PrivacyTools.io
Reviewed by Marcus Holmberg
Replace today: WeTransfer Dropbox

Anonymous File Sharing & Encrypted Sync in 2026

Private alternatives to WeTransfer, Dropbox, vetted against our public criteria.

Grouped by threat level

Covered Easy start and good defaults for everyone
Hardened Some setup and real gains for the willing
Targeted Maximum effort for when you're a target

How they compare

Tool Type Based in Cost
Internxt Send 		Transfer Spain Free
Syncthing 		Sync Sweden Free
OnionShare 		Transfer · Free
Send 		Transfer · Free

Sometimes you need to move a file between your own devices, and sometimes you need to hand one to another person, and the easy defaults route it through a company that keeps a copy. These tools sync and share with encryption, some peer-to-peer with no server at all, and one sends a file anonymously over Tor. Pick the one that fits the job rather than defaulting to whatever is already installed.

Why you can’t just turn off copying in WeTransfer

A mainstream transfer or sync service keeps a readable copy of your file because that copy is how the service works. WeTransfer holds your upload on its servers so the recipient can fetch it, and Dropbox keeps your synced folder on its disks so every device can pull the latest version. There is no toggle to make either stop keeping that copy, because the copy is the product. The only real fix is a tool that either moves the file directly between devices or holds it briefly as data it cannot read, which is what every pick here does.

Sync versus share

Two different needs live on this page, and naming yours first makes the choice obvious. Continuous sync keeps a folder mirrored across your own devices, and Syncthing does this peer-to-peer with no cloud in the middle, so your files never touch a third-party server. One-off sharing sends a file to someone else, ideally end-to-end encrypted and set to expire, which is what an encrypted transfer service is built for. For the most private hand-off, OnionShare sends a file directly to a person over Tor with no account and no stored copy. Decide whether you are mirroring your devices or handing something to a person, and the right tool follows.

How we pick these

Every tool here is measured against our public listing criteria: genuine end-to-end encryption so nothing readable sits on a third-party server, peer-to-peer transfer where possible so there is no middleman at all, open-source code that can be inspected, and expiring links for one-off shares. We avoid services that keep an indefinite, readable copy of whatever you move, and we favor tools with a clear jurisdiction and no account requirement. We only list a tool we would use to move our own files.

What to look for in a file sharing or sync tool

Start by deciding whether you need ongoing sync or a single transfer, because that splits the field. For sync, peer-to-peer is the strongest design: your files move directly between your devices with no company holding a copy. For sharing, look for end-to-end encryption and an expiry on the link, so a file is not left sitting somewhere forever. Open-source code matters in both cases, since it lets the encryption be checked rather than taken on trust. Above all, avoid anything that retains a readable, indefinite copy of your data, which is exactly the habit these tools are meant to break.

Is peer-to-peer as convenient as Dropbox?

Honestly, not always, and that is the trade-off worth naming. Peer-to-peer sync is the most private option because your files never touch someone else’s server, but it asks both devices to be online at the same time for changes to flow, whereas a cloud service holds the latest copy so a sleeping laptop still catches up later. For sending to another person, an encrypted transfer service is the more convenient choice and still keeps the file only briefly. The point is to reach for the right tool for the moment rather than treating one as a drop-in replacement for the other.

How to switch

For sync, install a peer-to-peer client on each device, pair them, then pick the folder you want mirrored; the first sync copies everything, and after that changes flow automatically while the devices are online. For sharing, drop the file into an encrypted transfer service and set an expiry before you send the link, or use a Tor-based tool when you want no stored copy at all. If you are replacing a cloud drive rather than a transfer service, our encrypted cloud storage picks cover zero-knowledge storage with a sync client, and Dropbox alternatives walks through that specific move.

Frequently asked

Is peer-to-peer sync like Dropbox?
Some of it. Peer-to-peer sync keeps a folder mirrored across your own devices like Dropbox does, but without a company holding a copy in the middle. Other tools here are for sending a one-off file to someone else. Match the tool to whether you are mirroring your own devices or handing a file to a person.
Does my file sit on a server somewhere?
With peer-to-peer tools like Syncthing, no. The file moves directly between your devices and never lands on a third-party server. Encrypted transfer services hold a file only briefly and only as data they cannot read, then drop it when the link expires.
Can I send a file anonymously?
Yes. OnionShare sends a file directly to someone over the Tor network, with no account and no server keeping a copy, which is about as private as file sharing gets. The recipient just needs the link you give them, and nothing about the transfer is logged by a company in the middle.
How is this different from emailing a file?
Email routes your attachment through mail servers that keep a copy and often scan it, and large files bounce. The tools here either move the file directly between devices or hold it briefly as encrypted data with an expiry. You get a private transfer with no permanent copy sitting in someone's inbox or on a mail provider's disk.
Do I need a server or technical setup to sync my devices?
No. Peer-to-peer sync tools are installed like any other app and discover your other devices once you pair them. There is no server to rent or maintain, because your own machines do the syncing directly. The one requirement is that the devices you want to mirror are online at the same time for changes to flow.
Are the people I share with required to install anything?
It depends on the tool. A link from an encrypted transfer service opens in a normal web browser, so the recipient installs nothing. Peer-to-peer and Tor-based sharing usually ask the other side to run a small app or open a special link. Pick based on how technical the person on the other end is.