WeTransfer raised prices because Bending Spoons acquired the company.
That is the short answer. Here is the full picture.
When did Bending Spoons acquire WeTransfer?
Bending Spoons completed the acquisition of WeTransfer on July 31, 2024.
Bending Spoons is an Italian software company known for buying established apps, cutting operational costs aggressively, and raising prices on the remaining user base. Their portfolio includes Evernote, Meetup, and Filmic Pro. The pattern is consistent across each acquisition.
What changed with WeTransfer pricing?
WeTransfer restructured its plans on December 16, 2024, approximately five months after the acquisition.
Before (legacy plans):
- Free: 2GB per transfer, unlimited transfers, 7-day expiry
- Pro: $12/month, 200GB per transfer, unlimited storage, no expiry limit
After (current plans):
- Free: 3GB per transfer, capped at 10 transfers per month, up to 3-day expiry
- Starter: $8/month with reduced feature set
- Ultimate: $23/month, unlimited transfers, no per-transfer size limit
The new free tier actually increased the per-transfer limit from 2GB to 3GB. But it introduced a monthly transfer cap that did not exist before. Users who relied on unlimited free transfers for client delivery suddenly hit limits mid-month.
Annual plan users who renewed after December 2024 often saw effective rate increases even when the listed price appeared lower, because the feature limits reduced the plan's value.
Why did WeTransfer cut Portals at the same time?
Portals, WeTransfer's per-client workspace feature, was shut down in three stages between October and December 2025. The company cited low adoption. The operational reality is that review infrastructure is expensive and Bending Spoons cuts what does not scale profitably.
Pricing went up. Features went down. This is the standard Bending Spoons playbook.
Did WeTransfer try to train AI on uploaded files?
Yes. In July 2025, WeTransfer updated its terms of service to allow AI training on user-uploaded content. The rollout was public and users noticed.
The backlash was significant. Creative professionals who deliver unreleased brand campaigns, product launches, and commercial footage were not willing to have that footage used as AI training data.
WeTransfer walked back the policy after public pressure, but the terms-of-service change had already been noticed by the communities that matter: r/videography, r/filmmaking, and design professional forums.
What did creative professionals do after the price increase?
Most creative professionals have one of three responses:
- Accept the new pricing and stay on WeTransfer
- Move to free alternatives with significant limitations (Google Drive, basic file sharing)
- Find a purpose-built delivery tool that matches the WeTransfer Ultimate feature set at a different price point
The third group is who TrunkTransfer is built for. 200GB per transfer, 30-day expiry, download notifications, password protection, no client accounts, and your studio name on the download page. At $9/month versus WeTransfer's restructured pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WeTransfer still a good option in 2026?
For casual file sending, yes. For creative professionals managing multiple client deliveries with unreleased footage, the combination of price increases, the AI training attempt, and the Portals shutdown has pushed many toward alternatives.
Did WeTransfer grandfather existing Pro plan users?
Some users on annual plans were grandfathered at their existing rate until renewal. After renewal, the old plans were no longer available.
Why is the new WeTransfer Starter plan cheaper but feels worse?
The headline price dropped, but feature limits were reduced significantly. Fewer transfers per month, different storage behavior, and no Portals. The price per unit of actual utility went up even when the list price went down.
What is the best WeTransfer alternative for videographers?
For delivery only: TrunkTransfer handles large file delivery, no client accounts, download notifications, and 30-day expiry. For video review with timecoded comments: Frame.io. For wedding videographers specifically: VidFlow or MediaZilla, which include streaming portals designed for that workflow.
