pricing and no per-transfer size limit on Ultimate. No custom domain on either. See the WeTransfer alternatives guide or TrunkTransfer vs WeTransfer for more.
Best for: Agencies switching from Hightail because the price is too high, who only need to send files occasionally and don't need review features or a custom domain.
3. Dropbox Transfer
Dropbox Transfer is a feature within Dropbox for sending files via a link, separate from Dropbox's main storage. The free plan caps transfers at 100MB with a 7-day expiry. Dropbox Plus raises the transfer limit to 2GB, and Professional or Advanced plans raise it to 100GB, with custom expiration, passwords, and basic transfer stats available on higher tiers.
Key features:
- Transfers don't count against your Dropbox storage quota
- Custom expiration dates and password protection on Professional and above
- Transfer stats and history on paid Transfer plans
- Familiar if your agency already uses Dropbox for internal files
Pros:
- If you already pay for Dropbox, Transfer is built in rather than a separate subscription
- Recipients never need a Dropbox account to download
- Automatic 7-day expiry on free keeps old deliveries tidy
Cons:
- 100MB free limit is the smallest on this list
- No custom domain or meaningful branding on any plan
- No creative review features whatsoever
How it compares to Hightail: Dropbox Transfer is narrower and cheaper than Hightail but also does much less: no review tools, no client Spaces, no annotations, no custom branding. The only advantage for pure delivery is that it's free if you already pay for Dropbox. See TrunkTransfer vs Dropbox Transfer or the Dropbox Transfer alternatives guide for more.
Best for: Agencies already on Dropbox who want a simple no-fuss send for small files without paying for a separate tool.
4. MASV
MASV is built for production teams moving very large media files. There's no file size cap. The first 15GB each month is free, and after that it's pay-as-you-go at $0.25/GB. Files are stored for 5 days after upload, then expire automatically.
Key features:
- No upper limit on file size, useful for 4K/8K video and large datasets
- Pay-per-use pricing with no seat licenses or contracts
- Branded upload portals for receiving files from others
- AES-256 encryption, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certified
Pros:
- No file size ceiling, handles whatever a video pipeline throws at it
- Pay-as-you-go means no monthly commitment if your volume is irregular
- SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certification, useful if a client's IT team asks
Cons:
- No client portal, so every delivery is a one-off link
- No branding or custom domain on the download side
- No creative review, annotations, or approval routing
How it compares to Hightail: MASV solves a different problem to Hightail. Where Hightail's Business plan reaches 500GB per upload, MASV has no ceiling at all, which matters for very large video production pipelines. But MASV has none of Hightail's review features, and no branding on the download page. See TrunkTransfer vs MASV for how the two compare on branding and client delivery.
Best for: Video production studios switching from Hightail because file size limits are the main issue, not review features.
5. Smash
Smash offers a free plan up to 2GB per transfer, with some logo and background customization even at no cost. The Pro plan (around €10/mo) raises this to 250GB with a 30-day link expiry. A true custom domain (CNAME) exists, but only on Smash's Enterprise plan, which is custom-priced. TrunkTransfer's $9/mo Starter plan is the only option on this list that includes a true custom domain as standard.
Key features:
- Logo and background customization available even on the free plan
- Download tracking and link history on paid plans
- No ads on any plan, including free
- Team plans scale up to 1TB per send
Pros:
- Free plan includes some logo and background customization, more than Hightail's free Lite tier
- No ads on any plan, including free
- Flat pricing on Pro (~€10/mo), not per-user
Cons:
- A real custom domain requires the custom-priced Enterprise plan, same situation as Hightail
- No creative review, annotations, or approval routing
- No client portal
How it compares to Hightail: Smash is cheaper than Hightail at every comparable tier and doesn't charge per user, but it's a pure file delivery tool with no review features. Both gate a true custom domain behind Enterprise or custom pricing. Smash's free tier (2GB) is slightly larger than Hightail's Lite (100MB, 2GB storage). See TrunkTransfer vs Smash or the Smash alternatives guide for more.
Best for: Agencies switching from Hightail purely for cost reasons, who only need file delivery with some visual customization and not review features.
6. Google Drive
Google Drive is built for ongoing storage and collaboration, not one-off client delivery. Personal accounts get 15GB of free storage shared across Gmail and Photos, with a 5TB per-file limit. Files can be shared via "anyone with the link" access without requiring a sign-in, but the page is always a Google Drive interface.
Key features:
- Real-time collaborative editing for Docs, Sheets, and Slides
- 15GB free, expandable with Google One plans
- Comments and version history on files
- Permissions and access control per file or folder
Pros:
- The closest free alternative to Hightail's collaborative features (comments, version history)
- 15GB free storage, 5TB per-file limit
- Most clients already have a Google account
Cons:
- No branding or custom domain on any plan, including Google Workspace
- Recipients may need to sign in depending on sharing settings
- No dedicated delivery workflow: files sit in Drive rather than being sent as a clean handoff
How it compares to Hightail: Google Drive is the most direct replacement for Hightail's collaborative file review features at a lower cost: comments, version history, and shared access are all available. What Drive lacks is Hightail's dedicated creative review tools (image and video annotations, approval routing) and any kind of branded client delivery. See TrunkTransfer vs Google Drive for more.
Best for: Agencies switching from Hightail who mostly used it for internal collaboration and sharing with clients who already have Google accounts, not for branded delivery.
Quick Picks by Use Case
- Want branded client delivery with a true custom domain for less than Hightail Pro costs: TrunkTransfer at $9/mo flat.
- Need Hightail's creative review features (annotations, version control) at a lower cost: Google Drive covers comments and version history for free, though without dedicated image/video annotation.
- Sending huge video or production files where file size is the issue: MASV, no per-file cap.
- Need to reduce per-user billing for pure file delivery: TrunkTransfer (flat $9/mo) or WeTransfer Starter ($8/mo), neither charges per user.
- Quick one-off send, branding doesn't matter: WeTransfer or Smash free plans.
Switching from Hightail?
If you used Hightail mainly for delivering finished files to clients and the per-user billing or lack of custom domain is the issue, TrunkTransfer's Starter plan ($9/mo flat) gives you a true custom domain and client portal at less than Hightail charges for a single Pro seat. If you also used Hightail's annotation and approval features, it's worth keeping those workflows in a dedicated review tool (like Frame.io or Google Drive for lighter use) and using TrunkTransfer specifically for the final delivery.
Send your first file from your own domain →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hightail and what is it actually built for?
Hightail, now owned by OpenText, is a creative file sharing and review platform. Its core strength is collaborative creative review: image and video annotations, version control, side-by-side version comparison, approval routing, and Spaces, which give each client a dedicated area collecting all project files. It's used by creative agencies and production studios for internal and client review workflows.
Does Hightail have a custom domain?
No. Custom branding is available from the Teams plan ($24/user/mo) and above, but it only controls visual elements like logo and colors. Every delivery link still lives on Hightail's own infrastructure. There is no plan, including Business, that lets you use files.yourstudio.com as the delivery URL. TrunkTransfer is the only tool on this list with a true custom domain at a standard price, from the $9/mo Starter plan.
Do recipients need a Hightail account to download files?
For basic file downloads, no. But Hightail's collaboration features, including leaving comments and annotations, require recipients to create a Hightail account, which adds friction for clients who just need to download a finished file.
How does Hightail's pricing compare to alternatives?
Hightail charges per user at every paid tier: Pro at $12/user/mo, Teams at $24/user/mo, and Business at $36/user/mo, all billed annually. A 3-person studio on Teams pays $72/mo; a 5-person studio pays $120/mo. TrunkTransfer's Starter plan is a flat $9/mo regardless of how many people are sending. WeTransfer Starter is $8/mo flat for a single user.
What is Hightail Spaces and does any alternative have it?
Spaces is Hightail's client workspace feature: each client gets a dedicated URL collecting all project files, with the ability to comment and approve. TrunkTransfer's client portals are the closest equivalent for delivery, giving each client one bookmarkable link collecting all files sent to them, though without annotation and approval features. None of the other tools on this list have a direct equivalent.
What is a client portal, and which of these tools have one?
A client portal is a single link that collects every file you've sent to a specific client, so they don't need to search old emails to find past deliveries. TrunkTransfer includes this from the Starter plan. None of the other five tools on this list have an equivalent feature.
Can I track when a client downloads files from Hightail?
Yes. Hightail includes recipient tracking and download notifications on all paid plans. TrunkTransfer sends an email notification when a client downloads a file. WeTransfer's Ultimate plan, Smash's paid plans, and MASV also include download tracking. Dropbox Transfer and Google Drive don't notify you on download.
What changed with WeTransfer's plans in 2026?
WeTransfer restructured its entire lineup. The free plan now allows up to 10 transfers or 3GB total in any rolling 30-day period, with files available for only 1 to 3 days, down from the previous 7-day window. The old Pro and Premium plans were replaced by Starter ($8/mo, 300GB/month) and Ultimate ($23/mo, unlimited transfers, no per-transfer size limit).
Is there a free alternative to Hightail?
Hightail's Lite plan is free, with 100MB uploads and 2GB storage. For larger free file limits: WeTransfer (3GB total across up to 10 sends per month), Smash (2GB per transfer), and TransferNow (5GB per transfer) are all free options with no account required for the recipient. TrunkTransfer offers a 7-day free trial with 200GB per transfer if you need branding and a custom domain.
