A Google Drive alternative: TransferKite vs Google Drive
Lots of people send big files by sharing a Google Drive link. Here's how that compares with TransferKite on access, storage, how long links last and passwords, including where Drive is the better pick.
In short
- No sign-in or access request. A restricted Drive link asks your client to sign in, and maybe to request access and wait. A TransferKite link opens straight to the download page.
- Your storage stays free. Files you share from Drive use your Google storage until you delete them, and it's shared with Gmail and Photos. TransferKite transfers clear themselves away when their link ends.
- Passwords and download emails. A Drive link from a personal account can't have a password, and you can't see who opened it. TransferKite emails you when your files are downloaded, and Creator adds passwords.
Side by side
Each service's free plan and the paid plans it sells to one person. Plans only for teams or businesses, prepaid credit bundles and invitation-only offers aren't included. Prices are billed monthly; the second line is what a month costs when you pay yearly, or the year's total.
| Service | Plan | Price | Biggest transfer | How many transfers | Longest link | Passwords | Download tracking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TransferKite | Free | $0 | 5 GB | 10 live at a time | 7 days | No | Download counts and emails |
| Creator | $9.99 a month $7.99 a month paid yearly | 500 GB | No limit | 30 days | Yes | Download counts and emails | |
| Pro | $19.99 a month $15.99 a month paid yearly | 2 TB | No limit | 60 days | Yes | Download counts and emails | |
| Google Drive | Free | $0 | Up to your 15 GB of storage | Until your storage is full | Until you delete it | No | No |
| Basic (100 GB) | See their prices | Up to your 100 GB of storage | Until your storage is full | Until you delete it | No | No | |
| Google AI Plus (400 GB) | See their prices | Up to your 400 GB of storage | Until your storage is full | Until you delete it | No | No | |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | See their prices | Up to your 2 TB of storage | Until your storage is full | Until you delete it | No | No | |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | See their prices | Up to your 5 TB of storage | Until your storage is full | Until you delete it | No | No |
Sharing a Drive link
Drive is storage first, so sending a file means uploading it to your Drive and sharing it. If the link is restricted, your client has to sign in to a Google account, and may have to request access and wait for you to say yes. Sharing with anyone who has the link avoids that, but then anyone it's passed on to can open it too. Links can't have a password, and on a personal account they don't expire and you can't see who opened the file. Every file uses your storage until you delete it, and the free 15 GB is shared with Gmail and Photos. Drive can't scan files over 100 MB for viruses, and a file that's downloaded a lot in a short time can be blocked for a while, usually up to 24 hours. Google also sells 20 TB and more with its AI Ultra plans, from £79.99 a month in the UK.
When Google Drive is the better pick
Drive is the better pick when the files should stay. Your client can come back to them for as long as you like, you can share a folder and keep adding to it, and you can both comment on and edit Docs and Sheets. Nearly everyone already has a Google account, and its paid plans give you a lot of storage for the price.
When TransferKite is the better pick
TransferKite is the better pick for handing over finished work. Your client gets a clean download page, with no sign-in or access request, and Creator lets you add a password. Links end when you choose, up to 30 days on Creator, so old transfers don't fill your storage, and you get an email when your files are downloaded.
What's next
TransferKite is new, and it's growing. Next, we're planning direct P2P transfers from your device to the other person's: free on every plan, with no size cap and nothing stored on our servers. Apps for phone and desktop are on the list too.
Sources
- Google One plans and AI plans, and Google's help on storage, sharing and expiry dates, access requests, who's viewed a file, download limits and virus scans
More comparisons
- TransferKite vs WeTransfer Transfer caps, 3-day links, the free plan's rules and the 2025 terms change.
- TransferKite vs Dropbox Transfer sizes, 7-day links, passwords and daily download caps.
- TransferKite vs Smash The free queue over 2 GB, ads on Free, and 30-day links on Pro.
- TransferKite vs SwissTransfer 50 GB free, with or without an account, and Swiss hosting.
- TransferKite vs Filemail Two free transfers a day, 5 GB on Personal, and passwords from Pro.
- TransferKite vs TransferNow Free passwords but ads, 250 GB on Premium, and year-long links.
- TransferKite vs Send Anywhere 48-hour free links, monthly download caps, and the 6-digit key.
- TransferKite vs MASV Paying per GB downloaded, 5 free days of storage, and no size limit.
- Every service, side by side Every service in one table: pick the ones you're weighing up.