Torn between Hightail and TransferNow?
Hightail (formerly YouSendIt) has refocused on creative collaboration: visual review, comments, Adobe plugins. To simply send and receive large files, TransferNow is more direct — up to 5 GB with no account, where Hightail’s free plan stops at 100 MB.
Comparison updated on .
4.9 / 5 on Trustpilot and Google (20k+ reviews)
Hightail vs TransferNow: comparing the free plans
On pure free transfer, the gap is clear: Hightail’s Lite plan caps at 100 MB per send and requires an account. TransferNow allows up to 5 GB with no sign-up, with a free password.
TransferNow also adds file reception and download notifications from the free plan — features Hightail reserves for its paid plans.
| Free plan | TransferNow | Hightail |
|---|---|---|
| Size per sendfree plan | 5 GB, no account | 100 MB (Lite plan) |
| No sign-up required | Yes | Account required, even on LiteNo — Account required, even on Lite |
| Password protection | Yes | On paid plansNo — On paid plans |
| Receive files | Yes | Depending on the paid plan |
| Availability period | up to 7 days | 7 days |
Sources (Hightail pricing indicative, annual, USD):
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://www.hightail.com/pricing
Hightail vs TransferNow: paid plans and pricing
On paid plans, sizes converge at the top end (up to 500 GB on Hightail Business as on TransferNow Team). The difference comes down to the entry price, retention and the team model.
TransferNow Premium starts at ~10 €/month (250 GB/transfer, retention up to 365 days) and the Team plan is a flat rate (10 accounts included). Hightail bills per user (Pro, Teams, Business), which adds up quickly with several people.
| Paid plans | TransferNow | Hightail |
|---|---|---|
| Max size per file | 500 GB (Team) | 25 GB (Pro) → 500 GB (Business) |
| Paid entry priceannual billing | Premium ~10 €/month (250 GB) | Pro ~12 €/month (25 GB/file) |
| File retention | up to 365 days | Not specified |
| Team pricingmultiple users | Flat rate (10 accounts) | Per user (24 €–36 €/month) |
Sources (Hightail pricing indicative, annual, USD):
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://www.hightail.com/pricing
Hightail vs TransferNow: creative review
Let’s be fair: this is Hightail’s home turf. Getting frame-accurate comments on visuals, organizing project spaces (Spaces), plugging into Photoshop or Illustrator — for a studio or an agency, that’s real added value TransferNow doesn’t try to cover.
TransferNow owns a different job: transfer. If your need is to send and receive large files simply, without the collaborative layer, you wouldn’t use half of it anyway — and TransferNow does it more directly, from the free plan.
| Creative review | TransferNow | Hightail |
|---|---|---|
| Visual review & comments | Transfer, no creative reviewNo — Transfer, no creative review | Yes |
| Project spaces (Spaces) | No | Yes |
| Adobe plugins (Photoshop, Illustrator) | No | Yes |
| Simple large file transfer | Yes | Limited on Lite (100 MB) |
Sources (Hightail pricing indicative, annual, USD):
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://www.hightail.com/pricing
Hightail vs TransferNow: receiving files
Hightail offers file collection, but most of it goes through its spaces and paid plans. TransferNow makes reception free and immediate.
Generate an email file request or a secure upload link, or add a widget to your website — your contacts upload without creating an account, and you’re notified with every drop.
| Receiving files | TransferNow | Hightail |
|---|---|---|
| File request by email | Yes | Depending on the plan |
| Secure upload link | Yes | Depending on the plan |
| Reception widget on your website | Yes | No |
| Reception included for free | Yes | No |
Sources (Hightail pricing indicative, annual, USD):
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://www.hightail.com/pricing
Hightail vs TransferNow: security and data
Both encrypt transfers. TransferNow adds password protection from the free plan, SSE-C encryption (your own key) and an antivirus scan of every file.
On sovereignty: TransferNow is a European, GDPR-compliant solution with a choice of storage region (France, Europe…). Hightail belongs to the US group OpenText, with no equivalent region choice.
| Security & data | TransferNow | Hightail |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Password from the free plan | Yes | On paid plans |
| SSE-C encryption (your key) | Yes | No |
| Antivirus file scanning | Yes | Not specified |
| Choice of storage regionFrance, Europe… | Yes | OpenText infrastructure |
| Sovereignty | European solution, GDPR | US company (OpenText) |
Sources (Hightail pricing indicative, annual, USD):
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://www.hightail.com/pricing
Hightail vs TransferNow: API and automation
Hightail bets on creative integrations (Adobe…) rather than a transfer API. 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, right from your business tools.
| API | TransferNow | Hightail |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated transfer API | Yes | Creative integrations (Adobe…) |
| Pay-as-you-go modelno quota to purchase | Yes | No |
| Independent of storage | Yes | Not specified |
Sources (Hightail pricing indicative, annual, USD):
https://www.transfernow.net/en/prices
https://www.hightail.com/pricing
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 Hightail: your questions
Is Hightail the former YouSendIt?
Yes: Hightail is the evolution of YouSendIt, now part of the OpenText group. The service has refocused on creative collaboration (visual review, comments, Spaces) on top of file sending.
How large can the files you send for free be?
Hightail’s free plan (Lite) is limited to 100 MB per send and requires an account. TransferNow allows up to 5 GB per transfer, with no sign-up.
When does Hightail remain the right tool?
For creative review: sharing visuals, gathering precise comments on them, working with Adobe plugins and project spaces. That’s its real added value, beyond transfer.
Does TransferNow let you receive files?
Yes, for free: email request, upload link or widget, with no account for your contacts, and a notification with every drop.
Which should you choose between Hightail and TransferNow?
Choose Hightail for creative review (comments on visuals, Spaces, Adobe plugins). Choose TransferNow to send and receive large files without friction: 5 GB free with no account, on a European, GDPR-compliant solution.
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The information compared on this page is based on the publicly known characteristics of the services on the date indicated. This page is not affiliated with Hightail. All trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.