Torn between Google Drive and TransferNow?
Google Drive is excellent cloud storage: 15 GB free, files up to 5 TB and the whole Google ecosystem. But to send large files occasionally, a dedicated transfer service is more direct — expiring link, password, no account needed on the recipient’s side.
Comparison updated on .
4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot and Google (20k+ reviews)
Google Drive vs TransferNow: comparing the free plans
Let’s be clear: Google Drive is unbeatable on free storage (15 GB shared). But when it comes to sending a file, the experience is less direct than a transfer service.
With Drive, link sharing works, but the file stays accessible until you delete it, with no password or expiration on the free plan, and sharing is smoother if the recipient has a Google account. TransferNow lets you send up to 5 GB with no account, with expiring links, password and notifications for free.
| Free plan | TransferNow | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Send without signing upsender AND recipient | Yes | Google account neededNo — Google account needed |
| Link that expires automatically | Yes | Accessible until deletedNo — Accessible until deleted |
| Password protection | Yes | No password on linksNo — No password on links |
| Download notification | Yes | No |
| Receive filesno account for your contact | Yes | Drop into your Drive (account required)No — Drop into your Drive (account required) |
| Free cloud storage | Transfer service | 15 GB (Drive + Gmail + Photos) |
Sources:
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://one.google.com/about/plans
https://support.google.com/drive
Google Drive vs TransferNow: paid plans and pricing
The two models aren’t aiming at the same thing. Google One sells storage (100 GB, 2 TB…), with files up to 5 TB — ideal for keeping things. TransferNow sells transfer: 250 GB (Premium) to 500 GB (Team) per send, with expiring links and retention up to 365 days.
In other words, if you’re paying to store, Drive has the edge. If you’re paying to send and receive without cluttering your Gmail space, TransferNow makes more sense.
| Paid plans | TransferNow | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Max size per file | 250 GB / 500 GB per transfer | Up to 5 TB per file |
| Paid entry point | Premium ~10 €/month (250 GB/transfer) | Google One: 100 GB ~2 €/month … 2 TB ~10 €/month |
| Retention / expiration | Expiring links, up to 365 days | No automatic expiration |
| Cloud storage included | Transfer service (no storage) | Up to 2 TB and beyond |
Sources:
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://one.google.com/about/plans
https://support.google.com/drive
Google Drive vs TransferNow: storage or transfer?
Google Drive is designed to keep, organize and sync over time. TransferNow is designed to move a file from point A to point B, by link or email, then let it expire.
The result: with TransferNow, no quota to watch and no account to force on the recipient. Transfer is the core use case, not a side feature of storage.
| Approach | TransferNow | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated transfer service | Yes | Cloud storage |
| Send without an account | Yes | No |
| Storage & sync | Transfer only | Yes |
| Temporary link that expires | Yes | No |
| Recipient without a Google account | Yes | Smoother with an account |
Sources:
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://one.google.com/about/plans
https://support.google.com/drive
Google Drive vs TransferNow: receiving files
To collect files via Drive, your contact drops them into a shared folder — which in practice means a Google account, and eats into your quota.
TransferNow keeps it simple: email file request, upload link or widget on your website. Your contacts upload without creating an account, without touching your storage, and you’re notified with every drop.
| Receiving files | TransferNow | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Request / collect files | Yes | Shared folder (account required) |
| Account-free uploads for your contacts | Yes | No |
| Reception widget on your website | Yes | No |
| Without using your storage | Yes | Counts against your Drive quotaNo — Counts against your Drive quota |
Sources:
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://one.google.com/about/plans
https://support.google.com/drive
Google Drive vs TransferNow: security and data
Both encrypt files at rest and offer two-factor authentication. TransferNow adds password-protected links from the free plan (absent from Drive links) and SSE-C encryption (your own key).
The real gap is sovereignty: TransferNow is a European, GDPR-compliant solution with a choice of storage region (France, Europe…). Google is a US player whose infrastructure gives you no such choice.
| Security & data | TransferNow | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Password on links | From the free plan | No |
| Encryption at rest | Yes | Yes |
| SSE-C encryption (your key) | Yes | No |
| Antivirus file scanning | Yes | Limited by sizeYes — Limited by size |
| Two-factor authentication (2FA) | Yes | Yes |
| Choice of storage regionFrance, Europe… | Yes | Google infrastructure |
| European solution & GDPR | Yes | US company |
Sources:
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://one.google.com/about/plans
https://support.google.com/drive
Google Drive vs TransferNow: API and automation
The Drive API is a storage API (managing files inside a Drive space). TransferNow offers a dedicated transfer REST API, pay-as-you-go and independent of any storage.
Automate sending, search for a transfer, check its status or delete it, with no quota to buy upfront.
| API | TransferNow | Google Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated transfer API | Yes | Drive API (storage-oriented) |
| Pay-as-you-go modelno quota to purchase | Yes | No |
| Independent of storage | Yes | No |
Sources:
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://one.google.com/about/plans
https://support.google.com/drive
They chose TransferNow
Beyond the numbers, user feedback matters. TransferNow holds an average rating of 4.9/5 (Trustpilot and Google) — here’s what they say.
TransferNow or Google Drive: your questions
Can you send large files with Google Drive?
Yes, via a share link — but the file counts against your free 15 GB (shared with Gmail and Photos), the link doesn’t expire on its own, and there’s no password for free. For an occasional send, TransferNow is more direct: up to 5 GB with no account, with expiring links and a free password.
What’s the difference between Google Drive and a file transfer service?
Google Drive is cloud storage: keeping, organizing and syncing over time. TransferNow is a dedicated transfer service: sending and receiving occasionally, with temporary links, and no account needed on the recipient’s side.
Does the recipient need an account?
With TransferNow, no: they download from a link, with no sign-up. With Google Drive, sharing is smoother when the recipient has a Google account.
What about receiving files from someone?
TransferNow lets you receive for free via a request, an upload link or a widget, with no account for your contacts and without using your storage. With Google Drive, your contact drops files into a shared folder (Google account, quota used).
When is Google Drive the better choice?
To store, organize and collaborate over time within the Google ecosystem, Google Drive is unbeatable. To send and receive occasionally without cluttering your Gmail space, TransferNow is the better fit.
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