WeTransfer alternative
A WeTransfer alternative built for lasting client galleries
WeTransfer works well for moving files quickly, but photo delivery needs more than a download link that expires in three days. shoots.page turns your finished set into an unlisted gallery where clients can browse, proof, and download. You get 2 GB of free storage, and your clients never need to create an account.
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What WeTransfer is great at
WeTransfer is a dependable tool for moving arbitrary files from one place to another. You drop your files into the browser, generate a download link or send an email, and your recipient downloads them. There are no restrictions on file types, and every file arrives exactly as uploaded, without compression.
For quick, one-off sends, it does the job well. Recipients do not need an account to download files, and they can preview images, videos, audio, and PDFs directly in their browser. Password protection and email restrictions are included on the free plan. When you need to send a video clip, a set of documents, or an ad-hoc archive that someone will download right away, WeTransfer is reliable.
Where the transfer model breaks for client work
The transfer model falls short when you deliver finished photography to paying clients. On WeTransfer's free tier, transfer links expire after a maximum of three days. If your client is out of town, misses the notification, or tries to access their photos the following week, the link is gone. You are forced to re-upload the entire set.
The free usage limits are also built for occasional handoffs rather than an active photography business. Free accounts are limited to 10 transfers and 3 GB of total usage per rolling 30-day window. A few deliveries can easily exhaust that allowance before the month ends.
Most importantly, sending a temporary download link is not the same as presenting a shoot. Clients want to look through their images on a clean grid, view full-size previews, and pick their favorites without downloading a blind ZIP file first. If you want to understand the structural differences between these two workflows, our guide on gallery vs file transfer explains the trade-offs in detail.
shoots.page vs WeTransfer for photo delivery
Here is how shoots.page compares to WeTransfer for photo delivery.
| What matters | shoots.page | WeTransfer |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Lasting client photo galleries with browsing and downloads | Temporary one-off file transfers |
| Link lifetime | Stays up until you delete it or set an expiry | Free links expire within 3 days; paid plans can keep them alive |
| Recipient account | Never needed | Not needed for downloads |
| Free allowance | 2 GB of gallery storage | Up to 3 GB and 10 transfers per rolling 30 days |
| File types | JPEG, PNG and RAW photos | Any file type |
| Client viewing | Thumbnail grid and full-size photo viewer | File list with previews for images, video, audio and PDFs |
| Original quality | Byte-for-byte originals, exactly as uploaded | Files arrive exactly as uploaded |
| Photo proofing (client picks) | Built in, per gallery | Not offered |
When WeTransfer is the right tool
- You need to send non-photo files such as video projects, audio tracks, or zipped office documents.
- You are sending a mixed package of paperwork, PDFs, and image files in a single transfer.
- Your recipient plans to download the files immediately, so a three-day expiry window is not a problem.
- You subscribe to WeTransfer Ultimate to send large transfers that stay active indefinitely.
- You need password protection on a temporary transfer without paying for an account.
When shoots.page is the better fit
- You want your client gallery link to stay online permanently unless you choose to set an expiry date or delete it.
- You want clients to browse a 60-photo paginated thumbnail grid and a 2000 px preview viewer before downloading.
- You need client-facing photo delivery with byte-for-byte original downloads for JPEG, PNG, or RAW files.
- You want an experience where clients never have to register, install an app, or log in (no recipient account).
- You need built-in photo proofing so clients can star favorite images, track their picks against a limit, and submit their selection.
- You want unlisted gallery links that stay out of search results: noindex, excluded from the sitemap, and disallowed in robots.txt.
Plenty of photographers use both
You do not have to pick one service for every file you touch. Many photographers keep WeTransfer for everyday file transfers: sending a contract PDF, sharing an unedited video clip, or sending a Lightroom catalog file to an editor.
When it comes to presenting the finished shoot to your client, a dedicated gallery provides a better experience. shoots.page gives you 2 GB of free storage, optional password protection, and clean photo browsing so your client can revisit their images whenever they like. For more ideas on structuring your handoff, read our guide on how to send photos to clients.
Common questions
Is WeTransfer free for photographers?
How long do WeTransfer links last?
Does WeTransfer compress my photos?
What happens when a WeTransfer link expires?
Do my clients need an account to download?
Ready for lasting client galleries?
Upload your finished photos to an unlisted gallery that stays online with 2 GB of free storage.